SSP1 form when sick pay ends

Use the current employer form when an employee cannot get Statutory Sick Pay or their SSP is coming to an end.

Official DWP form

Get the 2026/27 SSP1 form on GOV.UK

Download the current six-page employer form, fill it on screen or print it, then give the completed form to the employee.

Download the current SSP1 →

Which SSP deadline applies?

Employee is not eligible

Give SSP1 within 7 days of the employee's first day off sick and state why SSP is not payable.

SSP is expected to run out

Give SSP1 on or before the beginning of week 23 when sickness is expected to continue past the 28-week SSP limit.

SSP ends unexpectedly

Give SSP1 within 7 days of SSP ending if the entitlement stops unexpectedly while the employee remains sick.

How employer and employee use SSP1

1

Employer checks the SSP position

Confirm whether an exception applies or whether the employee is approaching the 28-week maximum, including linked sickness periods.
2

Employer completes the current form

Use the 2026/27 SSP1 from GOV.UK and explain the non-entitlement or ending date in the employer sections.
3

Employer gives SSP1 to the employee

Do not keep the only completed copy. The employee needs the form to support the next benefit application.
4

Employee considers UC or ESA

Use SSP1 as evidence when applying, but check the separate eligibility rules because the form does not itself award a benefit.

SSP1 does not replace the payroll calculation

Use the SSP calculator to check the payment amount and 28-week position. SSP1 records why payment is unavailable or ending; it does not calculate the employee's final SSP or decide a Universal Credit or ESA claim.

Frequently asked questions

What is form SSP1?

SSP1 is the employer form used when an employee is not entitled to Statutory Sick Pay or when their SSP is ending. The employer completes it and gives it to the employee, who can use it to support an application for Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance.

Who fills in the SSP1 form?

The employer fills in SSP1 and gives the completed form to the employee. Employees should not complete the employer decision sections themselves.

When must an employer give form SSP1?

If the employee does not qualify for SSP, the employer must send SSP1 within 7 days of the first sick day. If SSP is expected to run out while sickness continues, it is due on or before the start of week 23. If SSP ends unexpectedly, it is due within 7 days of the ending date.

What can an employee claim with SSP1?

GOV.UK says an employee may use SSP1 to support an application for Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance. The form does not guarantee entitlement; DWP assesses the benefit claim separately.

Can an employer issue SSP1 before 28 weeks?

Yes. GOV.UK says an employer can complete SSP1 before SSP ends if it is known that the employee will remain sick for more than 28 weeks, allowing the employee to start an ESA application before SSP finishes.

What if I disagree with the SSP1 decision?

First ask your employer to explain or correct the decision. If the issue is not resolved, you can ask HMRC's Statutory Payment Disputes Team for a formal decision about SSP entitlement.

Is there a separate SSP1 form for 2026/27?

Yes. GOV.UK published a 2026/27 SSP1 reflecting the rules from 6 April 2026. Use the current form linked from the official publication page rather than an older downloaded copy.

Official sources

Related Calculators

Statutory Sick Pay Calculator

SSP at the new 2026/27 rate with day-one entitlement, 80% AWE cap, and employer occupational sick pay.

SC2 Self-Certification Form Guide

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Universal Credit Calculator

Estimate your monthly UC award with child, LCWRA, carer, childcare and housing elements, 55% taper, and benefit cap.

Learn More

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) Explained for 2025-26

A complete guide to UK Statutory Sick Pay for 2025-26: the £118.75 weekly rate, qualifying conditions, waiting days, how SSP interacts with contractual sick pay, and the 2026-27 reforms that scrap the waiting period.