Can I use the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme?
To use the scheme, you must be an employer. You are able to claim for up to two weeks of SSP if you meet the following criteria:
- You must have already paid your employee’s sick pay
- You must claim for an employee who is eligible for sick pay due to Covid-19
- You must have a PAYE payroll scheme that was established on or before 30 November 2021
- You must have had fewer than 250 employees across all PAYE payroll schemes on 30 November 2021
What can I claim?
You can claim up to two weeks SSP for employees who are unable to work due to Covid-19. The repayments cover the first qualifying day of sickness or isolation. The weekly rate is £96.35 – even if you pay more than the weekly rate of SSP, you can only claim a maximum of £96.35 per week.
To qualify, your employee must:
- Have symptoms of Covid-19
- Be self-isolating because someone they live with has symptoms
- Be self-isolating because they’ve been notified by the NHS or another public health organisation that they are a close contact of someone who’s tested positive for Covid-19
- Be self-isolating for up to 14 days before surgery, as instructed by the NHS
You are able to make more than one claim per employee, but you cannot claim for more than two weeks.
If your employee’s time off began before 21 December 2021, you are only able to claim for absence on or after this date.
You can only claim for days your employee would have worked.
Which employment contracts are eligible for the scheme?
Your employees can be on any type of employment contract for you to be eligible for the scheme. This includes full-time, part-time, zero-hour, fixed term and agency contracts.
How many employees can I claim for?
The maximum number of employees you are able to claim for is the total number you had across your PAYE schemes on 30 November 2021. You are only eligible for the rebate if you had fewer than 250 employees on this date.
Do employees need a doctor’s note for me to claim?
No, employees do not need a doctor’s fit note to make you eligible for a claim.
Can I claim for self-isolating employees?
If you have an employee who is self-isolating and therefore cannot work, you can make a claim. You must have their isolation note from NHS 111 to complete this claim.
You can only claim for employees who were off work with Covid-19 on or after 21 December 2021.
How do I make a claim for the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme?
You can use the government’s online service to make a claim. Alternatively, your agent (who is authorised to do your online PAYE) can submit a claim on your behalf.