Changes to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): Everything you need to know

As part of the latest phase of Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA) changes, Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will be changing on 6th April 2026.

For years, the three days’ wait and earnings floor have been sources of stress for many people who are off sick.

With the arrival of these changes, this stress has finally been removed. These changes brought in by the ERA are more than just a minor policy tweak, they’re a fundamental shift in how our livelihoods and health are protected, ensuring you can focus on getting better when off sick.

What changes is the Employment Rights Act making to Statutory Sick Pay?

Here are why these changes are a massive win for millions of workers across the UK.

 Support from day one

The most significant change brought in by the ERA is the removal of the “waiting period.” Previously, you had to be ill for three consecutive days before Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) kicked in. Now, SSP is a day one right, meaning if you are unwell and unable to work, you will receive sick pay immediately. This removes the gamble of deciding whether you can afford to recover properly. This will be paid at the standard rate of £123.25 per week, or 80% of your weekly earnings, whichever is lowest.

Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) scrapped

Previously, if you earned less than £123.25 a week, you were not entitled to SSP at all, disproportionately affecting part-time workers, students and those working in the gig economy. Now, the LEL has been scrapped. While SSP payments for lower earners is capped at 80% of their average weekly pay, it does mean they can afford to take time off sick and recover, if needs be.

This update brought in by the ERA recognises that illness doesn’t discriminate based on how much you earn or how many days you’ve been sick. By making sick pay more accessible, the new laws provide our members with peace of mind, financial predictability and foster a culture where people stay home when ill to protect colleagues from also getting sick.