NHS Sick Pay Calculator
Calculate your NHS occupational sick pay entitlement under Agenda for Change — including full pay, half pay, SSP phases, and rolling 12-month tracking.
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Key Dates
Pay Phases
Remaining Entitlement (Rolling 12 Months)
Monthly Pay Estimates
NHS Sick Pay Entitlement Guide
Under Agenda for Change (Section 14), NHS staff receive occupational sick pay based on continuous service length. Entitlement is calculated on a rolling 12-month basis.
| Length of Service | Full Pay | Half Pay | Total Paid Absence |
|---|---|---|---|
| During 1st year | 1 month | 2 months | 3 months |
| During 2nd year | 2 months | 2 months | 4 months |
| During 3rd year | 4 months | 4 months | 8 months |
| 4th & 5th year | 5 months | 5 months | 10 months |
| After 5 years | 6 months | 6 months | 12 months |
Key Rules to Know
Rolling 12-Month Calculation
Your sick pay entitlement is based on a rolling 12-month lookback from the start of each absence. Previous sick days within that window reduce your remaining entitlement. As old absences fall outside the 12-month window, your entitlement is restored.
SSP Runs Alongside OSP
Statutory Sick Pay (£118.75/week in 2025/26) runs concurrently with occupational sick pay. During half pay, your combined half pay + SSP must not exceed your normal full pay. After OSP exhausts, SSP continues up to 28 weeks total.
SSP Waiting Days
SSP has 3 waiting days — it is not paid until the 4th qualifying day. However, NHS occupational sick pay starts from day one. If two absences are within 8 weeks, they are "linked" and waiting days only apply once.
Pregnancy-Related Sickness
Sickness related to pregnancy is recorded separately and does not count towards your sick pay entitlement or trigger sickness absence management procedures. This protection applies throughout pregnancy and for specific post-pregnancy periods.
What Is an NHS Sick Pay Calculator?
An NHS Sick Pay Calculator is an online tool used to estimate the sick pay entitlements for NHS employees. NHS Sick Pay calculator takes into account the individual's length of continuous service under the Agenda for Change (AfC) terms. NHS sick pay is structured to increase with years of service, starting at one month of full pay and two months of half pay for those with less than one year of service, and scaling up to six months of full pay and six months of half pay for employees with five or more years of service.
The primary purpose of the NHS Sick Pay Calculator is to provide employees with a clear understanding of their financial entitlements during periods of illness. By inputting key details such as length of service and salary band, employees can quickly ascertain their likely pay during sick leave. This aids in financial planning and decision-making, and NHS staff can focus on recovery without the added stress of financial uncertainty.
How Does an NHS Sick Pay Calculator Work?
An NHS Sick Pay Calculator functions through a series of steps that help NHS employees determine their sick pay entitlements. Here is a detailed explanation of how the calculator operates:
- Select NHS Pay Band and Pay Point — Users start by choosing their Agenda for Change pay band (Band 2 to Band 9) and their pay point within that band. The calculator auto-fills the annual basic salary based on this selection, though users can edit it for a custom salary.
- Enter Continuous NHS Service — Users select their length of continuous NHS service, from less than 1 year up to 5+ years. This directly determines the sick pay entitlement tier, ranging from 1 month full pay and 2 months half pay up to 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay.
- Enter Weekly Contracted Hours — Users input their weekly contracted hours, with full-time being 37.5 hours. For part-time workers, the calculator adjusts monthly pay estimates on a pro-rata basis to reflect their contracted hours.
- Select Region and HCAS — Users choose their region (England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland). For England, a High Cost Area Supplement option appears, allowing selection of Inner London (20%), Outer London (15%), or Fringe (5%) supplements that affect salary calculations.
- Set Sickness Start Date — Users enter the first day of their current absence. The calculator uses this date to project key dates, including when full pay ends, when half pay ends, and when SSP expires after 28 weeks.
