The Government will bring forward legislation to allow small-and medium-sized businesses and employers to reclaim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) paid for sickness absence due to COVID-19.

Criteria for the scheme will be as follows:

• this refund will cover up to 2 weeks’ SSP per eligible employee who has been off work because of COVID-19
• employers with fewer than 250 employees will be eligible – the size of an employer will be determined by the number of people they employed as of 28 February 2020
• employers will be able to 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 and payments of SSP, but employees will not need to provide a GP fit note
• eligible period for the scheme will commence the day after the regulations on the extension of SSP to those staying at home comes into force
• the government will work with employers over the coming months to set up the repayment mechanism for employers as soon as possible

You are eligible for the scheme if:

• Your business is UK based.
• Your business is a small or medium-sized and employs fewer than 250 employees as of 28 February 2020.

How to access the scheme

• A rebate scheme is being developed.
• Further details will be provided in due course once the legislation has passed

Further information:

• https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/coronavirus-support-paying-sick-pay-employees
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19