How to get sick pay from your first day off work in 2026

Falling ill and losing a day's pay is hard at any time. If you are on Universal Credit and working, a gap in your earnings can put pressure on your rent money too. The good news is that sick pay got much fairer on 6 April 2026.

What changed on 6 April 2026?

Two things changed, and both help low-paid workers.

Sick pay now starts from day one. Before 6 April 2026, you had to wait three days before Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) kicked in. Those first three days were unpaid. Now SSP starts from your very first full day off sick.

Low earners now qualify. Before the change, you had to earn at or above a threshold called the lower earnings limit to get SSP. Many part-time workers and low-paid employees missed out entirely because they earned too little. That threshold has now been removed. As long as you are an employee, you can get SSP — no matter how much or how little you earn.

These changes come from the Employment Rights Act 2025, which came into force for sick pay on 6 April 2026.

How much is Statutory Sick Pay?

SSP in 2026 to 2027 is £123.25 a week, or 80% of your average weekly earnings — whichever is lower.

If you earn £100 a week, you get 80% of that: £80 a week. If you earn £200 a week or more, you get the flat rate of £123.25.

Your employer pays SSP through your normal payslip for up to 28 weeks.

How does SSP affect your Universal Credit?

SSP counts as earnings in Universal Credit. That means your UC payment will reduce while you are receiving sick pay. But you are still better off than getting nothing.

Universal Credit reduces by 55p for every £1 you earn above your work allowance. So for every £1 of SSP you receive, your UC goes down by 55p — but you are still 45p better off than if you had got no sick pay at all.

If you have a work allowance — because you are responsible for a child, or have a health condition limiting your ability to work — the first chunk of your monthly earnings is not counted against your UC at all.

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What do you need to do?

Tell your employer you are ill on your first day off. Your employer may ask you to fill in a self-certification form for a short absence. If you are off for more than 7 days, ask your GP for a fit note.

Your employer pays SSP through your normal payslip. If they say you are not entitled, get free help from Citizens Advice — they can tell you whether your employer is wrong and how to challenge the decision.

What if you are self-employed?

Self-employed people cannot get SSP. But if you are on Universal Credit and too ill to work, report your health condition in your UC online journal. You may be assessed for Limited Capability for Work, which can give you extra monthly support on top of your standard allowance.