Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme

It has been confirmed that a new online service will launch from 26 May to enable small and medium-sized employers with fewer than 250 employees to recover Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) payments they have made to their employees.

The Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme was announced as part of a package of support measures for businesses affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The scheme will reimburse employers for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) paid to current or former employees if they are unable to work because they either:

• have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms
• cannot work because they are self-isolating because someone they live with has symptoms
• are shielding and have a letter from the NHS or a GP telling them to stay at home for at least 12 weeks

The repayment will cover up to 2 weeks starting from the first qualifying day of sickness, starting on or after:

13 March 2020 – if your employee had coronavirus or the symptoms or is self-isolating because someone they live with has symptoms

16 April 2020 – if your employee was shielding because of coronavirus

The weekly rate from 6 April 2020 is £95.85 (the previous rate was £94.25).  An employer can choose to pay more than this amount, however the difference cannot be reclaimed.

To prepare for the claim, employers should collate a list of any applicable SSP payments made to employees during this period.