According to SSP guidance, an employee's average earnings must exceed the Lower Earnings Limit (LEL). The Average Weekly Earnings (AWE) is calculated based on the eight weeks prior to the start of the Period of Incapacity for Work (PIW).
To qualify for SSP, ensure that employees have an average above the LEL for the past eight weeks.
If you wish to pay the employee SSP despite their AWE being lower than the LEL, you can update the Average Weekly Earnings toggle.
To do this, follow the steps below.
Click Settings then under UK Tax Rates, click General.
From the Pay Group Code drop down menu, select the relevant pay group
Under General, turn on Average Earnings toggle.
📌Note: Enabling this option means you will pay SSP regardless of an employee's AWE, even if it falls below the LEL. This adjustment will apply system-wide and affect all employees. You cannot configure this setting for an individual employee only.
If the AWE is incorrect, check the incorrect AWE for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), as it affects all statutory sick pay calculations.
If the employee does have an average above the LEL, please raise a new case online, referencing this article's title and include the following details:
The dates for which SSP should have been generated.
The employee number.