What Is NHS Sick Pay? (Updated for 2025/26)
NHS Sick Pay is a generous occupational sick pay scheme available to most NHS employees. It provides income protection when you are unable to work due to illness. Unlike Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), NHS Sick Pay includes:
- Full pay periods
- Half pay periods
- Guaranteed minimum earnings
- Protection based on long service
- A rolling 12-month entitlement
NHS Sick Pay Entitlement Table (Agenda for Change)
| Continuous NHS Service | Full Pay | Half Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 1 month | 1 month |
| 1 year | 1 month | 2 months |
| 2 years | 2 months | 2 months |
| 3 years | 4 months | 5 months |
| 4 years | 5 months | 5 months |
| 5+ years | 6 months | 6 months |
This applies to all Agenda for Change staff, whether you are Band 2 or Band 9.
NHS Sick Pay for Each Band (Band 2 to Band 9)
Band 2 NHS Sick Pay (2025/26)
Band 2 Healthcare Assistants, Support Workers, and Clerical Assistants receive the standard AfC sick pay entitlement. Their length of service – not pay band, determines their NHS full-pay and half-pay periods.
Short service staff (under 1 year) get:
- 1 month full pay
- 1 month half pay
After 5+ years:
- 6 months full pay + 6 months half pay
Band 3 NHS Sick Pay (2025/26)
Band 3 roles such as Senior Healthcare Assistants, Support Workers, and Therapy Assistants follow the same entitlement rules as Band 2. Differences in daily sick pay calculations come from:
- Higher hourly/annual salary
- Pro-rated hours if part-time
Band 4 NHS Sick Pay (2025/26)
Band 4 Assistant Practitioners, Associate Practitioners, and Administrative Supervisors receive the same NHS sick pay entitlement based on service years. Band 4 staff with more than 2 years of service benefit significantly from increased full-pay allowances.
Band 5 NHS Sick Pay (2025/26)
Band 5 Nursing, Radiography, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, and other clinical roles often have:
- 3–5+ years of NHS service
- Full entitlement to up to 6 months full pay + 6 months half pay
Band 6 NHS Sick Pay (2025/26)
Band 6 roles — Senior Nurses, Specialist Practitioners, Paramedics, Team Leaders — normally enjoy longer service and therefore:
- Higher entitlement
- Larger daily rate during full or half pay
- Lower risk of falling to SSP or unpaid leave early
Band 7 NHS Sick Pay (2025/26)
Band 7 professionals, including Ward Managers, Advanced Clinical Practitioners, and Senior Allied Health Professionals, usually qualify for the maximum entitlement due to their service length.
They receive the same structure but with a higher salary base:
- Full Pay: salary ÷ 260 working days
- Half Pay: 50% salary (but never below SSP daily rate)
Band 8a NHS Sick Pay (2025/26)
Band 8a managers and senior clinicians receive the same entitlement as lower bands but with:
- Significantly higher daily pay during full-pay phases
- Much higher half-pay values
- SSP top-ups only in very rare cases
Band 8b NHS Sick Pay (2025/26)
Band 8b professionals — often senior managers, service leads, and high-level specialists — follow identical sick pay rules. Sick pay amounts scale with salary, not band.
Band 8c NHS Sick Pay (2025/26)
Band 8c staff represent some of the highest paid AfC employees. They benefit from the same entitlement but must be aware that:
- Long-term sickness can significantly affect pension decisions
- Half pay is still capped at minimum SSP guarantee
Band 8d NHS Sick Pay (2025/26)
Band 8d managers and executives follow the same 6-month / 6-month structure and often hit the financial threshold for:
- Pension tiers
- Pay protection rules
- Local HR management involvement
Band 9 NHS Sick Pay (2025/26)
Band 9 roles: NHS Directors, Chief Operating Officers, and senior national leadership roles — receive:
- Up to 6 months full pay
- Up to 6 months half pay
- Minimum guarantee not to fall below SSP
Even though Band 9 salaries are extremely high compared to lower bands, the entitlement length is identical.
How NHS Sick Pay Is Calculated?
1. Full Pay Calculation
You receive your normal salary, including:
- Basic pay
- Standard enhancements (if contractual)
- High-cost area supplements
SSP is included within NHS pay , not on top.
2. Half Pay Calculation
You receive:
- 50% of your salary or
- SSP rate (£116.75/week)
Whichever is higher.
3. SSP-Only Period
Once full and half pay are exhausted, you receive SSP only, up to 28 weeks total.
