The DWP and DHSC Joint Work and Health Directorate have updated form SSP1 on 12th October 2026 with an added reason for use by employers for non-payment of SSP.
This relates to the changes introduced from 6th April 2026 where waiting days and earnings tests were removed.
The form has been adjusted to include an option for those who have had nil earnings in the prior 8 weeks before their sickness absence began.
They have added and published a new version with the following check box to the form that can be ticked as follows: ‘Your earnings in the 8 weeks before your sickness absence began were £0.’
If your employee does not qualify for SSP the employer must send them form SSP1 within 7 days of their first day off sick.
PAYadvice.UK 18/10/2026
Useful heads-up, thank you. Since the April 2026 changes removed both the waiting days and the earnings test, our payroll team has been unsure how to document decisions for casual and zero-hours staff with nil earnings in the relevant 8-week period. The new £0 checkbox on the SSP1 makes that position explicit and should make the employee’s onward claim for benefit much smoother. Worth reminding clients too that the form still has to be issued within 7 days when someone doesn’t qualify.