2021/22

Statutory pay

• Payments may be required from an employer if an employee is not at work for a variety of reasons.
• There are detailed conditions for an employee to qualify for any of these statutory payments.
• Employees are only eligible for a statutory payment if they have sufficient average weekly earnings of at least the lower earnings limit.

Statutory Sick Pay

• Payments may be required from an employer if an employee is too ill to work.
• SSP is generally payable for a period up to 28 weeks.

SSP support during coronavirus outbreak

The government temporarily made SSP more accessible to employees in response to the coronavirus outbreak. During the outbreak SSP was available from the first day of absence, including for those self-isolating or caring for others.

The government supported small and medium-sized businesses and employers to cope with the extra costs of paying coronavirus related SSP by refunding eligible SSP costs.

Statutory Maternity Pay

• Payments may be required from an employer when an employee takes time off to have a baby.
• SMP is payable for a period up to 39 weeks.

Statutory Paternity Pay

• Payments may be required from an employer when an employee takes time off during their partner's Statutory Maternity Pay period.
• Payment is for a period of either one or two complete weeks.

Shared Parental Pay

• Payments may be required from an employer when an employee takes time off following the curtailment of the period of SMP by the mother.
• Payment is for up to a maximum of 37 weeks and is dependent on the mother's unused SMP period.

Statutory Adoption Pay

• Payments may be required from an employer when an employee takes time off when they adopt a child.
• Payment is for a period up to 39 weeks.

Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay

• Payments may be required from an employer when parents take time off following the death of a child or a stillbirth.
• Payment is for up to a maximum of two weeks.