The government has announced the launch of a new online service to let small and medium-sized employers claim back some coronavirus-related Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).
Originally announced several weeks ago, the government has finally confirmed when the Coronavirus SSP Rebate Scheme is set to be open for applications. The scheme covers staff SSP payments for up to two weeks of sickness absence when the absence is related to the coronavirus outbreak. Any additional, contractual sick pay is not included.
Through use of the scheme, organisations will be able to apply for rebates on SSP paid to staff who were off work due to having coronavirus symptoms on or after 13 March 2020. Rebates will also be available to staff who started ‘shielding’ in line with government guidance on or after 16 April 2020. To be eligible to apply, organisations will need to have had less than 250 members of staff on 28 February 2020.
The Scheme is set to cover any members of staff who were on a PAYE payroll scheme created and started before 28 February 2020. This includes:
- full-time employees
- part-time employees
- employees on agency contracts
- employees on flexible or zero-hour contracts.
Furloughed staff are not included as, due to being furloughed, should not be receiving SSP.
Organisations will need to make use of an online portal in order to submit claims. They will need to submit record of all SSP paid to employees that they wish to claim for, but will not need to submit evidence of illness, such as an employee’s fit note. They will also need to have a Government Gateway ID. In order to make the application process simpler, it is expected that alternative methods of applying, without using the online portal, will be announced soon.
As we head towards 26 May, organisations should work out the pay periods they wish to set and how many staff they wish to claim for in each period, alongside the amount of SSP paid. It should be remembered that the weekly rate of SSP is £95.85 as of 6 April 2020. Prior to that date, it was £94.25.
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