Statutory Sick Pay

If you are sick and thus unable to work, you may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay from your employer for up to twenty-eight weeks. You must be contracted to work for your employer, but how long you have been working for your employer is not important. You may have been at work only a short time, perhaps less than a week, and still be entitled to receive Statutory Sick Pay. To qualify for Statutory Sick Pay you should:

• be earning at or above the Lower Earnings Limit, currently set at £87 a week
• be incapable of work due to illness for at least four consecutive days, including weekends and public holidays
  
  

Usually Statutory Sick Pay will be calculated according to your average gross weekly earnings for the eight weeks prior to your illness. If you have been working for your employer for less than eight weeks, they may make their calculation in a different way. If your average gross weekly earnings confirm that you earn more than the Lower Earnings Limit you will be entitled to payment for each day that you are sick, beginning from the fourth day of your illness and lasting a maximum of twenty-eight weeks. The current rate of Statutory Sick Pay is set at £72.55 a week, which is a little over £10 a day.

If you work for more than one employer, you may be entitled to receive Statutory Sick Pay from each employer. In order to receive Statutory Sick Pay you must inform your employer of your illness as soon as you are able, but certainly within seven days of the onset of your illness. Your employer may also require a sick note from your doctor to confirm that you are incapable of returning to work.

If you consider you are entitled to receive Statutory Sick Pay, you must inform your employer and ask them what procedure they require you to follow. You should be paid your money at the same time as you would usually be paid by your employer, but you will need to ask them if they have any special rules regarding when they will pay your Statutory Sick Pay. If you need further assistance, you can contact the Benefit Enquiry Line on 0800 88 22 00 for advice.