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Self-employment & sickness · UK guide

Self-employed and can’t work? Here’s what you can claim.

Last verified 21 Jun 2026 · Source GOV.UK + Citizens Advice + MoneyHelper

There’s no Statutory Sick Pay if you work for yourself — but you’re not left with nothing. If illness or injury stops you working you may be able to claim New Style ESA (from £95.55/week) on your National Insurance record, top up with Universal Credit, and claim PIP for a long-term condition. Here’s exactly what to claim, and how.

No SSPEmployees only
£95.55/wkNew Style ESA
+ UCIncome top-up
+ PIPLong-term condition
What you can claim → Check my benefits

Why there’s no SSP — and what replaces it

Statutory Sick Pay is paid by an employer to an employee, so the self-employed don’t get it. Instead, the safety net for self-employed illness is built from up to three things, which can stack:

SupportBased onRoughly
New Style ESAYour National Insurance recordFrom £95.55/wk (not means-tested)
Universal CreditYour income & savingsTops up low income / if ESA doesn’t apply
PIPHow a long-term condition affects youExtra-costs payment, not means-tested

1. New Style ESA — your NI safety net

New Style Employment and Support Allowance is the closest thing to sick pay for the self-employed. It’s based on your National Insurance contributions (self-employed Class 2 counts), not your income or savings — so you can claim it even if you have some savings or a working partner.

  • NI test: you usually need enough NI in roughly the last 2–3 tax years (in 2026 that’s the 2023–24 and 2024–25 tax years).
  • Rates: assessment phase £95.55/week (or £75.65 if under 25); the support group (if your condition means you can’t realistically return to work) pays £145.90/week.
  • Paid fortnightly; can be claimed on its own or alongside Universal Credit.
  • You’ll have a Work Capability Assessment to decide your group — see our WCA guide.

Apply via GOV.UK (“New Style ESA”); you’ll need a fit note from your GP for sickness beyond the first week. In Northern Ireland, ESA is run by the Department for Communities, not the DWP — claim through nidirect, the ESA Centre (0800 587 1377) or a Jobs & Benefits office instead.

2. Universal Credit — the income top-up

If you don’t qualify for New Style ESA (not enough NI), or it isn’t enough to live on, claim Universal Credit. It’s based on your income and savings, can include help with rent and children, and can be claimed alongside ESA (the ESA counts as income for UC).

Good news on the Minimum Income Floor

If you’re self-employed on UC and too ill to work, the Minimum Income Floor usually doesn’t apply once you’re found to have limited capability for work — so UC is based on your actual (reduced) earnings, not an assumed minimum-wage figure. See our UC & self-employment guide.

3. PIP — for a longer-term condition

If your illness, injury or disability is likely to affect you for a while, check Personal Independence Payment. It’s for the extra costs of a long-term health condition, is not means-tested and not based on NI, and you can get it whether or not you work and alongside ESA/UC. See our PIP guide. (In Scotland it’s Adult Disability Payment.)

Do this now
  1. Get a fit note from your GP if you’ll be off beyond a week.
  2. Claim New Style ESA on GOV.UK if you’ve paid enough NI — and claim/ top up with Universal Credit if your income is low.
  3. Run a free benefits check and check PIP for a long-term condition so nothing’s missed.

Free help: Citizens Advice Help to Claim 0800 144 8444 · UC helpline 0800 328 5644 · MoneyHelper. This is general information, not advice on a specific claim.

Source verification Primary sources: GOV.UK (New Style ESA; ESA eligibility), Citizens Advice and MoneyHelper. Last verified 21 June 2026. Confidence: High — there is no SSP for the self-employed; New Style ESA is NI-contribution-based (Class 2 counts), not means-tested, with assessment-phase rates of £95.55/week (£75.65 under 25) and £145.90/week in the support group; it can be claimed with Universal Credit; UC is the income-based alternative/top-up and the Minimum Income Floor generally doesn’t apply where there’s limited capability for work; and PIP is a separate, non-means-tested extra-costs benefit for long-term conditions. SortedUK is independent — not a government service — and this is general information, not advice on a specific claim. Get a free benefits check.

Self-employed sick pay — common questions

I only paid Class 2 NI — does that count for ESA?

Yes. Self-employed Class 2 National Insurance contributions count towards New Style ESA. You generally need enough contributions across the last two to three tax years — get a benefits adviser to check your record if you’re unsure.

Can I claim ESA and Universal Credit at the same time?

Yes. New Style ESA can be claimed on its own or alongside UC. The ESA counts as income when UC is worked out, but together they can give you more than either alone — especially if you have rent or children.

What if I can still do a little work?

You may be able to do limited 'permitted work' while on ESA, and UC adjusts to your actual earnings. Tell the DWP what you’re doing and get advice so you don’t accidentally affect your claim.

Should I keep paying Class 2 NI?

Voluntary Class 2 contributions are cheap and protect your State Pension and access to contribution-based benefits like ESA — often worth it for the self-employed. See our National Insurance gaps guide.

No SSP doesn’t mean no support.

Get a fit note, claim New Style ESA and/or Universal Credit, and check PIP for a longer-term condition. Want help working out what you can get?

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