SSP Calculator
The SSP Calculator helps you estimate Statutory Sick Pay obligations for absent employees. It uses April 2026 UK rules and calculates daily SSP amounts based on each employee's earnings and working pattern.
April 2026 SSP Rules
The SSP rules that took effect in April 2026 introduced significant changes from previous years:
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Weekly SSP rate | The lesser of 80% of Average Weekly Earnings (AWE) or the £123.25 weekly cap |
| Daily SSP rate | Weekly SSP ÷ number of qualifying days in the week |
| Waiting days | None - SSP is payable from day 1 of absence |
| Lower earnings limit | Removed - all employees are now eligible regardless of earnings |
The removal of waiting days and the lower earnings limit means all employees are now entitled to SSP from their first day of sickness absence, regardless of how much they earn. This is a significant change from previous rules where low-paid workers could fall through the gaps.
How SSP Is Calculated
Step 1: Determine Average Weekly Earnings (AWE)
AWE is the average weekly pay over a reference period. StaffBrik calculates this using three methods, in order of preference:
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Auto-calculated from shift history - StaffBrik looks at the employee's actual earnings over the previous 8 weeks of completed shifts. This is the most accurate method and is used whenever sufficient data is available.
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Manual override - You can enter a specific AWE figure if the auto-calculation is not appropriate (e.g. the employee recently changed hours significantly, or has been on unpaid leave that would skew the average).
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Contracted hours fallback - If there is insufficient shift history (e.g. a new starter), StaffBrik calculates AWE from the employee's contracted hours and hourly rate.
For employees with variable hours - which is common in hospitality - the 8-week shift history gives the most realistic AWE. It captures the actual hours worked, including busy periods and quiet weeks, rather than relying on a contracted figure that may not reflect reality.
Step 2: Calculate Weekly SSP
Weekly SSP = MIN(80% of AWE, £123.25)
The rate is 80% of the employee's average earnings, but capped at £123.25 per week.
Step 3: Calculate Daily SSP
Daily SSP = Weekly SSP ÷ Qualifying days
Qualifying days are the days the employee would normally work. StaffBrik detects these automatically from the employee's shift pattern.
Qualifying Days Detection
StaffBrik identifies qualifying days from the employee's typical working pattern:
- If the employee has a regular pattern (e.g. Monday to Friday, or Wednesday to Sunday), those days are the qualifying days.
- If the employee has a variable pattern (e.g. different days each week, common in hospitality), StaffBrik uses the most frequent pattern from recent shift history.
You can override the qualifying days if needed - for example, if an employee has recently changed their working pattern.
Confidence Levels
Because AWE calculations rely on available data, StaffBrik assigns a confidence level to each SSP estimate:
| Level | Meaning |
|---|---|
| High | 8+ weeks of shift history available; consistent working pattern; auto-calculated AWE |
| Medium | 4-7 weeks of shift history; some variation in hours; auto-calculated AWE |
| Low | Fewer than 4 weeks of history; manual override or contracted-hours fallback used |
A low confidence estimate should be treated as a rough guide only. For new starters with limited shift history, consider manually entering the AWE based on their contracted hours until enough data accumulates for a reliable auto-calculation.
Worked Example
Employee: Part-time waitress, age 24, works Thursday to Sunday.
Shift history (last 8 weeks):
| Week | Hours Worked | Gross Pay (at £12.00/hr) |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 24 | £288.00 |
| Week 2 | 28 | £336.00 |
| Week 3 | 20 | £240.00 |
| Week 4 | 26 | £312.00 |
| Week 5 | 24 | £288.00 |
| Week 6 | 22 | £264.00 |
| Week 7 | 28 | £336.00 |
| Week 8 | 24 | £288.00 |
Step 1 - AWE: Total gross pay = £2,352.00 AWE = £2,352.00 ÷ 8 = £294.00
Step 2 - Weekly SSP: 80% of £294.00 = £235.20 Cap = £123.25 Weekly SSP = £123.25 (capped)
Step 3 - Daily SSP: Qualifying days = 4 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday) Daily SSP = £123.25 ÷ 4 = £30.81
Confidence level: High (8 weeks of data, consistent pattern).
In this example, the employee's AWE is high enough that the cap applies. For lower-paid or fewer-hours workers, the 80% rate may come in below the cap, resulting in a lower SSP payment. StaffBrik shows both the uncapped and capped figures so you can see which applies.
Using the SSP Calculator
- Navigate to StaffBrik > Costs > SSP Calculator.
- Select the employee - their AWE and qualifying days will be auto-populated if sufficient data exists.
- Enter the absence start date and expected end date.
- Review the calculation breakdown, including daily rate, total estimated SSP, and confidence level.
- Adjust the AWE or qualifying days manually if the auto-detected values are not appropriate.
The calculator provides an estimate for planning and budgeting purposes. Actual SSP payments should be processed through your payroll system.