Sickness certificates
If you are off sick from work, you are entitled to Statutary Sick Pay ( SSP ) if employed, or Incapacity Benefit if self employed.
You should tell your employer you are sick as soon as possible, as your employer may not pay you SSP if you tell them you are sick more than 7 days after you first became ill.
Your employer cannot insist on a sick note from your Doctor for the first 7 days but may ask for a self certificate SC2 which you can get from your GP surgery or HM Revenue and Customs website
After 7 days you will need a Doctors certificate,but you may not need to see your GP if you have been seen by another doctor for instance in hospital.
For more information visit www.dwp.gov.uk
