What Is a Self-Certification Sick Note?
A self-certification sick note is a written statement you complete yourself to confirm you were too unwell to work. It covers sickness absences lasting seven calendar days or fewer, and it does not require a doctor's signature or medical evidence. Your employer uses it to record your absence and, where applicable, to process Statutory Sick Pay.
Self-certification exists so that short illnesses do not create unnecessary GP appointments. For the first seven days of sickness, you confirm your own absence using either the HMRC SC2 form, your employer's internal absence form, or a simple written statement. No diagnosis, no appointment, no medical certificate.
If your illness lasts longer than seven calendar days, self-certification is no longer sufficient. At that point, your employer can require medical evidence, typically a fit note (Statement of Fitness for Work) from a GP, hospital doctor, or a GMC-registered private doctor.
⚠️ Self-certification is not a sick note
A self-certification form is your own declaration. It is not a medical document and carries no clinical assessment. A sick note (fit note) is a signed statement from a registered doctor confirming you are unfit for work. The two serve different purposes and cover different absence periods.
How the 7-Day Rule Works
The seven-day rule is the legal threshold that separates self-certification from medical evidence. Understanding how it works prevents disputes with employers and protects your Statutory Sick Pay entitlement.
The legal basis for the seven-day threshold is Regulation 2 of the Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1985. This regulation sets the boundary after which employers may require medical evidence to continue paying SSP.
Self-Certification vs Fit Note: Key Differences
Self-certification and a fit note serve different purposes at different stages of a sickness absence. This comparison clarifies when each applies and what each document does.
| Feature | Self-Certification | Fit Note (Sick Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Who completes it | You (the employee) | A registered doctor (GP, hospital doctor, or private doctor) |
| Covers absences of | Up to 7 calendar days | More than 7 calendar days (no upper limit) |
| Medical assessment | None. Your own declaration only | Clinical assessment by a doctor |
| Common format | SC2 form, employer's absence form, or written statement | NHS Med3 form or private medical certificate |
| SSP evidence | Accepted for first 7 days | Required from day 8 onwards |
| Cost | Free | NHS fit notes are free. Private certificates carry a fee |
| Employer obligations | Cannot demand a doctor's note for 7 days or fewer | Can request medical evidence from day 8 |
| Government benefits | Not valid for ESA or Universal Credit | NHS Med3 required for benefit claims |
How to Self-Certify Your Illness
There is no single mandatory method for self-certification. Your employer's sickness absence policy will specify how they want you to confirm your illness. The most common approaches are listed below.
The SC2 Form
The SC2 is HMRC's standard "Employee's Statement of Sickness" form, designed for SSP purposes. You can download it from the GOV.UK website, print it, complete it by hand, and give it to your employer when you return to work. Some employers keep printed copies in their HR office.
Your Employer's Own Form
Many employers use an internal absence form rather than the SC2. This might be a paper form, a page in an HR portal such as BreatheHR or Workday, or a structured email template. The format is at your employer's discretion, provided it collects the information needed to administer absence and sick pay.
Written Confirmation by Email
If your employer accepts it, a simple email to your line manager or HR team can serve as self-certification. State the dates you were absent, confirm you were unfit to work, and give a general description of your illness. Keep a copy for your own records.
What to include on any self-certification form
Your full name. The dates your illness started and ended. A general description of the illness (you are not required to provide a detailed diagnosis). A declaration that you were unable to work during that period. Your signature and the date you completed the form.
Can Your Employer Require a Sick Note Before 7 Days?
For SSP purposes, your employer cannot require medical evidence for sickness absences of seven calendar days or fewer. The Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1985 are clear on this point.
However, your employment contract or company sickness policy may include additional requirements. Some employers ask for a doctor's note after three days rather than seven, particularly in roles with strict attendance requirements or where the absence triggers a disciplinary threshold. This is a contractual matter between you and your employer, separate from the SSP regulations.
If your employer insists on a doctor's note for an absence shorter than seven days, you have the right to ask whether this requirement is stated in your contract or company policy. If it is not, ACAS guidance suggests the employer should accept self-certification for absences within the statutory seven-day window.
✅ Your employer can
Ask you to complete a self-certification form upon return. Request a general description of your illness. Require you to follow their sickness reporting procedure, such as calling in by a set time. Record the absence on your personnel file.
❌ Your employer cannot
Legally withhold SSP solely because you did not provide a doctor's note within the first 7 days. Require you to disclose a specific diagnosis (GDPR and data protection apply). Treat self-certification as less valid than a doctor's note for the statutory period.
Self-Certification and Statutory Sick Pay
Self-certification directly supports your Statutory Sick Pay entitlement. The SC2 form was specifically designed for SSP evidence purposes, and completing it correctly is the simplest way to ensure your employer can process your sick pay without delay.
April 2026 SSP Changes
Recent changes to Statutory Sick Pay affect how self-certification works in practice:
Current SSP rules (April 2026)
Day-one payment: SSP is now payable from day one of absence. The previous three waiting days have been abolished. No minimum earnings threshold: The lower earnings limit has been removed. Part-time workers, zero-hours contract workers, and lower earners now qualify. Current rate: £123.25 per week, or 80% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. Many employers offer contractual sick pay above the statutory minimum.
