Changes to Statutory Sick Pay

• If you have staff that need to self-isolate or who are sick as a result of covid-19, they can receive SSP from day 1 and do not need to have the usual 3 waiting days before they qualify.
• From Friday 20 March onwards, those who have COVID-19 or are advised to self-isolate will be able to obtain an “isolation note” by visiting NHS 111 online and completing an online form, rather than visiting a doctor. A doctors fit note will not be required
• The rule that employees must be earning £118 per week to qualify for the SSP still applies in this situation.
• Certain employers (i.e those with less than 250 employees) may be able to claim up to 14 days SSP per eligible employee affected by COVID-19.  Specific details about how this will happen have not yet been finalised.
• You should keep detailed records of all SSP including dates, so that you can reclaim SSP once the process has been introduced by HMRC.
• If an employee has previous linked periods of SSP (up to 56 days prior), or is already on sick pay, then you will not be able to claim the SSP back from HMRC, unless they have been specifically affected by COVID-19.