UK Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Scheme to launch in May

Small and medium-sized businesses in the UK will soon be able to claim for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) payments to their employees in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has announced.

The new scheme, backed with a new website, is set to launch on May 26 as part of a package for businesses affected by Covid-19.

This will allow companies with fewer than 250 employees to apply for the service from HMRC to recover the costs of paying for coronavirus-related SSP for two weeks.

Employers will receive repayments at the relevant rate of SSP that they have paid to either current or former employees for eligible periods of sickness starting on or after 13 March 2020.

Employers will be eligible provided they have a PAYE payroll scheme that has been operating since before 28 February 2020, provided they also had fewer than 250 staff on their payroll before that date, as well.

The repayment will cover an employee who has been unable to work because of a few reasons: they have coronavirus, they are self-isolating, or they are distancing due to being considered high risk.

Secretary of state for the Department of Work and Pensions, Therese Coffey said: We are committed to supporting Britain’s small and medium-sized businesses through this pandemic with a comprehensive package of support.

“This rebate will put money back in the pockets of millions of employers, ensuring they can hit the ground running as the economy re-opens.”

Angela MacDonald, HMRC’s Director General of Customer Services, said:

“Our teams have worked hard to deliver this scheme for employers and their employees, to ensure they get the support they need. We want employers to be secure in the knowledge they will receive help as they care for their staff during this difficult period.”

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