Estimate your Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for a sickness absence under the 2026/27 UK rules — for employees checking what they could get, and employers checking what they may owe.
Runs entirely in your browser — nothing you enter is sent anywhere or stored. Rules last checked against the official sources on 5 October 2026.
2026/27 change: eligible employees can receive SSP regardless of their earnings, and it is payable from the first full day of sickness — there are no longer three unpaid waiting days. Source: HMRC, GOV.UK
MadyHR.ai — UK Sick Pay Calculator (estimate)
Rules: 2026/27. This is an independent estimate, not an HMRC document.
£123.25
for 5 qualifying sick days, 6 April 2026 to 10 April 2026
Your SSP weekly rate: £123.25. 80% of your average weekly earnings is £148.00, so the rate is capped at the 2026/27 standard rate of £123.25. Source: HMRC
| Average weekly earnings | £185.00 |
|---|---|
| 80% of average weekly earnings | £148.00 |
| 2026/27 SSP weekly maximum | £123.25 |
| SSP weekly rate used | £123.25 |
| Qualifying days per week | 5 (Monday to Friday) |
| Daily rate (unrounded) | £24.65 |
| Calendar days in sickness period | 5 |
| Qualifying sick days | 5 |
| Estimated SSP | £123.25 |
| 28-week maximum at this rate | £3,451.00 |
| Qualifying days left of the 28 weeks | 135 |
SSP weeks run Sunday to Saturday.
SSP is payable from the first full day of sickness under the 2026/27 rules, subject to eligibility. Jurisdiction: England — the same SSP rate applies across the UK.
Estimate only. Not payroll, tax or legal advice, and not your final pay. Please read the important notice.
An SSP week runs Sunday to Saturday. A full week of qualifying sick days is paid at the weekly rate; part weeks are paid by the day. Source: HMRC
| SSP week | Dates (Sun–Sat) | Days off sick | Qualifying sick days paid | SSP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 (full week) | 5 Apr – 11 Apr | 5 | 5 | £123.25 |
| Total | 5 | 5 | £123.25 |
The legal minimum an employer must pay an eligible employee. This is what the calculator estimates. Source: GOV.UK
Extra pay your employer may offer under your contract or sick pay policy. It can be more than SSP but not less.
Not necessarily what you’re paid while off sick. It depends on SSP and any company sick pay.
SSP is paid through payroll in the same way as wages, on the normal payday, with tax and National Insurance deducted where they apply. This calculator shows the gross amount, not take-home pay. Source: GOV.UK
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Every rule and figure this calculator uses comes from the legislation and official guidance below. All links were checked on 5 October 2026.
£123.25 a week or 80% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower, from 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027.
Source: HMRC
From the first full day of sickness absence, for absences under the rules that apply from 6 April 2026. You need to be sick for at least one full working day.
Source: GOV.UK
No. From 6 April 2026, SSP is available to eligible employees regardless of their earnings.
Source: HMRC
No. The three waiting days were removed from 6 April 2026.
Source: HMRC
Divide the weekly SSP rate by the number of qualifying days in the week, then multiply by the number of qualifying days you were sick. With 5 qualifying days, £123.25 ÷ 5 = £24.65 a day. HMRC publishes a payment table for each pattern, which rounds up to the next penny.
Sources: HMRC, HMRC tables
The days you normally work — usually your contracted working days. If you and your employer can’t agree, default rules apply.
Source: HMRC
Weekends, bank holidays and non-working days count as part of the sickness period, but SSP is only paid for qualifying days. If you work Monday to Friday, you won’t get SSP for Saturday or Sunday.
Source: HMRC
Add up the gross earnings paid in the relevant period — which ends on your last normal payday before your first full day of sickness and covers at least 8 weeks — and divide by the number of weeks. For monthly pay, divide by the number of months, multiply by 12 and divide by 52.
Source: HMRC
Up to 28 weeks. It stops earlier if you return to work or stop qualifying.
Source: GOV.UK
If the gap between two sickness absences is 8 weeks (56 days) or less, they’re linked and treated as one. The rate from the first absence carries on, and the 28 weeks are counted across all of them.
Source: HMRC
No. It estimates Statutory Sick Pay only. Your employer may pay more under your contract.
Yes. It’s paid through payroll like wages, with tax and National Insurance deducted where they apply. This tool shows the gross amount.
Source: GOV.UK
No. Absences that started before 6 April 2026 can follow transitional rules. See the HMRC transition guidance.
Source: HMRC transition guidance
No. It’s an independent MadyHR.ai calculator based on current published government guidance and legislation.
This is an estimate for general information only. It is not legal, payroll, tax, employment or financial advice and does not decide your legal entitlement. The actual SSP can depend on your employment status, sickness history, qualifying days, earnings, pay frequency, linked periods of sickness, contract arrangements and other circumstances.
Some workers have different or more complex SSP rules, including certain agency workers, directors, educational workers, agricultural workers and employees with multiple contracts. You are not eligible if you received Employment and Support Allowance in the last 85 days. Sources: HMRC, HMRC
If you’ve had another sickness absence in the previous 8 weeks, your absences may be linked. Working out what’s left of the 28 weeks then needs your SSP history — use the official guidance for linked cases.
MadyHR.ai is HR software, not a law firm or regulated adviser, and accepts no responsibility for decisions made using this estimate. Always check the latest official guidance and your employer’s payroll before relying on the result. This calculator is not affiliated with or endorsed by HM Government, GOV.UK, HM Revenue & Customs, Acas, the Department for Work and Pensions or any other government body.
This calculator estimates Statutory Sick Pay under the 2026/27 rules, which are the same in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is an independent MadyHR.ai tool based on official sources, not legal or payroll advice. An employer can pay more than SSP under a contract or sick pay policy. For anything unusual, check the sources above or contact the Acas helpline.
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