What are SSP Qualifying Days?
Qualifying days are the days of the week an employee normally works and can receive Statutory Sick Pay. Learn how they affect SSP calculations.
Qualifying days are a crucial concept in calculating Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). They determine which days of sickness count towards your SSP entitlement.
What Are Qualifying Days?
Qualifying days are simply the days of the week on which an employee normally works under their contract of employment. SSP is only payable for qualifying days when the employee is off sick.
Examples
| Working Pattern | Qualifying Days | Days per Week |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri | 5 |
| Part-time (Mon, Wed, Fri) | Mon, Wed, Fri | 3 |
| Shift worker (varies) | Days normally worked | Varies |
How Qualifying Days Affect SSP Calculation
The weekly SSP rate (£116.75 in 2024-25) is divided by the number of qualifying days to give a daily rate.
Example for a 5-day worker:
- Weekly SSP: £116.75
- Qualifying days: 5
- Daily rate: £116.75 ÷ 5 = £23.35 per day
Example for a 3-day worker:
- Weekly SSP: £116.75
- Qualifying days: 3
- Daily rate: £116.75 ÷ 3 = £38.92 per day
The 3 Waiting Days Rule
The first 3 qualifying days in a Period of Incapacity for Work (PIW) are "waiting days" - no SSP is paid for these. SSP only starts from the 4th qualifying day.
Example: An employee who works Monday to Friday calls in sick on Monday. Their waiting days are:
- Day 1 (waiting day): Monday - no SSP
- Day 2 (waiting day): Tuesday - no SSP
- Day 3 (waiting day): Wednesday - no SSP
- Day 4 onwards: Thursday, Friday, etc. - SSP paid
Irregular Working Patterns
For employees with varying hours or shift patterns, employers can use any reasonable method to determine qualifying days. Common approaches include:
- Looking at the previous 8 weeks to establish an average pattern
- Using the contractual hours if specified
- Applying a fair and consistent method across all employees
Bank Holidays
If a bank holiday falls on a day that would normally be a qualifying day, it remains a qualifying day for SSP purposes - unless the employer specifically excludes it in the employment contract.
Zero-Hours Contracts
For zero-hours workers, qualifying days are typically the days they would have been expected to work based on their established pattern. If there's no clear pattern, employers should apply a fair and reasonable approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are qualifying days for SSP?
- Qualifying days are the days of the week an employee is contracted to work. SSP is only paid for qualifying days, not for days off.
- How do qualifying days affect SSP?
- SSP is calculated based on qualifying days only. If you work Monday to Friday, those are your 5 qualifying days. The weekly SSP rate is divided by the number of qualifying days.
- What if I work irregular hours?
- For employees with irregular patterns, employers can use any reasonable method to determine qualifying days, often based on the average working pattern.