As we are now at the ‘living with Covid-19’ stage of the pandemic the Government has decided to close the Covid-19-related statutory sick pay (SSP) rebate scheme on 17 March 2022.
The scheme re-opened on 21 December 2021 for employers with fewer than 250 employees. It permits the employer to reclaim up to 14 days of SSP paid to an employee who is unwell or isolating due to Covid-19 and allows SSP to be paid from the first (rather than fourth) day of sick leave.
All claims for refunds of SSP paid must be submitted to HMRC by 24 March 2022. This is also the deadline for amending any earlier SSP refund claims.
This is an incredibly tight deadline, especially as the SSP has to be paid to the employee before it can be reclaimed. We can help you with your SSP refund claims.
Also from 25 March 2022 SSP will revert to being payable from the fourth day of absence from work, even if the absence is due to Covid-19.