Thread: How does SSP Work?

AFAIK SSP doesn't kick in until you've been off for seven consecutive days...

SSP is a daily payment.

To get SSP you must be:

Aged between 16 or over and under 65 (these age limits will be removed from 1 October 2006).
Sick for at least 4 or more days in a row (including weekends and bank holidays). This is known as a Period of Incapacity for Work.
Earn, before tax and National Insurance an average of £84.00 a week. This is called the Lower Earnings Limit for National Insurance Contributions (NIC). The amount you need to earn is lower than the amount when you have to start paying NIC’s.

It is payable for qualifying days (QD), ie days you would usually work. SSP is not paid for the first 3 QD's in any period of sickness unless linked toi a previous period.

For linking purposes this is classed as you have been sick for two spells or more of at least 4 days in a row with 8 weeks or less between them, they will be counted as one Period of Incapacity for Work. This means that waiting days will not be served for the second period of sickness.

I presume that you have either supplied a doctors not (Med 3) or have provided a self sertification (SC2) for your period of abscence, in which case I would contact your employer's payroll department. If they cannot pay you SSP you will need to claim from Jobcentreplus but will need form SSP1 from your employer staing why they cannot pay you.

You should get 2 days SSP. First 3 QD's are not counted unless linked to a previous period of incapacity. Was the self cert form you filled in an SC2 or was it just a normal employers return to work cert?

That's a normal employer return to work self cert.

This is the form you need for SSP purposes.

Should do, although you'll only get £20.01.