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    Broken wrist, off 10 weeks, no sick pay: the real plan

    Factual guidanceFresh — reviewed 19 April 2026Sources: 7Next review: 18 July 2026

    Take this with you

    Dated, pre-fillable checklist + your details — ready to show a rep or solicitor.

    In the next hour

    • Get a GP fit note if you are going to be off more than 7 days. You need this for ESA, UC and any platform sick pay (Deliveroo/GMB 245 pounds a week for 2 weeks).
    • Stop taking jobs in the apps. If the platform has a report sick process, use it so you are not hit by inactivity deactivation.
    • Do not try to ride out the first week on savings assuming a claim will be quick. It takes days to set up and weeks to pay.
    • Note the date your illness started. That is the anchor for every claim.

    In the next week

    • Claim New Style ESA if your Class 2 NI record in 2023-24 and 2024-25 is strong (profits above the Small Profits Threshold means you are treated as having paid Class 2). ESA is not means-tested but is counted as income for UC.
    • If you are on Universal Credit, tell them you are too sick to work. Ask for the Minimum Income Floor to be switched off and a Work Capability Assessment started. Otherwise MIF will assume you are earning full-time minimum wage.
    • If you are on Deliveroo and qualify under the GMB agreement, claim the 245 pounds per week for up to 2 weeks sick pay.
    • If the illness is likely to last 12 months or more and affects daily life (long Covid, serious fracture complications), also start a PIP claim. PIP is not about work and does not count as income for ESA or UC.

    In the next hour

    • Get a GP fit note if you are going to be off more than 7 days. You need this for ESA, UC and any platform sick pay (Deliveroo/GMB £245 a week for 2 weeks).
    • Stop taking jobs in the apps. If the platform has a "report sick" process, use it so you are not hit by inactivity deactivation.
    • Do not try to ride out the first week on savings assuming a claim will be quick. It takes days to set up and weeks to pay.
    • Note the date your illness started. That is the anchor for every claim.

    In the next week

    • Claim New Style ESA if your Class 2 NI record in 2023-24 and 2024-25 is strong (profits above the Small Profits Threshold means you are treated as having paid Class 2). ESA is not means-tested but is counted as income for UC.
    • If you are on Universal Credit, tell them you are too sick to work. Ask for the Minimum Income Floor to be switched off and a Work Capability Assessment started. Otherwise MIF will assume you are earning full-time minimum wage.
    • If you are on Deliveroo and qualify under the GMB agreement, claim the £245 per week for up to 2 weeks sick pay.
    • If the illness is likely to last 12 months or more and affects daily life (long Covid, serious fracture complications), also start a PIP claim. PIP is not about work and does not count as income for ESA or UC.

    Tools, guides and templates to use

    When to escalate

    New Style ESA claim line: 0800 055 6688. Universal Credit helpline: 0800 328 5644. Citizens Advice at citizensadvice.org.uk, 0800 144 8848. Turn2us benefits calculator at turn2us.org.uk. StepChange at stepchange.org, 0800 138 1111 if bills are already piling up. For GP fit notes that get pushed back, your GP practice manager.

    Last reviewed

    19 April 2026

    Primary source used:

    • Research/Gap/G8.3-sick-pay-self-employed-reality.md

    Before you leave

    Sources

    • New Style ESA 0800 055 6688
    • Universal Credit helpline 0800 328 5644
    • UC Minimum Income Floor rules
    • Deliveroo-GMB sick pay agreement (£245/week, 2 weeks)
    • Class 2 NI / Small Profits Threshold
    • PIP eligibility rules (GOV.UK)
    • Citizens Advice 0800 144 8848
    Fresh — reviewed 19 April 2026