Yesterday Rishi Sunak announced that he is reintroducing the SSP reimbursement scheme for SMEs who have employees off sick with Covid.

The full details of the scheme are yet to be announced, however the government updated has updated its guidance on gov.uk with the message: “This scheme will be reintroduced from mid-January 2022. Further guidance will be available as soon as possible.”

However, it appears that The Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme means businesses with fewer than 250 employees will be reimbursed SSP for Covid-related absences, for up to two weeks per employee.

Making a claim

Employers will be eligible to make a claim for SSP from 22 December and can make claims retrospectively from mid-January.

When the scheme was in place previously (before it finished on 30th September 2021), it allowed reimbursement for employees to be paid for the first three “waiting days” which would normally be unpaid.

However, this only applies if the employee is off for four days or more. It is understood that if an employee has previously been off with a Covid-related absence, employers can claim again if the employee is sick again for up to two weeks. It is only applicable for absences from now onwards – but the claiming mechanism will not be in place until mid-January.

Employees Self-Certification now possible for up to 28 days

Emergency legislation came into effect from Friday 17th December, in a bid to support the booster vaccination effort, which means that employers cannot ask for proof of sickness until the employee has been off work for 28 days or more.

The Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Regulations 2021, applies to all sickness absences (periods of incapacity for work) which began on or after 10th December 2021 up until and including 26th January 2022 and means that an employer cannot ask for proof of sickness until the employee has been off work for 28 days or more during this period.

Further information

For more information on how HR Optimisation can support your business with managing employee absences, Contact Us.