Coronavirus Hub

SSP and coronavirus

In response to COVID-19, certain changes have been made to the Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) rules.

In summary, SSP can be paid from the first day of sickness absence (rather than the fourth), the definition of ‘incapacity’ has been widened, and the costs of SSP will be refunded to SME employers.

Definition of incapacity

The SSP rules require that an employee be absent from work due to incapacity. This has been expanded so that SSP can be paid to those who are not themselves ill. The expansion covers those who are incapable of work because they:

  • have COVID-19 symptoms
  • live with someone with COVID-19 symptoms
  • are self-isolating as a household and develop COVID-19 symptoms
  • are in the same social support bubble as someone who has COVID-19 symptoms
  • are extremely clinically vulnerable and have been advised to shield
  • have been notified by the track and trace service that they have had contact with an infected person
  • have been advised to stay at home for a period of up to 14 days before being admitted to hospital for the purpose of undergoing a surgical or other hospital procedure

Refunding SSP

To support employers the government will refund eligible SSP costs with the criteria being as follows:

  • the refund is limited to two weeks per employee
  • employers with fewer than 250 employees are eligible
  • employers can reclaim expenditure for any employee who has claimed SSP (according to the new eligibility criteria) as a result of COVID-19
  • employers should maintain records of staff absences, but should not require employees to provide a GP fit note

An employer can only reclaim a maximum of £95.85 per week. To check if you can reclaim SSP, see the HMRC guidance. 

The mechanics of the scheme are set out in the Statutory Sick Pay (Coronavirus) (Funding of Employers' Liabilities) Regulations 2020 and the online portal for recovery launched on 26 May 2020.

Employees do not qualify for SSP if they are on furlough as part of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. In addition, the self-employed and those earning less than the lower earnings limit remain ineligible for SSP. To support these groups:

  • Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is payable for people directly affected by COVID-19 or self-isolating according to government advice for from the first day of sickness, rather than the eighth day.
  • People can claim Universal Credit and access advance payments where they are directly affected by COVID-19 (or self-isolating), without the current requirement to attend a jobcentre.
  • For the duration of the outbreak, the requirements of the minimum income floor in Universal Credit have been temporarily relaxed for those directly affected by COVID-19 or self-isolating according to government advice.

1st day payment

Pre-COVID-19, normal entitlement to SSP did not normally begin until an employee had been off work due to incapacity for three days; day 4 is when eligibility kicked in.

This waiting day rule has now been temporarily suspended and SSP can be claimed from Day 1.

Also, there is a temporary amendment to the medical evidence/fit note rules for the duration of the outbreak - those advised to self-isolate can obtain a notification via NHS 111 (rather than from a GP) which they can use as evidence for absence from work.