Exceptions

Certain categories of people are excluded from SSP entitlement. If you are in any of these categories, your employer must supply you with form SSP1, giving details of your exclusion, within seven days of your illness. You will need this form SSP1 if you wish to claim ESA (see page 46).

You won’t qualify if you:

• have received the maximum amount of SSP (28 weeks);

• have taken three years or more linked periods of sickness, i.e. where four or more days of sickness occur within eight weeks of each other;

• are getting Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay or Additional Statutory Paternity Pay.

Your entitlement to SSP covers any period of illness up to a maximum of 28 weeks. After this period you should be transferred to ESA if you are still off work through illness, as long as you meet the necessary contribution conditions for that benefit. If you do not meet the conditions, you may be able to claim Income Support (see below).