Care and support

Who can get SSP?

To get SSP you must:

• be an employee
• earn £90.00 or more a week before deductions
• have been unable to work for at least 4 consecutive days because you are sick
• have notified the employer of your sickness
• not be on strike

If you fall ill before your first day at work for your employer, you cannot get SSP for this period of sickness (unless you have worked for the same employer in the last 8 weeks). Usually, if you fall sick, you can claim SSP as long as you have actually started work.

If you were claiming a benefit because you were incapable of work before you became an employee, your employer does not have to pay you SSP if you fall sick within 8 weeks of that benefit claim ending. In those circumstances you should reclaim the benefit you were previously receiving. If you were claiming benefits because you were incapable of work for more than 28 weeks, but you take a job and fall sick again within 104 weeks of ending your benefit claim, you can go back onto the benefit you were getting at the same level you received previously. This amount is often more than SSP.