The temporary adjustment to the rules of SSP were reviewed and considered against the final date expected of the 24th of March and as such we received an update to how employers must treat SSP from the 25th.We had already seen the end of the SSP reclaim program on the 17th of March and all claims had to be received on or by the 24th. The details of the announcement are below and it’s important to note that due to the transferable status in Northern Ireland, different arrangements are now in place:
- The SSP changes which were introduced in response to the pandemic have now expired in Great Britain from the 24th of March 2022
- As of the 25th of March, pre-pandemic SSP rules apply meaning that eligible employees will need to be sick or incapable of work
- Therefore, SSP is payable on all absence from the fourth qualifying day of absence re-instating the normal waiting day rules for all eligible absence
SSP is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland:
- Northern Ireland have decided to retain the power in the Act which enabled SSP to be paid from day one of a COVID-related absence
- Northern Ireland will also be retaining the broader SSP regulations which extended eligibility to employees deemed incapable of work as a result of following Public Health advice.
