The reclaiming of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for COVID19 has only just come into effect, this means that none of the payroll systems are currently designed to claim back SSP.
If we process payrolls for you, it’s important to let us know if any employees are sick due to COVID19. We will then keep a record of so when the repayment mechanism within IRIS Payroll Professional is updated we will be able to facilitate employers refunds for any SSP claimed due to COVID.
SSP for COVID19 does start on the first day of sickness unlike the current procedure where SSP commences after 4 consecutive days sick.
The Government has published the following information relating to businesses who are paying sick pay to employees:
We 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. The eligibility 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 Statutory Sick Pay 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.
HMRC Coronavirus Helpline
Telephone: 0800 015 9559
Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm
Saturday, 8am to 4pm