Overview
- From April 6, Statutory Sick Pay will start on the first day of illness and no lower earnings limit will apply.
- Payments will be set at 80% of average weekly earnings, capped at the uprated flat rate of £123.25 per week.
- The government and DWP say about 15 million workers will benefit overall, including up to 1.3 million low‑paid workers who were previously excluded.
- Transitional rules cover absences that began before April 6, with eligibility tied to start dates from September 22, 2025 and an eight‑week return‑to‑work break to reset linked sickness periods.
- The change lands alongside six other measures in the Employment Rights Act, with enforcement moving to the new Fair Work Agency and unfair‑dismissal protection due to drop to six months from January 1, 2027, as unions tout gains and employers prepare payroll updates.