Do I Need a Sick Note for SSP From Day One in the UK? (2026)

Why People Confuse SSP Day One With Fit Note Rules

The April 2026 reforms to Statutory Sick Pay are the most significant changes to UK sick pay law since SSP was introduced in 1983. The removal of the three-day waiting period is a major change — and it has led to widespread confusion about whether documentation requirements have also changed.

They have not. Here is the distinction that matters:

Self-Certification: What It Is and How It Works

Self-certification is the process by which you notify your employer of a sickness absence without providing a doctor’s fit note. UK law permits this for any absence of 7 calendar days or fewer. The 7-day count includes weekends and bank holidays, regardless of your normal working pattern.

The SC2 Form

The most widely known self-certification document is the SC2 form — an HMRC employee statement of sickness available on GOV.UK. According to official GOV.UK guidance, the SC2 can be used to ask your employer for SSP and to self-certify a sick absence or to use alongside a fit note.

However, the SC2 is not the only acceptable format:

• Employer self-certification form or HR portal: Many organisations use their own internal systems. These are equally valid for SSP purposes.
• Return-to-work form: Some employers ask employees to complete this upon return, covering the period of absence.
• Written or email confirmation: A written statement of your absence dates and reason may be accepted depending on employer policy.

How to Self-Certify Sick Leave in the UK: Step by Step

✓ Notify your employer as soon as possible, usually before your shift starts. Most policies require a phone call rather than a text or email. Check your company’s sickness reporting procedure.

✓ Provide the key information: your name, that you are unwell, the reason for absence (in general terms), and your expected return date if known.

✓ Follow your employer’s absence reporting procedure — failure to do so may result in your absence being treated as unauthorised, even if you genuinely were sick.

✓ Complete any self-certification form required by your employer. This is often done when you return to work, depending on company policy. Use the SC2 if your employer has no internal form.

✓ Keep a note of the dates. Self-certification covers day 1 through day 7. Day 1 is the first day you were too unwell to work, not the first day you spoke to HR.

When Is a Fit Note Required? The Day 8 Rule Explained

If your sickness continues beyond 7 consecutive calendar days, your employer can ask you to provide a fit note (officially called a Statement of Fitness for Work, also known as a Med3). This rule has not changed under the April 2026 reforms.

The fit note confirms one of two things:

• “Not fit for work”: You are unable to carry out any work duties during the stated period.
• “May be fit for work”: You could return with adjustments — such as reduced hours, amended duties, phased return, or environmental changes.

Fit notes are usually free from the NHS when issued for absences exceeding 7 days — they are part of standard medical care. If your employer requests medical evidence within the first 7 days (beyond self-certification), a healthcare professional may charge a private fee for this, and your employer should cover that cost.

Who Is Eligible for SSP From Day One? (2026 Rules)

The Employment Rights Act 2025 changed both when SSP starts and who qualifies. From 6 April 2026, the following eligibility criteria apply:

How SSP Is Calculated From 6 April 2026

The 2026 reforms also changed how SSP is calculated for many workers, not just when it starts. From 6 April 2026:

• Standard rate: £123.25 per week (the weekly flat rate for 2026/27).
• Lower earners: If 80% of your average weekly earnings (AWE) is lower than £123.25, you receive the 80% figure. AWE is calculated using the 8 weeks of pay before your sickness began.
• Earning threshold for flat rate: If your AWE is £154.06 or above, the flat rate of £123.25 applies. If it is below this, 80% of your AWE applies.
• Qualifying days only: SSP is paid only for days you would normally be required to work. It is not automatically paid for weekends or rest days unless those are qualifying days for you.
• Daily rate: Divide the applicable weekly rate by the number of qualifying days you have in a week. Example: weekly rate £123.25 ÷ 5 qualifying days = £24.65 per day.

Read our full guide to SSP changes 2026 UK.

What Are Linked Periods of Sickness (PIW)?

If you have repeated absences close together, they may be treated as one continuous Period of Incapacity for Work (PIW) — a concept that matters for both how long SSP is paid and how it is calculated.

Under 2026 rules:

• Two periods of sickness are ‘linked’ if they are separated by 56 days (8 weeks) or fewer. They are treated as one continuous PIW.
• Linked periods use the AWE calculated at the start of the first PIW, not the most recent. This means an employee whose earnings increased between absences may receive a lower SSP rate on the second absence if the periods link.
• The 28-week maximum SSP entitlement continues from where it left off across linked periods — it does not reset.
• If the gap between absences exceeds 56 days, the second period is a fresh PIW with a new 28-week entitlement.

For fit note purposes: each separate absence of 8+ days requires a fit note. Linking only affects SSP calculation and the 28-week clock — not the evidence requirements.

Can Employers Ask for Evidence Before Day 7?

This is a common source of workplace confusion. The short answer is: employers cannot require a fit note during the first 7 days of a standard short-term illness — but they can ask for other forms of evidence under their internal policy.

According to ACAS guidance, a healthcare professional may also refuse to issue a fit note for an absence of 7 days or fewer, since the self-certification system exists precisely for this purpose. If an employer does request early evidence, this is a matter of internal policy rather than a legal SSP requirement.

What Happens If You Don’t Provide a Fit Note After 7 Days?

