Last October, we reported on the closure of the scheme which had allowed smaller and medium-sized employers to claim back the cost of statutory sick pay for people who were off sick because of COVID-19. Well, now we can report on the reintroduction of this scheme.

How does the scheme work?

As part of a wider package of measures aimed at assisting businesses affected by the latest wave of COVID-19 infections, the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme (SSPRS) works as follows:

• It applies from 21 December 2021.
• Those businesses with fewer than 250 employees are entitled to make a claim.
• It allows employers to claim a rebate in relation to up to two weeks’ worth of SSP for each employee who is off sick for COVID-related reasons.
• SSP will be payable from the first day of absence (rather than from the fourth day, as would normally be the case).

As things stand, it’s not entirely clear for how long the SSPRS will remain in place this time around.  So keep an eye out for news of further changes in this area.

Need to know more?

The devil is almost always in the detail when it comes to schemes of this nature.  In order to check whether you can make a claim for a rebate of the SSP you have paid in relation to your staff, speak to your accountants or your payroll people.