What is it for?
If you are not able to work because you are ill and normally earn more than £118 per week on average, even if you have a zero hour contract, you may be able to apply for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).
SSP is paid at £94.25 per week.
Statutory Sick Pay is normally paid after your third day of you being unfit to work. The exception to this rule is if you illness is related to Covid 19 and you are self-isolating. If this is the case, you are eligible for SSP from day one, but you have to be unfit to work for a minimum of 4 days before it will be paid.
Statutory Sick Pay will normally be paid for up to 28 weeks. After that you may be entitled to apply for Employment Support Allowance or Universal Credit.
If you are claiming Statutory Sick Pay and pay rent, or have children to support, you may also be entitled to claim Universal Credit.
Statutory Sick Pay is paid by your employer. If you employer operates a contractual sick pay scheme, you may get more than £94.25, but you cannot get less.
Self-Employed
You cannot get Statutory Sick Pay if you are self-employed, but you may be able to apply for Universal Credit.
If you are in doubt you should complete a full benefit check, by following the link below.
