Average time off work with depression
There is no standard length of absence for depression. Here is how sick notes, sick pay and your rights at work apply instead.
The short answer. There is no standard time off work with depression. It depends on the person, and a doctor assesses it. You can self-certify for the first 7 days. After that you need a note, and in the first 6 months each NHS fit note can cover up to 3 months, with further notes if needed.
Why we do not give a figure
The NHS describes depression as more than simply feeling unhappy or fed up for a few days, and says it is important to see a GP if you think you may be depressed. It does not give a typical length of time off, and nor does any government guidance. Some people keep working with support; others need a long absence. A number taken from someone else’s situation could push you back too early or make you feel you are taking too long.
Getting a sick note for depression
For an absence of 7 days or less you self-certify. Beyond that, your GP can issue an NHS fit note after assessing you. A GP can also refer you for talking therapies, or you can refer yourself directly to an NHS talking therapies service.
If you would rather not wait for an appointment, a private sick note for depression is available from a GMC-registered UK doctor after an online assessment. The doctor may decline if a note is not clinically appropriate. Your employer can choose to accept a private certificate; government guidance for employers says it can.
How long you can be signed off
There is no total limit. What is limited is the length of each NHS fit note: up to 3 months at a time in the first 6 months of a condition, with no fixed limit after that if it is clinically appropriate. After 4 weeks off you may be treated as long-term sick, and your employer may want to talk about support and a plan to return.
If you need help now. If you feel you cannot keep yourself safe, or someone’s life is at risk, call 999 or go to A&E now. For urgent mental health help that is not an emergency, use 111 online or call 111 and choose the mental health option. Samaritans answer free on 116 123, day or night.
Money during a long absence
Statutory sick pay runs from your first full day off for up to 28 weeks, at £123.25 a week or 80% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. If SSP ends or you do not qualify, your employer must give you form SSP1, which supports a claim for Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Both benefits need an NHS fit note; a private certificate will not do. The SSP guide explains the rules.
Depression as a disability
Depression can meet the Equality Act 2010 definition of disability if it has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your normal day-to-day activities, with long-term meaning at least 12 months, or likely to be. Whether it does depends on the facts of your case. When it does, your employer must make reasonable adjustments, such as a phased return with flexible or part-time hours. The Act covers England, Scotland and Wales, not Northern Ireland.
Can I be sacked for being off sick with depression?
An employer can, as a last resort, dismiss someone whose long-term illness makes it impossible to do the job, but they should first look for ways to support them and allow reasonable time to recover. Dismissal because of a disability may be unlawful discrimination. The detail, including qualifying periods and tribunal time limits, is in can you be dismissed while off sick.
Going back
On a phased return you are paid your usual pay for the hours you work. SSP can only cover whole days you do not work, not part days. Agree the plan in writing and review it as you go. Related guides: time off with anxiety, time off after a bereavement and the conditions hub.
Common questions
What is the average time off work with depression?
There is no standard figure. Neither the NHS nor the government publishes a standard period off work for depression. It depends on the person and is assessed by a doctor.
Can I get a sick note for depression?
Yes. You self-certify for the first 7 days. For longer absences a doctor can give you a note if they assess you as not fit for work, or fit with changes.
How long can a depression sick note last?
In the first 6 months of a condition, one NHS fit note can cover up to 3 months. Further notes can follow, and there is no overall limit.
Can I be sacked for being off sick with depression?
Dismissal because of a disability may be unlawful discrimination, and an employer should look for ways to support you first. See dismissed while off sick.
Can I claim benefits if I am off long-term with depression?
Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) need an NHS fit note if your capability for work is affected for more than 7 days. A private sick note is not accepted for those claims.
Related
Sources. The legal, pay and clinical facts on this page were checked against these primary sources on 27 October 2026. Rules and rates change, and your employer’s own policy may add to them, so check your contract or HR policy too.
Need a sick note for depression?
Answer the online questions about your mood and how it affects your work. A GMC-registered UK doctor decides whether a note is right for you. £47.
Get a mental health sick noteAssessed by a GMC-registered UK doctor. Full refund if a note cannot be issued on clinical grounds.