Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
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Most full time contracts will include a number of sick days where you will receive a salary during your period of absence, however you often have to have worked your role for a period of time before you are open to this benefit
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All employees are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay, no matter how long you have been working there, if you are considered too ill to work (different rules apply for agricultural workers, see the information here)
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This comes to £89.35 a week, and is paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks
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Eligibility SSP includes:
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If you are classed as an employee and have done some work for your employer
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If you have been off work sick for 4 or more days in a row (including non-working days)
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If you earn at least £113 (before tax) per week (this equates to a yearly salary of £5,876)
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If you have told your employer you are sick before their deadline (check your contract to see when this might be), if they do not have a deadline, you must inform them within a 7 day period
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If you are regularly sick, your sicknesses may be considered 'linked'. If this is the case, you will not be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay if you have continuous linked periods which last more than 3 years
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If you are not eligible you can find out about the Employment Support Allowance here
Long Term Illness
In some cases individuals can still work with a long term illness, they just may need periods of absence throughout the year for hospital visits or other medical related needs. In these cases you would be able to disclose a disability.
The UK Government also offers a variety of benefits to support individuals who are suffering from long-term unemployment due to sickness. You can find more information about benefits and how to claim them here. For full information, go to the Government website here