SSP Changes in April 2026 — What SME Employers Need to Know Now
Major changes to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) take effect on 6 April 2026 — some of the biggest updates in decades. For small businesses without dedicated HR support, preparing early will make a significant difference.
What’s changing:
- SSP from day one. The three unpaid waiting days are being abolished. SSP will now start from the first qualifying day of absence, which aims to reduce presenteeism and encourage employees to stay home when unwell.
- No lower earnings limit. Currently, employees must earn at least £125 per week to qualify. From April 2026, all employees — regardless of income — will be eligible, bringing an estimated 1.3 million more workers into entitlement.
- New calculation method. SSP will be paid at the lower of the flat statutory weekly rate (£123.25 from April 2026) or 80% of the employee’s average weekly earnings over the previous eight weeks.
What employers should be doing now:
- Payroll. Systems will need updating to reflect day-one SSP and the 80% earnings rule. Speak to your software or payroll provider well ahead of April.
- Policies and handbooks. Any references to waiting days, eligibility thresholds or flat-rate-only SSP must be updated.
- Budgeting. More employees will qualify and they’ll receive SSP sooner — factor this into your cash flow planning.
- Absence records. With SSP starting on day one, accurate tracking becomes even more important.
Communicate the changes to staff clearly: when they start, that sick pay now begins from day one, that all employees qualify regardless of earnings, and how to report sickness properly.
How Acuity HR can help:
We can review and update your sickness absence policy so everything is legally correct and easy to follow.
We can audit your current sickness procedures and help you prepare for increased administration.
We can support you with staff communications, templates and guidance so everyone understands the new rules.
We can train managers on how to handle day-one absence reporting and avoid costly mistakes.