Your sick pay gap calculator

Would your sick pay cover the bills? Enter your pay after tax, monthly bills, savings and employer's sick pay details to estimate your income while you're ill and how long your savings could cover any shortfall.

Figures from GOV.UK and the Department for Work and Pensions, checked 11 November 2026.

Three quick questions

Drag the slider or type in your pay. Use the amount that goes into your bank after tax.

What sick pay does your employer give?

Not sure? Check your contract or staff handbook. Look for company sick pay.

Savings you could put towards bills

We've assumed

Tap a line to change it.

Essential bills of £1,800 a monthChange
Your essential bills each month

Include rent or mortgage, council tax, energy, food, travel and loan payments. Add anything else you need to pay.

New Style ESA after Statutory Sick Pay endsChange
What money would you count after Statutory Sick Pay ends?

This is a rough guide. Benefits depend on your situation.

Your time off begins this monthChange

This month counts from today. Other months count from the 1st.

Your plan for the next 12 monthsChange
Months you want to plan for

What your figures show

Add your monthly take-home pay and essential bills to get your results.

The rules for Statutory Sick Pay

Statutory Sick Pay sets the lowest sick pay an employer can give you. It is for employees who are too ill to work. Three rules changed on 6 April 2026.

  • How much you get

    £123.25 a week

    You get £123.25 a week, or 80% of your average weekly earnings if that is lower. The 80% rule began on 6 April 2026.

  • How long it lasts

    Up to 28 weeks

    Your employer pays it like your wages for up to 28 weeks. Tax and National Insurance are taken off.

  • From April 2027

    £127.55 a week

    The weekly rate is due to rise to £127.55 from 6 April 2027. This comes from the proposed rates the Department for Work and Pensions published on 11 November 2026.

Method and sources
  • Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) starts on your first full day off sick. The three unpaid waiting days ended on 6 April 2026.
  • The minimum weekly earnings rule ended on 6 April 2026.
  • Your employer's sick pay scheme can pay more than SSP, never less.
  • A month is 52 weeks divided by 12.
  • Sums start today for this month, or the 1st of a later month. Weeks starting on or after 6 April 2027 use new rates.
  • Full pay means take home pay. Half pay is half that or SSP if higher, and company sick pay counts towards SSP's 28 weeks.
  • SSP is before tax. Your employer may take tax off.
  • Each month's gap is essential bills minus money coming in. Extra income is not added to savings.
  • Benefits start the week after all your employer's sick pay ends. New Style ESA assumes you are 25 or over with enough National Insurance payments.
  • ESA pays £95.55 weekly at the assessment rate for 13 weeks, then £95.55 in the work related activity group or £145.90 in the support group. Proposed April 2027 rates are £98.90 and £151.00.
  • Universal Credit uses the single person's standard allowance for ages 25 and over, £424.90 monthly, or £443.21 from April 2027 (proposed). Savings over £6,000 reduce it and over £16,000 stop it, with housing costs, children and other extras left out.
  • Your partner's income and existing insurance are left out.
  • Gap left after savings is the total gap for your chosen months minus usable savings.

This is information, not advice. Results use only the figures you enter, so check your own sick pay with your employer.

The sums run in your browser. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere.

Built by Paul Gillooly, Founder, PJG Financial. Figures last checked 11 November 2026; next check when the rates change in April 2027.

You can quote and share these figures with a credit and a link to this page.

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