Sick pay for support staff

Find out about statutory and occupational sick pay for your support staff, including who's eligible, how much they can get, and how to calculate it.

Last reviewed on 12 April 2023
See updates
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 3103
Contents
  1. Who can get statutory sick pay (SSP)?
  2. How much SSP can employees get? 
  3. What about term-time only workers?
  4. Staff employed under the Green Book

Who can get statutory sick pay (SSP)?

To qualify for SSP, an employee or agency worker must:

  • Be classed as an employee and have done some work for the employer
  • Have been ill for at least 4 days in a row, including non-working days (the pay will kick in on the 4th day)
  • Earn an average of at least £123 per week
  • Inform you that they're ill before any deadlines the employer has set, or within 7 days if there is no deadline

Employees cannot get SSP if:

  • They're already getting statutory maternity pay
  • They're off work for other reasons than illness, for example self-isolation or looking after family members

See more details about eligibility on GOV.UK.

How much SSP can employees get? 

They're entitled to £109.40 per week, for up to 28 weeks (this is up from £99.35 before 6 April 2023).

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