Leave · 7 min read

Occupational sick pay in the public sector

Contractual sick pay, full pay and half pay periods, and how they relate to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).

Last updated:

More than SSP

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is the legal minimum for eligible employees. Most UK public sector employers offer occupational sick pay: defined periods on full pay and half pay that increase with length of continuous service. SSP is usually paid as part of occupational sick pay, not on top of it.

Service bands and rolling periods

AfC, NJC and Civil Service schemes set how many months of full pay and half pay you receive based on years of service. Some employers use a rolling period (for example four years) limiting how much occupational sick pay you can use in that window. Fit notes are typically required after seven days of self-certification.

Using the sick pay calculators

Select your role, enter years of service and review illustrative full pay and half pay months. Compare across service bands to see how entitlement builds over a career. Always read your employer sickness absence policy.