Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): employer guide

Skip contents

Help with sick pay

If you’re insolvent

HMRC will pay SSP for any employee who continues to work for you if they were sick when you became insolvent. Tell your employee to contact the Statutory Payment Disputes Team.

Statutory Payment Disputes Team
Telephone: 03000 560 630
Find out about call charges.

If their sickness continues and you terminate their contract, give them a completed SSP1 form so they can claim Employment and Support Allowance instead.

  1. Step 1 Decide what type of employee you need

  2. and Check you can afford to take on employees

  3. Step 2 Make your workplace safe and accessible for employees

  4. Step 3 Register as an employer and set up PAYE

    You need to register with HMRC so you can pay tax and national insurance for your employees.

    1. Register as an employer and set up PAYE
    2. Choose how to run payroll
    3. If you decide to run payroll yourself, choose payroll software
  5. Step 4 Check your responsibilities around workplace pensions

  6. Step 5 Get Employers' Liability insurance

  7. Step 6 Recruit and employ staff