The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is set to raise the rate of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from April 2025, benefiting over one million workers across the UK. The change will see the weekly SSP amount increase from £116.75 to £118.75, providing a much-needed financial boost to eligible individuals.
According to Devon Live, this increase comes as part of a broader government initiative designed to address the financial pressures faced by workers during illness. While the move is welcomed by many, its long-term impact remains a topic of discussion. Further details of the update have raised important questions for future workers’ rights.
Who Is Affected by the Increase?
The new SSP rate will affect workers earning at least £123 per week and who have been ill for more than three consecutive days. Around 1.3 million low-income employees will benefit from this increase. They will either receive 80% of their weekly earnings or the new SSP rate, depending on which amount is lower.
To qualify for SSP, individuals must be employed, earn at least £123 per week, and have been unable to work due to illness for more than three days. Additionally, a sick note is required if the illness extends beyond seven days, as per the guidelines from the DWP.
The government also adds:
You can still qualify if you started your job recently and you have not received eight weeks’ pay yet. Ask your employer to find out more.
The Government’s Plan for Change
This change is part of the government’s ‘Plan for Change’, which aims to improve the balance between providing support for sick workers and controlling costs for businesses. The government believes that this initiative will help ensure that workers do not face the difficult choice of sacrificing their health for financial reasons.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner emphasised the importance of this reform, saying :
What we put into our workforce, we get back and more. That’s why we’re making Statutory Sick Pay a right for every worker for the first time so people can stay in work rather than risk dropping out.
This is a pro-worker, pro-business government in action – boosting productivity while ensuring people don’t have to choose between health and wealth, helping deliver our Plan for Change – she added.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall MP, also highlighted the significance of the new SSP rate, stating:
For too long, sick workers have had to decide between staying at home and losing a day’s pay or soldiering on at their own risk just to make ends meet. No one should ever have to choose between their health and earning a living, which is why we are making this landmark change.
The new rate is good for workers and fair on businesses as part of our plan to boost rights and Make Work Pay, while delivering our Plan for Change – she concluded.
Key Reactions to the Update
Paul Nowak, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), expressed strong support for the reform:
Nobody should be plunged into hardship when they become ill. These reforms will stop millions from facing a financial cliff edge if they get sick.
He continued,
Making statutory sick pay available to all workers—and from day one—shows why the government’s Employment Rights Bill is so important. With sick pay rights from the first day of sickness, you will know that your family is protected.
And you can take the time you need to recover. We hope this is the start of a programme of sick pay reform and will continue to make the case for higher future sick pay rates.
The DWP‘s decision to raise SSP came after a six-week consultation period, which involved over 1,700 responses from workers, businesses, charities, and unions. This input helped shape the new policy to ensure it met the needs of both workers and employers.
The DWP has also indicated that it will seek a Legislative Consent Motion to extend these changes to Northern Ireland, ensuring that all UK workers benefit from the increased SSP rate.
