Last Updated 6th May 2026. If you have found yourself asking, ‘Do I get full pay if injured at work?’, you are likely in a difficult situation. In short, employers are not legally required to provide their workers with full pay. However, most employees are entitled to apply for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), and an employer may have a company sick scheme that can top these payments up or fully cover your wages for a specific period.
Sick pay can range from your full income to a partial payment or the legally established minimum. However, by making a personal injury claim, you can be compensated for your full pay, amongst other financial losses (such as medical expenses) resulting from the harm you suffered because of a negligent employer’s actions.
Key Takeaways
- Employers may provide your full pay under sick pay, but they do not legally have to
- You should check your contract and your employer’s policies for specific details
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is legally required to be paid to you if you are eligible
- Compensation can cover your future lost earnings and any other financial consequences of an injury
- Through a workplace accident claim, you can recover your full lost earnings, as this can top up any reduced sick pay to the full amount
Our friendly team of advisors understand that you may be under a lot of stress, so they are happy to give you the information you need. They can also assess your eligibility to make a compensation claim with a solicitor of ours. There is no obligation to start the process after enquiring, so why not get in touch for free advice?
Jump To A Section
- What Happens To Your Pay If You’re Injured At Work?
- Do I Get Full Pay If I’m Injured At Work?
- Can I Claim Compensation For Lost Earnings After A Workplace Injury?
- Can You Claim Full Pay Through A Workplace Accident Claim?
- Is It A Legal Requirement For Employers To Provide Full Pay If Injured At Work?
- What Is Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) And Who Can Claim It?
- Will I Be Entitled To Contractual Or Company Sick Pay?
- What Evidence Is Needed To Prove Loss Of Income?
- Is There A Time Limit To Being Off Work On Sick Pay?
- How Can Public Interest Lawyers Help Me Claim For Lost Pay?
- Can I Claim For Lost Earnings On A No Win No Fee Basis?
- Learn More
What Happens To Your Pay If You’re Injured At Work?
Generally, what happens to your pay if you’re injured at work depends on whether your employer has an occupational sick pay scheme and your entitlement to SSP. Since employers are not required to offer their own sick pay, many workers claim SSP. This is the minimum amount that you are eligible to receive under certain conditions. We explain this in further detail later in the guide.
When asking, ‘Do I get full pay if injured at work?’, the answer can seem complicated. You can speak directly with an advisor from our team to get tailored advice for your specific circumstances.
Do I Get Full Pay If I’m Injured At Work?
You aren’t guaranteed to get full pay if you’re injured at work, as this depends on the nature of your employer’s sick pay scheme and whether one exists. It’s best to discuss the matter directly with your employer to understand their specific approach to sick pay.
Some employers provide paid time off for illness, either at full pay or at a reduced rate. For example, you may still get paid 50% of your wage during the time you take off work.
Speak with our advisors for more information on the question, ‘Do I get full pay if injured at work?’ They understand that navigating such questions can be stressful when you are already dealing with injuries, and are always ready to offer free and straightforward advice.
Can I Claim Compensation For Lost Earnings After A Workplace Injury?
Yes, you can claim compensation for lost earnings after a workplace injury if your employer’s negligent actions directly caused you harm. According to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA), your employer has a responsibility to take reasonable steps to ensure your health, well-being, and safety. Therefore, an employer may be negligent if their failure to take such steps, such as not providing personal protective equipment (PPE), results in injury.
Lost earnings fall under a head of claim called special damages, which can be awarded in cases where an injury has had a financial impact. Earnings can encompass:
- Income
- Overtime pay
- Bonuses
- Pension contributions
If your injury has long-term financial consequences, special damages may also cover potential future loss of earnings and reduced employment prospects.
Our advisors are available 24/7 to explain the claims process and how special damages is assessed when calculating compensation.
Can You Claim Full Pay Through A Workplace Accident Claim?
Yes, you can claim full pay through a workplace accident claim for your income, lost bonuses, missed opportunities, and pension contributions. These losses would be pursued through special damages, alongside any other financial effects of the injury you sustained in a workplace accident caused by a negligent employer.
Workplace accident compensation can recover the difference between sick pay and your full income. If you claimed SSP or received reduced contractual sick pay, compensation can cover the remainder of your earnings. For example, if you are usually paid £500 per week but can only claim £300, the remaining £200 can be compensated.
Get in touch with an advisor to learn more about how information can help people recover their financial losses. You can also find out whether you have valid grounds to start a compensation claim through their free consultation service.
Is It A Legal Requirement For Employers To Provide Full Pay If Injured At Work?
No, in the UK, there is no legal requirement for employers to provide full pay if you are injured at work. However, if your employment contract stipulates that you should receive full pay if injured, your employer should abide by these terms.
Keep reading as we next discuss SSP, or speak with our enquiries team for further guidance concerning, ‘Do I get full pay if injured at work?’
What Is Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) And Who Can Claim It?
