Statutory Sickness SSP Forms
In the UK employers must use statutory sick forms SSP1 and SC2 (or the employers' own self-certification form) for legal compliance and record-keeping when dealing with employee sickness and Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). SSP records must be kept for at least 3 years after the end of the tax year to which they relate.
Employers must issue SSP1 when an employee cannot pay statutory sick pay or when SSP entitlement ends. The SSP1 form must be provided to the employee within 7 days of SSP ending or being refused.
SC2 is the government form for employees to self-certify their illness and can be used for up to 7 days of illness. Many businesses choose to use their own self-certification form. A template can be downloaded at Sickness and Self-Certification Form.
When are Employees Entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)?
To be entitled to SSP, employees must:
- Be classed as an employee and cannot be self-employed;
- Have done some work; and
- Notify their employer of sickness, according to the employer's reporting rules. This notification can be by using form SC2 or the employer's own self-certification form for sickness of up to 7 days. If sickness lasts for more than 7 days, a doctor's sick/fit note is required.
As of 6 April 2026, the rules on SSP are changing and:
- SSP will be payable from the first day of sickness absence; and
- The Lower Earnings Limit will be removed, meaning that all employees will be eligible for SSP regardless of earnings.
SSP is only payable for 28 weeks. When this stops, the employer should issue form SSP1 in order to enable the employee to claim Employment and Support Allowance.
How does subscription to Employment assist with SSP Forms?
Sickness and absence from work requires proper management and documentation to maintain compliance with legal responsibilities, and help sustain productivity within the workforce. In addition to these SSP forms Employment provides a range of templates from Sickness Policy to sequences to letters to employees to ensure correct communication when having to deal with sickness including frequent and long-term.
The portfolio also provides a extensive selection of templates to help manage the whole cycle of an employment relationship from, inter alia, recruiting and contracting with staff to dealing with disciplinary matters and redundancy.
Statutory Sickness SSP Forms is part of Employment. Just £38.50 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Employment for 1 year.