If your absence continues beyond 7 days and you do not provide a fit note, the following may occur:

• SSP may be delayed or refused — your employer is entitled to withhold SSP until medical evidence is provided for absences exceeding 7 days.
• Your absence may be treated as unauthorised, which can lead to disciplinary procedures depending on your employer’s policy.
• Your employer may request further evidence and set a deadline for its provision.

Explore our full guide on how to get an online fit note in the UK.

If you need a fit note urgently, see our guide on how to get a same day fit note in the UK.

How to Get a Fit Note in the UK (After 7 Days)

You can obtain a fit note through several routes:

Since the July 2022 reforms, fit notes no longer require an ink signature. The issuer’s name and profession serve as authentication, meaning fit notes can be sent and received digitally by email — which is now the default for most GP practices. According to available data, approximately 72% of fit notes issued in 2025 did not specify a reason for sickness absence; they stated fitness status only.

The Fair Work Agency and SSP Enforcement (From April 2026)

A significant but underreported element of the 2026 reforms is the launch of the Fair Work Agency (FWA) on 7 April 2026 — one day after the SSP changes took effect.

The FWA is a new enforcement body with unprecedented powers over SSP compliance:

• Notices of Underpayment: The FWA can issue these for SSP underpayments, payable within 28 days.
• Penalties: 200% of the underpaid amount, capped at £20,000 per worker.
• Cost recovery: The FWA can recover its own enforcement costs from non-compliant employers.

Previously, there was no dedicated agency policing SSP compliance. The creation of the FWA signals that the government intends to enforce the new rules actively. If your employer refuses to pay SSP to which you are entitled — for example, by insisting on a fit note before day 8 as a condition of payment — the FWA is the relevant authority to contact.

Real-Life Scenarios: What Evidence Do You Need?

Scenario 1: 2-day illness

Scenario 2: 7-day illness (Monday to Sunday)

Scenario 3: 10-day illness (Monday to Wednesday of the second week)

Scenario 4: Repeated short absences

Scenario 5: Phased return to work

Common Misconceptions About SSP and Fit Notes

Special Situations to Know

Phased Return to Work

A fit note may state ‘may be fit for work’ and recommend adjustments such as reduced hours or amended duties. From April 2026, SSP is payable for the days you remain absent during a phased return — this is a significant practical change from the previous rules, which often excluded phased returns from SSP entitlement.

Long-Term Illness (12+ Weeks)

Fit notes must be renewed as required. GPs typically issue notes covering up to 3 months during the first 6 months of illness; after 6 months, longer or open-ended notes may be issued. Employers may involve occupational health for independent assessment. After 28 weeks, SSP ends and the employer must issue an SSP1 form so the employee can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) from DWP.

Learn more about long term sick leave rights UK.

Mental Health Conditions

The same rules apply for mental health as for physical conditions. You can self-certify for the first 7 days of a mental health-related absence (including anxiety, stress, or burnout) and receive a fit note if symptoms continue beyond that. Mental health conditions account for an estimated 9.8% of all sickness absence occurrences in the UK (ONS, 2024), and are the leading cause of long-term absence.

New Starters

If you have been employed for less than 8 weeks, your AWE for SSP purposes will be calculated based on whatever earnings data is available. SSP eligibility rules apply from day one of employment — there is no qualifying service period for SSP.

Zero-Hours and Variable-Hours Workers

Fully eligible for SSP from April 2026. Calculating AWE for variable-hours staff can be complex — it uses the 8-week reference period before the sickness began, including all earnings subject to Class 1 National Insurance contributions. If in doubt, contact ACAS or an employment law adviser.

Employer Responsibilities Under the 2026 Rules

Employers have updated obligations under the April 2026 reforms:

✓ Pay SSP from day one of qualifying sickness absence for all eligible employees.

✓ Remove earnings threshold checks from payroll processes — the LEL no longer applies.

✓ Update sickness absence policies that still reference three waiting days or the old LEL. According to employment law advisers, most policies written before 2024 are now out of date on SSP rules.

✓ Accept self-certification for the first 7 days without requiring a fit note.

✓ Handle fit note advice in accordance with the law — if a fit note recommends adjustments, the employer must consider and discuss them.

✓ Do not discriminate based on health conditions. Mental health absence must be managed with the same standard of care as physical illness (Equality Act 2010).

✓ Issue SSP1 form when SSP entitlement is exhausted or the employee does not qualify, so they can claim ESA from DWP.

Employers who do not comply with the new rules risk investigation and penalties from the Fair Work Agency, including Notices of Underpayment with penalties of up to 200% of the underpaid amount (capped at £20,000 per worker).

Key Takeaways

✓ SSP starts from day one of qualifying sickness absence from 6 April 2026.

✓ No fit note is needed for the first 7 calendar days of absence. Self-certification is sufficient.

✓ A fit note is required from day 8 if your absence continues and your employer requests it.

✓ The SC2 form is the standard HMRC self-certification template, but employer forms are equally valid.

✓ Self-certification and SSP are separate systems. Changing when SSP starts does not change when a fit note is needed.

✓ All employees — including part-time, low-paid, and zero-hours workers — are now eligible for SSP regardless of earnings.

✓ The Fair Work Agency (from 7 April 2026) enforces SSP compliance and can penalise employers who underpay.

✓ Fit notes can be obtained digitally by phone or online — a physical GP visit is no longer required.