Live estimate
£2,773.13
Extra annual SSP cost for this group, compared with the old threshold and waiting-day rules.
Previous rules
-£0.00
0.0 paid days per absence after waiting days.
2026/27 rules
£2,773.13
3.0 paid days per absence from day one at £24.65 per qualifying day.
Extra per employee/year
£110.93
Extra per absence
£73.95
Weekly SSP cap
£123.25
UK employer SSP guide
Use this free SSP calculator to estimate how much the 6 April 2026 Statutory Sick Pay changes could add to your annual payroll cost. It is designed for workforce planning, especially where short absences, part-time staff, or lower-paid roles make the new rules more noticeable.
Under the old rules, the first three qualifying days were usually unpaid. From 6 April 2026, eligible sickness that starts on or after that date is paid from day one, so one-, two-, and three-day absences can create a new direct payroll cost.
The old Lower Earnings Limit no longer excludes eligible employees. For employees earning below the flat SSP cap, the new weekly rate is based on 80% of average weekly earnings.
Using your result
Run the calculator once for each major workforce group: office employees, care workers, zero-hours staff, part-time staff, or any role with a different pay pattern. Add the group results together for a budget-level estimate.
Workmax helps connect absences, rotas, time records, and payroll-ready data so the new SSP rules are easier to manage without rebuilding absence calculations in spreadsheets.
For a live care-worker absence, use the care worker sick pay and cover cost calculator to calculate an individual entitlement, affected visits, replacement staffing and operational impact.
SSP 2026/27
Answers to common employer questions about the 2026/27 Statutory Sick Pay changes.
From 6 April 2026, eligible employees can receive Statutory Sick Pay from the first full qualifying day of sickness absence. The previous three waiting days were removed for absences that start on or after that date.
For 2026 to 2027, weekly SSP is the lower of £123.25 or 80% of the employee's average weekly earnings. This calculator divides the weekly amount by the worker's qualifying days per week.
The old Lower Earnings Limit no longer blocks eligible employees from SSP. Lower-paid employees may receive 80% of average weekly earnings instead of the flat weekly cap.
No. Employers cannot recover Statutory Sick Pay from HMRC under the 2026/27 rules, so the cost should be included in workforce and payroll planning.
Use this as a planning estimate. Actual payroll may depend on linked absences, qualifying days, transitional rules for sickness that started before 6 April 2026, company sick pay, and contract terms.