Statutory Sick pay is a substance paid by an employer to an employee when the latter absences from work due to illness. The SSP fixed by the government as £95.85 per week or more and paid by an employer for up to 28 weeks.
How does statutory Sick Pay Work?
In order to be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) you must:
- Be classed as an employee and have done some work for your employer, including part-time workers.
- Earn an average of at least £120 per week
- Have been ill, self-isolating or ‘shielding’ for at least 4 days in a row (including non-working days). ‘Shielding” means staying at home because you’re at high risk of severe illness from coronavirus.
You will not be eligible for SSP if you:
- have received the maximum amount of SSP after 28 weeks
- are getting Statutory Maternity Pay
- have been put ‘on furlough’ by your employer under CJRS
If you are unable to work because of coronavirus (COVID-19)
In such a case you could get SSP if you’re self-isolating because:
- you or someone you live with has coronavirus symptoms or has tested positive for coronavirus
- you’ve been notified by the NHS or public health authorities that you’ve been in contact with someone with coronavirus
- someone in your ‘support bubble’ (or your ‘extended household’ if you live in Scotland or Wales) has coronavirus symptoms or has tested positive for coronavirus
- you’ve been advised by a doctor or healthcare professional to self-isolate before going into hospital for surgery
- You could also get SSP if you’ve been advised to take extra precautions because you’re at a very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus (known as ‘shielding’).
You cannot get SSP if you’re self-isolating after entering or returning to the UK and do not need to self-isolate for any other reason.
You could get SSP for every day you’re off work.
Features of Statutory Sick Pay
- Fit note: An ‘isolation note’ obtained online from NHS 111 shall suffice if you’re off work for 7 or more days as you’re self-isolating and cannot work because of coronavirus. There is no need to go to your GP or hospital.
If you have been asked to stay at home by the NHS or your GP because you’re at high risk of severe illness from coronavirus, your letter is proof. You can contact your GP if you think you should have been sent one. - When does SSP start: This depends on the date when you started self-isolating.
- If you started self-isolating BEFORE 13 March 2020 and:
- You had coronavirus symptoms: The start date is the fourth day you were sick.
- You were self-isolating because someone you live with had symptoms: The start date is the 13th of March.
- If you started self-isolating AFTER 13 March 2020: The start date would be the date from when you began self-isolating.
- If you started self-isolating BEFORE 13 March 2020 and:
How to make a claim for SSP?
You need to simply inform your employer that you’re unable to work before the deadline they set (or within 7 days if they have not set one). However, if you’re at high risk from coronavirus and got your NHS or GP letter BEFORE 16 April then you must inform your employer by 23 April.