- Enter Previous Sick Days — Users input the number of calendar days of paid sickness taken in the rolling 12-month period before this absence. The calculator deducts these from the entitlement to show the remaining full pay and half pay available.
- Mark Pregnancy-Related Absence — If the sickness is pregnancy-related, users can tick this option. Pregnancy-related absences are recorded separately and do not count towards sick pay entitlement or sickness absence triggers.
- Review Results — The calculator generates a full breakdown including pay phases (full pay, half pay, SSP only, unpaid), key dates, remaining entitlement in the rolling 12-month period, and monthly pay estimates for each phase.
This systematic process ensures NHS employees can determine their sick pay entitlements with precision, supporting better financial management during periods of illness.
Is an NHS Sick Pay Calculator Accurate?
Yes, the NHS Sick Pay Calculator is accurate. The calculator at NHS Pay Calculator that calculates NHS Sick Pay is designed to reflect the official Agenda for Change terms. However, errors can occur due to incorrect user inputs or unconsidered variables like regional variations or recent absence history.
What is NHS Sick Pay?
NHS Sick Pay is a contractual benefit provided to NHS employees under the Agenda for Change terms and conditions. NHS Sick Pay benefit offers financial support to staff unable to work due to illness or injury. The entitlement increases with the length of service, starting from 1 month of full pay and 2 months of half pay for employees with less than one year of service, and extending up to 6 months of full pay and 6 months of half pay for those with five or more years of service.
The approval process for NHS Sick Pay requires prompt notification to the employer about the illness. Employees must provide a fit note from a GP for absences exceeding seven days. The main purpose of NHS Sick Pay is to secure income during periods of incapacity, allowing staff to focus on recovery without financial stress. If the illness or injury is work-related, employees may be eligible for the NHS Injury Allowance, which can supplement sick pay up to 85% of normal earnings for up to 12 months.
Who is eligible for NHS Sick Pay?
NHS Sick Pay eligibility extends to all staff under Agenda for Change contracts. This includes full-time, part-time, and fixed-term employees, provided they meet the necessary service requirements and qualifying conditions.
What are the qualifying conditions for NHS Sick Pay?
NHS Sick Pay qualifying conditions are defined by specific service and notification criteria. Employees must have at least 12 months of continuous NHS service to qualify for full occupational sick pay. This service requirement ensures that employees have a sustained commitment to the NHS before accessing full benefits. Employees must report their illness without delay to their employer and provide medical evidence for absences exceeding seven days. This process ensures that the sick pay system supports genuine cases of illness while maintaining operational efficiency within the NHS.
When Does NHS Sick Pay Begin?
NHS Sick Pay begins on the first day of a certified sickness absence. Employees must report their illness to their employer without delay to confirm eligibility for sick pay under the NHS policy.
When does NHS Sick Pay end?
NHS Sick Pay ends when an employee exhausts their entitlement based on their length of continuous service. For those with five or more years of service, this means reaching the maximum entitlement of six months full pay followed by six months half pay.
How much is NHS Sick Pay?
NHS Sick Pay is structured to support employees during periods of illness. For those with less than one year of service, the entitlement is one month of full pay followed by two months of half pay. For employees with five or more years of continuous NHS service, the entitlement increases to six months of full pay followed by six months of half pay. This structure ensures financial stability while encouraging recovery and a return to work.
How does NHS Sick Pay compare to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)?
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is a government benefit providing £109.40 per week to eligible employees who are too ill to work. In contrast, NHS Sick Pay, governed by Agenda for Change terms, offers more generous coverage, providing up to 6 months of full pay and 6 months of half pay for employees with 5 or more years of service.
Does NHS Sick Pay offer more coverage than SSP?
Yes, NHS Sick Pay offers more coverage than Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). NHS Sick Pay provides up to six months of full pay and six months of half pay for employees with five or more years of service, which is more extensive than SSP's flat rate of £109.40 per week for up to 28 weeks.
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