4. No Pay
When all entitlement ends, you may apply for:
- ESA
- Universal Credit
- Occupational Health review
- Possible ill-health retirement
The Rolling 12-Month Rule Explained
NHS Sick Pay entitlement is based on sickness taken in the past 365 days, not the calendar year.
This means:
- Any sick leave in the past 12 months reduces available entitlement
- Long-term absence quickly uses full-pay periods
- As older sickness passes 12 months old, entitlement gradually returns
Example:
- Band 6 nurse used 40 days sick pay in March
- New sickness in November
- Those 40 days reduce available full/half pay
- In the following March, those days drop off and entitlement restores
This is why NHS sick pay calculators must factor in previous sickness days, otherwise results are inaccurate.
Examples of NHS Sick Pay Scenarios
Band 2 HCA, Less Than 1 Year Service
- 1 month full pay
- 1 month half pay
If sick for 10 weeks:
- 4 weeks full pay
- 4 weeks half pay
- Remaining time SSP or unpaid
Band 3 NHS Sick Pay Example – Short Service
Role: Band 3 Senior Healthcare Assistant
Service: 9 months continuous NHS service
Salary: £25,500 (full-time)
Previous sickness (last 12 months): 0 days
Current sickness: 6 weeks (30 working days)
Entitlement:
- Full pay: 1 month
- Half pay: 1 month
Outcome:
- First 4 weeks → Full pay
- Next 2 weeks → Half pay
- No SSP-only or unpaid period
Band 4 NHS Sick Pay Example – Previous Sickness Used
Role: Band 4 Assistant Practitioner
Service: 2 years
Salary: £29,000
Previous sickness: 20 working days earlier in the year
Current sickness: 8 weeks (40 working days)
Entitlement:
- Full pay: 2 months (≈43 working days)
- Half pay: 2 months (≈43 working days)
Adjustment:
- 20 days already used from full pay
- Remaining full pay ≈ 23 days
Outcome:
- 23 days → Full pay
- 17 days → Half pay
- No SSP-only period
Band 5 Nurse, 3 Years’ Service
- Full Pay: 4 months
- Half Pay: 5 months
If sick for 8 weeks:
- Entire period covered by full pay
If previously used 2 months full pay:
- Only 2 months remaining
Band 5 NHS Sick Pay Example – Long-Term Sickness
Role: Band 5 Staff Nurse
Service: 5 years
Salary: £33,487
Previous sickness: 0 days
Current sickness: 9 months continuous absence
Entitlement:
- Full pay: 6 months
- Half pay: 6 months
Outcome:
- Months 1–6 → Full pay
- Months 7–9 → Half pay
- SSP included within pay
- No unpaid period yet
Band 6 NHS Sick Pay Example – Part-Time Worker
Role: Band 6 Specialist Nurse
Service: 4 years
Hours: 30 hours per week (0.8 WTE)
Salary (FTE): £42,000
Previous sickness: 0 days
Current sickness: 12 weeks
Entitlement:
- Full pay: 5 months (pro-rated by hours)
- Half pay: 5 months (pro-rated)
Outcome:
- Entire absence covered by full pay
- Pay is calculated at 0.8 of full-time salary
- Full entitlement remains partially unused
Band 7 NHS Sick Pay Example – Rolling 12-Month Impact
Role: Band 7 Ward Manager
Service: 6 years
Salary: £52,000
Previous sickness:
- 3 months sickness 8 months ago
New sickness: 10 weeks
Entitlement:
- Full pay: 6 months total
- Half pay: 6 months total
Adjustment:
- Only 3 months of full pay remain due to earlier absence
Outcome:
- First 3 months : Full pay
- Remaining weeks : Half pay
- No SSP-only period
Fit Notes & Self-Certification Rules
Self-Certification (Days 1–7)
No GP note required. Use your employer’s form or NHS self-certification process.
Fit Notes (Day 8 onwards)
A doctor must issue a note with either:
- “Not fit for work”
- “May be fit for work with adjustments”
Employers must consider reasonable adjustments before rejecting a “may be fit” recommendation.
NHS Sick Pay FAQ
Key Takeaways for NHS Sick Pay
- NHS Sick Pay depends on service length, not band
- All bands (Band 2–Band 9) follow identical entitlement structure
- Bank holidays falling within your absence are usually not counted towards your sickness allowance
- Half pay never falls below the SSP minimum
- Entitlement is based on a rolling 12-month period
- Previous sickness reduces available full-pay and half-pay days
