Changes to Statutory Sick Pay as proposed in the Employment Rights Bill - screening
Date published:
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is the minimum an employer must pay an eligible employee if they are unable to work due to illness or injury. To be eligible an employee must have average weekly earnings at or above the Lower Earnings Limit (currently £6,396 per year). SSP is paid from the fourth day of absence. The standard rate of SSP is currently £116.75 per week and is paid for a maximum of 28 weeks.
SSP is not a social security benefit (it is paid by employers to eligible employees) and as such the Department holds no data about it.
It is useful to note that many employers have their own occupational or contractual sick pay schemes which can be more generous than SSP and can pay out longer than 28 weeks. These occupational schemes will not be impacted by the proposed reforms of SSP.
Existing/Revised/New: Revised
Date of Screening: 24/02/2025
Screening Outcome - Full EQIA recommended: No