SPM10330 - Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) - Forms and Guidance: SSP1 - Change-over form

If an employee is not entitled to SSP and has been off sick for four or more consecutive days, they may be entitled to state ESA from 27 October 2008.

To enable the employee to submit a claim for ESA, regulation 15 of the Statutory Sick Pay General Regulations 1982 requiresthe employer to give them a completed form SSP1, or their own computerised version with a blank form SSP1. This must be issued:

• no later than the seventh calendar day after the sickness has been notified, or if this is not practicable, (for example because of payroll arrangements)
• by the next normal pay day in the tax month after sickness has been notified,
• and the employer should return any medical certificates held that cover periods for which SSP is not payable.

If the employer uses their own computerised version of form SSP1, the form must include all the information contained on the DWP Form SSP1.

Copies of form SSP1 are available from Jobcentre Plus Social Security Agency Offices. They can also be completed on-line from the DWP website www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/ssp1-08-print.pdf.

For Employers who are based in Northern Ireland or who have workers in NI there is a NI version of form SSP1 available from the Social Security Agency (SSA) website