DWP confirms pay change for anyone in calling in sick

Detailed summary

The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed new Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) rates from April 2026, as millions of workers are affected by Employment Rights Act reforms

The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed a shake-up for anyone receiving statutory sick pay from next April. In a fresh announcement this week, officials revealed the updated rates, which will take effect from next April.

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is the legal minimum that employers across the UK are obliged to pay eligible staff who are absent from work due to illness. The update follows officials publishing revised figures for a range of benefits, including SSP.

Earlier this year, landmark legislation affecting anyone calling in sick was introduced, impacting 15 million people. Seven key measures within the Employment Rights Act came into effect.

One major update affected anyone taking time off due to illness, while other amendments to employment law included 'day one' rights for parental and bereavement leave, along with the abolition of unethical fire and rehire practices.

The most significant change now in force transformed sick pay into a "day one" right, removing the three-day waiting period and earnings threshold. Up to 1.3 million of the lowest earners will now receive statutory sick pay from their first day of illness.

Earlier this year, employers warned that changes to sick pay, paternity leave and unfair dismissal would present the greatest challenge for businesses under the new regulations, according to research. A survey of over 1,000 employers regarding the Employment Rights Act revealed that one in three cited paying statutory sick pay from the first day of illness as the most challenging measure, while more than one in four identified the right to take paternity leave from day one of employment.

Baroness Maggie Jones, who chairs employment relations service Acas, said: "The reforms in the Employment Rights Act are the biggest shake-up to employment law in a generation, and it is vital that employers get up to speed quickly.

"The new day-one rights on sick pay and paternity are already in effect and new protections against unfair dismissals are…

"Ac…

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