Number of days over which employees are not required to provide medical evidence of sickness absence for SSP purposes extended from seven to 28 days in Northern Ireland

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New regulations have been issued in Northern Ireland in relation to the number of days over which employees are not required to provide medical evidence of sickness absence for statutory sick pay (SSP) purposes.

In force from 17 December 2021, the Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) (Modification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (SR.No.347/2021) increase the period that an employee is not required to provide medical information in respect of any spell of incapacity for work from seven to 28 days.

The new regulations provide that the modified time limit applies to spells of sickness that start during the period 17 December 2021 to 26 January 2022 or which commence prior to the regulations coming into force but which have not lasted more than seven days on that date (as the requirement to provide medical evidence will not have arisen at that point).

SR.No.347/2021 is available from legislation.gov.uk

NB - the new regulations make corresponding provision in Northern Ireland to that in Great Britain provided for by SI.No.1453/2021.