Statutory pay
#ssp#statutory-paySSP from April 2026: what employers should check
Statutory Sick Pay changes from April 2026 remove the lower earnings threshold and change day-one entitlement. Here is what employers should check before payday.
- Published 20 Jun 2026
- Last checked 30 Jun 2026
- 5 min read
Quick take
- What changed
- From 6 April 2026 the earnings threshold for SSP eligibility is removed and SSP is payable from the first qualifying day of sickness rather than after waiting days.
- Who this affects
- All UK employers with employees who could be off sick — particularly those with low-paid or part-time staff previously excluded by the earnings threshold.
What employers should do now
Employer checklist
0 of 3 done
Need help?
Statutory pay changes coming up?
SSP, SMP and the other statutory payments are easy to miscalculate. We'll sanity-check your setup in 30 minutes.
Key dates
- 6 April 2026: New SSP rules take effect.
Related pages on this site
Official sources
- Statutory Sick Pay — gov.uk (gov.uk)
This guidance is for general information only and should not be treated as legal, tax or payroll advice. Always check official guidance or speak to a qualified adviser before acting.