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is a scheme that establishes a minimum amount employers must pay eligible workers, and employees can claim it if they meet certain eligibility conditions. Those requirements are broken down as follows:
- You are classed as an employee and have completed work for the employer (including agency workers)
- Your earnings average at least £125 per week
- You have been ill for more than 3 days consecutively (inclusive of non-working days)
If you meet these criteria, your employer will pay you £118.75 for up to 28 weeks. You can only receive pay for the days that you would have worked under normal circumstances. It may also be necessary to provide your employer with proof of your illness, such as a doctor’s note.
Speak to our helpful advisors for further details on claiming SSP. They can also explain how a No Win No Fee solicitor from our solicitors could help you to cover lost earnings via a compensation claim.
Will I Be Entitled To Contractual Or Company Sick Pay?
Whether you are entitled to contractual or company sick pay depends on the terms of your employment contract, as there is no legal requirement for a scheme to be in place. Contractual sick pay means that your contract will cover your right to get paid while taking time off due to illness, whereas company sick pay is typically outlined by a workplace scheme.
Don’t worry if you’re still uncertain about the question, ‘Do I get full pay if injured at work?’ You can contact our advisors anytime to discuss your situation in confidence and find out if you can pursue a personal injury claim.
What Evidence Is Needed To Prove Loss Of Income?
The evidence needed to prove loss of income after a workplace accident includes bank statements, payslips, and invoices. Your solicitor can also use your payslip alongside medical evidence to inform their calculations when assessing future lost earnings.
This assessment will involve:
- Assessing your net annual loss
- Determining the number of years until your retirement
- Potentially using the Ogden tables to guide calculations of anticipated losses
As touched on, medical evidence will also be beneficial when pursuing compensation for lost earnings. For example, supplying a copy of your medical records will confirm how you were affected and how your condition has persisted.
Providing evidence for a workplace accident claim can sound intimidating, but you do not have to do this alone if you seek compensation with our solicitors. Our advisors are on hand to explain this in more detail.
Is There A Time Limit To Being Off Work On Sick Pay?
Yes, there is a time limit to being off work on sick pay, up to 28 weeks when claiming SSP. After this cut-off point, you will need to seek other means of financial support. For example, you could be entitled to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit if you still cannot return to work.
If you are claiming contractual or company sick pay, the amount of time you can receive such payments should be outlined in the:
- Policies established by your company’s HR department
- Staff handbook
- Contract of employment
You may still be able to claim some sick pay through this route after the period for claiming your full wages has ended. This is highly specific to each organisation, so you may want to enquire at your workplace.
In some cases, it is not possible to return to your working conditions due to a serious injury or disability. Therefore, your employer needs to consider reasonable adjustments that would suit your disability, as per the Equality Act 2010.
This can be a lot of information to consider, so why not speak directly with our advisors? They will be happy to answer the question, ‘Do I get full pay if injured at work, and how long can I claim it for?’
How Can Public Interest Lawyers Help Me Claim For Lost Pay?
Public Interest Lawyers can help you claim for lost pay by using years of experience providing expert legal support to injured workers across the country. We use this extensive knowledge of the claims process and workplace legislation to help clients recover lost earnings and secure the compensation they deserve.
If you pursue compensation with us, our team will strengthen your case by:
- Reviewing your employment contract, P60, and other documents to confirm your employment status at the time of your accident and your base salary.
- Analysing payslips to compare the drop in income between your pre-accident take-home pay and any reduction that followed your injury.
- Assessing workplace records to ensure your final compensation settlement accounts for bonuses, overtime pay, and pension contributions you have missed out on.
- Calculating projected future lost earnings if you are expected to take more time off work or cannot return to your job.
- Gathering evidence to prove your employer’s negligence directly caused your absence and resulting loss of earnings.
If you are still wondering, ‘Do I get full pay if injured at work?’ or would like further information on working with Public Interest Lawyers for your workplace accident claim, you can contact us today.
Can I Claim For Lost Earnings On A No Win No Fee Basis?
Yes, you can claim for lost earnings on a No Win No Fee basis with us here at Public Interest Lawyers. We offer our clients terms under a Conditional Fee Agreement, which means you will not need to pay us for our services throughout the claim. This includes:
- Prior to us starting work on your claim
- While we are working on your case
- If the claim ends unsuccessfully
If your claim is successful, you will pay us a success fee. We will take this directly from your compensation at a legally limited percentage. We will talk to you about this fee prior to starting any work on your claim, so you are fully aware of what a CFA entails.
Contact Our Advisors
Speak with an advisor today to ask ‘Do I get full pay if injured at work? They can explain your rights regarding sick pay and whether you could be eligible to claim compensation. All you have to do to get started is reach out using one of the following options:
- Submit an online contact form
- Chat live with an advisor using the pop-up in the corner
- Call us on 0800 073 8803
Learn More
Read our other personal injury claim guides:
- Find out when zero-hour contract staff are entitled to compensation
- Visit our guide on claiming for an accident at work while self-employed
- Learn about slip and fall at work settlements
External resources:
- Read the government’s guidance on taking sick leave
- Check what benefits you may be entitled to in this government resource
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE) overview of managing sick pay
Thank you for reading this guide focused on the question, ‘Do I get full pay if injured at work?’