The UK government announced that there will be updates on the Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) that will improve living standards, boost workers’ rights and create a healthier workforce. These updates will benefit over 1.3 million employees in the UK.
The updates will come into effect on April 6, 2025. In this Pacific Prime UK article, we cover the updates on SSP in the UK and how it affects expats, how to take better care of your health, and what insurance solutions are available for expats in the UK.
What Are The Updates?
Several updates include removing waiting days on receiving SSP for employees, expanding the eligibility to include workers earning lower incomes, and the increased SSP rate. These updates will provide better living standards for employees in the UK.
General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Paul Nowak said “These reforms will stop millions from facing a financial cliff edge if they get sick.”
Here are the key updates to SSP to look out for:
Removal of Waiting Days
This update will reduce financial uncertainty of employees and encourage them to take their sick days as necessary. The SSP will be payable on the first day of sickness, removing the initial three-day waiting period. This will allow people to prioritize their health and get medical help when needed.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall MP said “No one should ever have to choose between their health and earning a living, which is why we are making this landmark change.”
Expansion of Eligibility
All employees, including those earning below the Lower Earnings Limit, will be eligible for SSP. This is to encourage workers to take time off when necessary to recover from their illness without worrying about their income.
The Lower Earnings Limit (currently £123 per week) is the amount that allows an employee to qualify for SSP. This update is expected to lead to better health outcomes for workers and reduce long-term sickness absences.
Increased SSP Rate
From April 6, the SSP rate will increase from £116.75 to £118.75 per week. This is to provide better support, especially for employees with low income that were previously not eligible for SSP.
According to the UK government, this rate will allow more than one million workers on low wages to receive either 80% of their average weekly earnings or the new rate of SSP, whichever is lowest.
How Does This Affect Expats in the UK?
The changes will allow expats to prioritize their health over work without worrying about their finances. Public healthcare is free to all UK citizens, including expats, granted that you have the right visa and work permits.
Finding proper healthcare services can be challenging for expats in the UK since the public sector requires specific legal status for you to have access to their services. While you will be paid SSP if you take your sick days, taking care of your medical expenses will be a challenge.
The changes in SSP are mostly targeting the lower income workers, but the SSP reform affects all employees in the UK. It’s important to stay updated on the latest announcements on your employee rights and compensation.
How To Take Better Care Of Your Health
Employees in the UK should prioritize their health over work. With the UK government’s initiative to ease financial burden on its workforce and increase productivity, you can make use of the SSP improvements to take better care of your health.
Take Sick Days When Needed
Sick days are part of your total compensation, and you should take them whenever you are feeling ill. Working while you are ill can lead to further stress and possible health complications, which can be a big financial burden if you need major treatments or surgeries.
Make sure to call in sick when you need it so that you can be in best shape when you return to work. Put your focus on your recovery, and you will be back to supporting your colleagues in no time.
Don’t Forget Your Mental Health
Prolonged stress can lead to serious health complications that may require major treatments. Your mental health is as important as your physical health; don’t neglect your mental wellbeing for work.
If you have mental health benefits from your company’s group medical plan, take advantage of them so you can take care of your mental wellbeing. Taking time to focus on your mental health is the best way to speed up your recovery.
Enroll In Medical Insurance
When you’re employed, often you will be given medical insurance under your company’s group plan. If you choose to resign or if you lose your job, you lose your medical coverage. In this case, you need to have your own medical insurance plan to protect yourself.
Having your own insurance plan allows you to access healthcare services, whether public or private, whenever you need it. Your coverage can also be tailored to your healthcare needs rather than be limited to your company’s basic coverage.
Further reading: How Health Insurance Helps Make Mental Healthcare More Accessible
Medical Insurance Solutions For Expats in the UK
The coverage and services you can receive from the UK’s public healthcare system depends on your immigration status and the type of visa you have. You may also need to pay an immigration health surcharge as part of your visa application.
This can be a hassle but there are other medical insurance solutions available for expats in the UK. International health insurance, family health insurance, and expat health insurance are some solutions that you can have if you’re an expat in the UK.
International Medical Insurance
International medical insurance can cover individuals, families, and groups. The plans available to each specific group will have its own range of benefits and premium pricing. While it’s not required for expats, it is strongly recommended to get an international health insurance plan.
Here are some benefits of international health insurance:
- Inpatient and outpatient coverage
- Medical emergency coverage
- Medical evacuation and repatriation coverage
- Direct billing
- Worldwide coverage (can include your home country)
- 24-hour emergency assistance
- Renewable policies
- Flexibility in choosing providers
Family Medical Insurance
Having a family health insurance plan will give you peace of mind knowing that your family’s health and wellbeing are protected. You can get the right coverage based on your needs and budget, and have access to the best healthcare service in the UK.
Some of the coverage you can get from a family health insurance plan are:
- Hospitalisation care
- Outpatient treatment (e.g. GP and specialist visits)
- Prescription medication
- Dental care (including orthodontic treatment)
- Vision treatment
- Preventative care (e.g. health check-ups, essential vaccinations)
- Alternative medicine
- Companion bed/hospital expenses
- Europe-wide or worldwide coverage
Expat Medical Insurance
For many expats, getting an expat health insurance plan is a requirement for their visa application when moving to a new country. This insurance plan allows you to customize your coverage and benefits to provide you all the healthcare services you need while living abroad, especially in the UK.
Some of the coverage and benefits for expat medical insurance include:
- Inpatient and outpatient treatments
- Emergency evacuation and repatriation
- CT, PET, and MRI scans
- Chronic conditions
- Second medical opinion services
- Pre-existing condition coverage
- Maternity care
- Newborn child care
- Dental care
- Vision care
Have Pacific Prime Take Care Of Your Medical Insurance Needs in the UK!
While working is important, your health matters more. Take advantage of your sick days and recover from your illness as needed. Your wellbeing is more important; make sure you have access to the right healthcare services to stay protected while living in the UK.
If you are unsure on what insurance plan would suit you best, you can reach out to our team at Pacific Prime UK for help. Our team will provide you with unbiased advice and provide plan options based on your unique needs and budget.
Contact us today for a FREE no-obligation plan comparison!
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