Mental Health Benefits

Steps to maximum Entitlement

The Sickness Route to Benefits

DLA and Attendance Allowance 

SSP - Telling your Employer that you are Sick!

How to Tell Your Employer you are Sick and want to claim SSP.

Many businesses will have their own set of rules about how you tell them that you are sick, and also what happens after you tell them. If your employer has their own rules - which are normally referred to in your 'contract of employment' then you need to be aware of these and abide by them. It would be as well to make yourself aware of these employer's rules - even when you are feeling fit and well. It may well be that the rules ask you to notify in a certain way, and in a certain time limite - maybe in writing.

• If your employer does NOT have their own rules for you to claim SSP, then must tell your employer within seven days. If at all possible, then you ought really to tell your employer as soon as possible, in order to prevent any misunderstandings - or bad feelings. Most employers will be rightly brassed-off if you turn up after 7 days of absence simply telling them that you were sick!
• You do not have to tell your employer in person that you are sick - no need to limp or struggle to the office.
• In the first seven days, there is no need for you to fill in any special form.
• You do not have to give your employer a sick note - or 'Fit Note' as it is now called.
• After the first seven days, you do not have to tell your employer more than once in each week that you are 'sick'. BUT they may ask you to fill in a 'self-certification form of their own, or a special form from the DWP - (SC2) This is what the Employee Statement of Sickness Form looks like.
• HOWEVER  your employer does not have to pay you for any of your sick days before you tell them that you are sick. So if you decide to hang it out for six days before telling your employer you are sick, then they will start the payments from the sixth day!

Reasons why SSP Cannot be Paid  |  Statutory Sick Pay Main Page  |