Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) applies after three days of illness or incapacity for work. These three days (known as waiting days) may, but do not normally, include non-working days (i.e. weekends or days not normally worked).

Working days lost prior to SSP commencing are paid at your employer's discretion. This will usually mean payment at your normal rate of pay but this will depend upon the circumstance and any terms of employment already agreed with the family you work for. Thereafter SSP can be paid instead of or as a part of the normal rate of pay. For information on the current rate of SSP, please refer to our rates and thresholds page.

You should provide your employer with a doctor's note or letter confirming days absent through sickness. Your employer is entitled to Small Employer's Relief - i.e. to claim back a proportion of SSP paid. Nannytax will help your employer with this.