Ensuring that people who are shielding due to coronavirus are still entitled to SSP if they meet up with people outside their household

New statutory instruments

New regulations have been issued in relation to ensuring that people who are shielding due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) are still entitled to statutory sick pay (SSP) if they meet up with people outside their household.

In force from 6 July 2020, the Statutory Sick Pay (Coronavirus) (Suspension of Waiting Days and General Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (SI.No.681/2020) amend the Statutory Sick Pay (General) Regulations 1982 so as to ensure that persons who are shielding themselves from other people in such a manner as to prevent infection or contamination with coronavirus will continue to be deemed to be incapable of work for the purpose of entitlement to SSP if they meet up with people outside their household, as now permitted by public health guidance.

In addition, the regulations provide that -

• the shielding group will continue to be eligible for SSP until the end of the shielding period, and that a person who is notified to shield at any future time will still be eligible for SSP; and
• a person who is self-isolating because they or someone they live with, or a member of their extended or linked household, has symptoms of coronavirus, and they or that person receives a negative test and therefore stops self-isolating after less than seven or 14 days, they do not have to serve waiting days for the days in self-isolation.

Provisions corresponding to those made in Great Britain have also been made in Northern Ireland by the Statutory Sick Pay (Coronavirus) (Suspension of Waiting Days and General Amendment) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (SR.No.134/2020).

SI.No.681/2020 and SR.No.134/2020 are available from legislation.gov.uk