New SSP rules from April 2026

Current rules around Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) mean that employees need to wait 3 days before being eligible for sick pay.

From April 2026 there will no longer be these waiting days, and they will be eligible from day 1 of sickness.

In addition, the rules remove the Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) which means employees no longer need to earn. This means that even part-time or lower-paid staff will have access to sick pay from the first day of absence.

What employers should do

A combination of these changes will increase the overall SSP cost for employers. It is advisable to prepare for these changes now.

Employers should:

• Update their payroll system to account for the day 1 right
• Update their employment contracts for any new starters to reflect the new right.
• Write to all existing employees to let them know of their new rights, which will be a formal change to their terms and conditions of employment
• Update their Sickness Absence Policy to reflect the new rules
• Consider a stricter absence management procedure to reduce ad-hoc absences

If you need support with these changes, please contact Juliet Mellues for assistance and advice.

Juliet Mellues