Statutory payments with an umbrella company

If you are too ill to work, you could be eligible for £116.75 per week Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks. SSP is paid the same way as your regular wages, for example, weekly or monthly, and Tax and National Insurance will be deducted. If you qualify for SSP, you will be paid for all the days you are off sick that you would usually have worked, except for the first three days.

Eligibility

To qualify for SSP, you must:

• Earn an average of at least £123 per week
• Be classed as an employee and have done some work for your employer (for example, your umbrella company)
• Have been ill for more than three days in a row (including non-working days

You must tell your employer you’re unable to work before the deadline they set or within seven days if they have not set one. If you are unsure of the deadline, please contact your umbrella company.

If you are off work for more than seven days in a row (including non-working days), you must give your umbrella company a fit note (also called a sick note). You can obtain a printed or digital fit note from the following healthcare professionals:

• GP or hospital doctor
• Pharmacist
• Registered nurse
• Occupational therapist
• Physiotherapist

How to claim

You must tell your umbrella company by the deadline to claim SSP. Please contact your umbrella company to find out how to notify them that you would like to claim SSP and the deadline. However, if your employer needs something in writing, you can use form SC2.

When you take time off because your partner’s having a baby, having a baby through a surrogacy arrangement or adopting a child, you could be eligible for:

• Paternity pay
• Shared parental leave and pay
• 1 or 2 weeks of paid paternity leave

If the baby is due after April 6th 2024, or on or after April 6th 2024, for adoption, you can take one or two weeks ‘ leave. A week of leave is the same number of days that you usually work in a week. For example, if you only work on Wednesdays and Thursdays, then a week of leave is two days.

The statutory weekly rate for paternity pay is £184.03 or 90% of your weekly earnings – whichever is lower. Paternity pay is paid the same way as your wages, for example, weekly or monthly, and tax and National Insurance will be deducted.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must be taking time off to look after the child and be one of the following:

• The father
• The husband or partner of the mother (or adopter) – including same-sex partners
• The intended parent (if you’re having a baby through a surrogacy arrangement)
• The child’s adopter

It is important to note that you need to meet extra conditions to qualify for pay and leave.
To qualify for paternity leave, you must:

• Be an employee
• Have been continuously employed by your employer (for example, your umbrella company) for at least 26 weeks up to any day in the ‘qualifying week’
• Give the correct notice

The ‘qualifying week’ is the 15th week before the baby is due. Please note, this is different if you adopt.

To qualify for paternity pay, you must:

• Earn an average of at least £123 a week (before tax)
• Be employed by your employer up to the date of the child’s birth
• Give the correct notice
• Have been continuously employed by your employer (for example, your umbrella company) for at least 26 weeks up to the end of any day in the ‘qualifying week’

The ‘qualifying week’ is the 15th week before the baby is due. Please note, this is different if you adopt.

How to claim

Both paternity pay and paternity leave can be claimed through your employer, and you must give at least 15 weeks’ notice. It is important to check with your employer about how to claim, as some umbrella companies have their own form you are required to complete. If your umbrella company does not have its own form, you can complete an online form and send it to your employer.