In the UK in early 2026, statutory sick pay (SSP) is a fixed weekly amount, not your full wage, and some people may get more if their employer offers a better company sick pay scheme.

Quick Scoop: How much is sick pay?

  • The standard Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) weekly rate for 2026–2027 is ÂŁ123.25 per week.
  • You get either :
    • ÂŁ123.25 a week, or
    • 80% of your average weekly earnings if that’s lower than ÂŁ123.25 ,
      whichever is lower.
  • SSP is paid by your employer instead of your usual wages when you’re off sick, up to the maximum SSP rate and rules.
  • Many employers also offer contractual/company sick pay , which can be more generous (for example, full pay for a set number of weeks), but this depends on your contract.

Key 2026 changes (why this is a trending topic)

Recent and upcoming changes have made sick pay more of a talking point in the UK.

  • No more waiting days: SSP is now payable from day 1 of sickness, not after 3 unpaid “waiting days”.
  • No lower earnings limit: Even lower‑paid or part‑time workers can qualify; the previous minimum earnings threshold has been removed.
  • New “80% rule” for lower earners: If you earn less than the flat rate, you get 80% of your average weekly earnings, capped at the SSP rate (ÂŁ123.25).

Example:
If you usually earn £100 a week, 80% is £80, so you’d get £80 a week in SSP , not £123.25.

If you earn £300 a week, you’d get the flat SSP rate of £123.25 , because 80% of £300 is higher than the cap.

How long is sick pay paid?

  • SSP can be paid for up to 28 weeks of sickness in most cases.
  • If your sickness lasts longer, you may move on to benefits such as new‑style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), depending on your circumstances.

Your employer’s own sick pay scheme may pay more than SSP and/or for longer; check your contract, staff handbook or HR policy.

What affects “how much” you get?

Several things decide your exact amount:

  1. Your average weekly earnings
    • If your normal pay is higher than ÂŁ123.25, you’ll normally just see the flat SSP rate (unless your employer tops it up).
 * If your pay is lower than ÂŁ123.25, you get **80% of your average weekly pay**.
  1. How many days you’re sick in a week
    • SSP is worked out as a daily rate , based on how many “qualifying days” you normally work each week.
 * For example, in earlier years when the weekly SSP was ÂŁ118.75, daily rates were split according to whether you had 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 qualifying days.

 * The same idea continues with the new ÂŁ123.25 weekly rate: your employer divides this across your qualifying days to get the daily amount.
  1. Your employer’s policy
    • Some employers pay full pay or a higher percentage for a set period (e.g., 2–6 months), and only then drop to SSP.
 * Others stick to **statutory minimum only** , especially smaller businesses.
  1. How long you’re off
    • The longer you’re off, the more weeks at the SSP rate you’ll accumulate, up to the 28‑week limit.
 * Linked periods of sickness (close together in time) can be treated as a single continuous period for SSP rules.

Mini forum-style note (how people are talking about it)

“So, is sick pay full pay or not?” On UK forums, a lot of confusion comes from mixing up SSP (a basic legal minimum) with company sick pay (extra pay your employer chooses to offer).

People with public‑sector or large‑employer contracts often report getting full pay for a while, while those in retail, hospitality or gig‑style roles often only get SSP.

Because rules changed recently (no waiting days, no earnings threshold, new rates from April 2026), many threads are comparing “before vs after” and asking whether this actually feels like enough to live on, especially with rising living costs.

TL;DR

  • Sick pay (SSP) in the UK for 2026–27: up to ÂŁ123.25 per week.
  • If you earn less than that, you get 80% of your average weekly earnings , capped at that same rate.
  • It’s usually payable for up to 28 weeks of sickness.
  • Your actual income when sick may be higher if your employer offers company sick pay on top of SSP, so always check your contract or HR policy.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.