Answers · UK 2025/26
Do self-employed workers get Statutory Sick Pay?
No. Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is only available to employees paid through PAYE -- self-employed people are not entitled to it, regardless of how much National Insurance they pay. Instead, a self-employed person who is too ill to work may be able to claim New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if they meet the National Insurance contribution conditions.
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Statutory Sick Pay is a legal minimum payment (£123.25 a week for 2026/27, for up to 28 weeks) that employers must pay to eligible employees who are off sick, funded through the employer's payroll. Because it is specifically an employer obligation tied to an employment relationship, the self-employed -- including sole traders, most partners in a partnership, and company directors who do not pay themselves a qualifying salary through PAYE -- have no statutory right to SSP, even though they pay Class 4 (and previously Class 2) National Insurance on their profits. This is a common and important gap in the self-employed safety net that catches many people by surprise. The main state support available instead is New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), which self-employed people may be able to claim if they have paid or been credited with enough Class 2 or Class 3 National Insurance contributions in the relevant tax years, and if their illness or disability limits their ability to work -- this is assessed separately from SSP eligibility and pays a different, generally lower, weekly amount than SSP. Because of this gap, many self-employed people choose to take out private income protection insurance, which can pay a replacement income (often 50% to 70% of earnings) if illness or injury prevents them from working, providing a safety net that state benefits alone do not.
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This answer is informational only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are for the 2025/26 UK tax year. See our methodology and sources.