Social care workers in Wales to have SSP topped up to level of normal wages if they have coronavirus or are required to self-isolate

Welsh Government announces new SSP enhancement scheme to run from 1 November 2020 to 31 March 2021

The Welsh Government has announced that social care workers in Wales will have their statutory sick pay (SSP) topped up to the level of their normal wages if they have coronavirus (COVID-19) or are required to self-isolate.

In addition to confirming that, as announced on 23 September 2020, it will provide a £500 Test and Trace Support payment for people on low incomes who are required to self-isolate, the Welsh Government says that the new SSP enhancement scheme - which will run from 1 November 2020 until 31 March 2021 - will top up SSP to the level of eligible care workers’ full pay if they need to take time off with suspected or confirmed coronavirus, if they are self-isolating because someone in their household has coronavirus, or if they have been told to by the NHS Wales Test Trace Protect service.

Highlighting that up to £32 million is being made available by the Welsh Government for the two schemes, Minister for Housing and Local Government Julie James said today -

'If you are told to self-isolate, working from home is not an option for everyone, making this an even more stressful period for people. Some people can feel under pressure to go to work, just to pay the bills.

The £500 self-isolation payment and the SSP enhancement scheme will help us protect the vulnerable and give people the financial security they need to stay-at-home and break the cycle of transmission.'

For more information, see Two schemes to help people self-isolate to be introduced in Wales from gov.wales