COVID-19: Statutory Sick Pay

The health and wellbeing of all individuals is the most important thing of all at this moment in time and the COVID-19 Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay can be a worry for us all.

If you are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), you can get £94.25 per week if you are too ill to work and this is paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks. However, self-isolation is a new term for us all due to COVID-19 and as of 13^th March 2020, you can claim SSP if you are self-isolating. “This includes individuals who are caring for people self-isolating in the same household and therefore have been advised to do a household quarantine. To check your sick pay entitlement, you should talk to your employer, and visit https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay for more information.” – Gov.uk

An employee who is self-isolating and unable to work because they are self-isolating in accordance with government guidance:

• The person has symptoms of coronavirus, however mild, and is staying at home for 7 days, beginning with the day the symptoms started
• They are self-isolating for 14 days because they live with someone who is self-isolating due to having symptoms
• The employee is self-isolating for 14 days because they live with someone who is self-isolating due to having symptoms and they then develop symptoms, so must stay at home for 7 days, beginning with the day the symptoms started.

“Symptoms of Coronavirus” means the recent onset of:

• A continuous cough
• A high temperature
• Both a continuous cough and a high temperature
• Any other symptoms of coronavirus as may be specified by the Chief Medical Officer or one of the Deputy Chief Medical Officers in guidance as amended from time to time.

When does SSP apply?

• The government has introduced SSP being paid from day 1, rather than day 4

What about sick notes?

• If you are advised to self-isolate or if you have COVID-19, you can visit the NHS 111 online and complete an online form to receive an ‘isolation note’.

Are vulnerable people who are ‘shielding’ entitled to SSP?

No. They are not covered by the current SSP provisions because they are not sick and the Coronavirus regulations relating to SSP do not treat them as sick, even though they are self-isolating based on government guidance.

The government announced that vulnerable people (e.g. people with certain medical conditions) should stay at home, or ‘shield’ for 12 weeks to protect themselves from Coronavirus. The guidance referred to as ‘shielding’ was issued on 24 March and is intended to protected the most vulnerable people who are at high risk because of certain underlying medical conditions. People in this category are due to receive letters by 29 March advising to remain at home for 12 weeks.

As a business, can I reclaim the cost of SSP during COVID-19?

• Small and medium sized businesses with fewer than 250 employee’s will be eligible to reclaim the costs and the refund will cover up to two weeks of SSP

For further information into SSP and the current guidance during COVID-19, visit the Gov.uk website.

We are here to support you; if you have any questions please get in touch on 01782 338787 or book a convenient time for you and a member of our team will get in touch!

Stay safe and stay inside!

Sources – REC Legal Resources Guide and Gov.uk.
Take a look at our COVID-19 workplace blog!