{"id":21711,"date":"2022-01-13T15:06:16","date_gmt":"2022-01-13T15:06:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smh.group\/?p=21711"},"modified":"2023-02-15T13:46:33","modified_gmt":"2023-02-15T13:46:33","slug":"sick-pay-rebate-returns-to-help-relieve-pressure-on-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/devstagesite.co.uk\/smhgroup\/sick-pay-rebate-returns-to-help-relieve-pressure-on-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Sick pay rebate returns to help relieve pressure on businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme (SSPRS), which ended on 30 September 2021, was reintroduced from 21 December 2021, with employers able to make retrospective claims from mid-January. The scheme\u2019s return is in response to heightened levels of staff sickness due to the Covid-19 Omicron variant.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Statutory sick pay is not usually recoverable, but the SSPRS means that small and medium-sized businesses can reclaim SSP paid to employees affected by Covid-19.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is covered?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The SSPRS only covers Covid-related absences (someone who has symptoms, is self-isolating or is shielding) for up to two weeks of SSP for each employee. The rate of SSP is currently \u00a396.35 a week.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the two-week limit has been reset, so an employer can make a new claim regardless of whether a claim was made under the previous scheme. More than one claim can be made for an employee, subject to the two-week maximum.<\/span><\/p>\n

No details indicate when the SSPRS will end, although the government will keep the scheme under review.<\/span><\/p>\n

Qualifying employers<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The most important condition is that the SSPRS is only available to employers with fewer than 250 employees. This test must be met on 30 November 2021. The employer must also:<\/span><\/p>\n