Because SSP now starts from day one, your self-certification form covers a period during which you are entitled to pay. Completing it promptly and accurately prevents delays in your pay.
When Self-Certification Is Not Enough
Self-certification covers the first seven days, but several situations require a doctor's note even when the absence falls within the statutory window, or immediately after it.
Your illness lasts longer than 7 days
From day 8, your employer can require a fit note. Without one, they may withhold SSP. A GP appointment typically takes days to arrange. A private online consultation can issue a certificate same day.
Your employer's policy requires it sooner
If your contract requires a doctor's note after 3 or 5 days, you will need medical evidence before the statutory threshold. A private certificate can bridge this gap without waiting for an NHS appointment.
You need evidence for a workplace dispute
If your absence is being challenged, disciplinary proceedings are underway, or your employer disputes your fitness to work, a doctor-signed certificate carries significantly more weight than self-certification.
You are returning after a serious illness
Many employers require a fit-to-work certificate before you return from illness. This is not the same as self-certification. It is a medical assessment confirming you are safe to resume your duties.
How to Get a Sick Note When Self-Certification Expires
If your illness continues past seven days, or your employer needs medical evidence sooner, you have two options: book an NHS GP appointment or use a private online consultation service.
Complete a short online form
Describe your symptoms, how long you have been unwell, and how your illness affects your ability to work. The form takes approximately five minutes.
A GMC-registered doctor reviews your case
A UK doctor with full General Medical Council registration reviews your consultation individually. No automated approvals. The doctor assesses whether a certificate is clinically appropriate.
Your certificate is delivered same day
If approved, your signed medical certificate is delivered as a PDF. Most certificates are issued same day or by 9AM the next morning. If the doctor cannot issue a certificate on clinical grounds, you receive a full refund.
⚠️ Private certificates are not NHS Med3 Fit Notes
MedicalCert issues private medical certificates accepted by UK employers for absence records and Statutory Sick Pay. NHS Med3 Fit Notes are required for government benefit claims including Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit. If you need a Med3 for benefit purposes, you will need to see an NHS GP.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can self-certify sickness for up to seven consecutive calendar days. This includes weekends, bank holidays, and any days you would not normally work. From day 8, your employer can ask for medical evidence such as a fit note.
The SC2 is HMRC's official "Employee's Statement of Sickness" form. It is a free self-certification form used to record short-term sickness absence for Statutory Sick Pay purposes. You can download it from the GOV.UK website or collect a copy from your employer's HR department.
You are required to give a general description of your illness, but you are not obliged to provide a detailed diagnosis. Your employer's right to information is limited by data protection law (UK GDPR) and must be proportionate to their need to manage your absence. Stating "stomach illness" or "respiratory infection" is typically sufficient.
For SSP purposes, your employer cannot refuse self-certification for absences of seven calendar days or fewer. The Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1985 set this threshold. However, your employer may have a contractual policy that requires a doctor's note earlier. If so, check whether this is written in your employment contract or staff handbook.
No. Self-certification is your own written declaration that you were unfit to work. A sick note (fit note) is a medical document signed by a registered doctor following a clinical assessment. Self-certification covers the first seven days. A fit note is needed from day 8 or whenever your employer's policy requires medical evidence.
Yes. Self-certification applies to any illness, including stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. You are not required to provide a detailed mental health diagnosis on the form. A general description such as "mental health condition" or "stress-related illness" is acceptable for the first seven days.
From day 8, your employer can require a fit note or equivalent medical evidence. You can obtain this from your NHS GP, a hospital doctor, or a GMC-registered private doctor. If waiting for an NHS appointment would delay your evidence, a private online consultation can issue a certificate same day.
Yes. Since April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay is payable from day one of absence with no waiting days and no minimum earnings threshold. Self-certification is the evidence your employer needs to process SSP for the first seven days. The current SSP rate is £123.25 per week or 80% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.
Self-certification forms are typically completed when you return to work, so they are inherently retrospective. You state the dates you were absent. There is no restriction on completing the form after the absence has ended, provided your employer's sickness policy permits it. If your employer has a deadline for submission, check your staff handbook.
No. Self-certification is for employer records and SSP only. Government benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and the health element of Universal Credit require an NHS Med3 Fit Note issued by an NHS GP or hospital doctor. Private certificates and self-certification forms are not accepted for benefit claims.
Yes. If your illness lasts longer than seven days, or your employer requires medical evidence sooner, you can use a GMC-registered online doctor to obtain a private medical certificate. The consultation is completed entirely online, and most certificates are issued same day. Private certificates are accepted by UK employers for absence records and SSP.
Sources and Further Reading
- GOV.UK - Taking sick leave (official guidance on self-certification and fit notes)
- HMRC - SC2 Employee's Statement of Sickness (downloadable self-certification form)
- ACAS - Absence from work (guidance for employees and employers on managing sickness absence)
- Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1985 - Regulation 2 (legal basis for the 7-day medical evidence threshold)
- GOV.UK - Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) (current rates, eligibility, and employer obligations)