Increase in SSP for low earners

Those earning below the Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) per week (currently £123 but due to increase to £125 in April) are not currently eligible to receive SSP.

When it comes into force, the Employment Rights Bill will give employees the right to claim SSP from the first day of being sick and will remove the need to earn the lower earnings limit to qualify for sick pay.

Acknowledging that the rate of SSP would need to be adjusted for those earning less than the LEL, the reforms will allow more than a million low paid workers to receive 80% of weekly wages, where 80% of an employee’s normal weekly earnings is less than the current flat rate of SSP (£116.75 a week or £118.75 from April).