Changes to statutory sick pay could benefit over a million people, the Department for Work and Pensions has said. The DWP is currently consulting on changes to statutory sick pay (SSP), asking employers and employees for their views.
Other changes will ensure SSP is available to employees from day one of their sickness absence, regardless of their earnings. In a video, the DWP says: “As part of the Government’s Plan to Make Work Pay, changes will be made to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), including the removal of the waiting period for SSP and of the lower earnings limit.
“These changes will ensure SSP is available to employees from day one of their sickness absence, regardless of their earnings. Additionally, a consultation will seek views on what percentage rate should be paid for those earning below the flat rate of SSP.
“This change could mean up to 1.3m employees who are currently excluded from SSP could now be eligible.”
A report last month urged ministers to increase SSP’s basic rate from £3 an hour. Tom MacInnes, the director of policy at Citizens Advice, told the Guardian: “The proposed reforms to the system are welcome but they don’t go far enough. Crucially, the amount of SSP people receive must be increased so it more closely reflects national living wage.
“Otherwise we will continue to see people driven into hardship and debt when they get sick, or working through injury and illness when they should be recovering.”
Statutory Sick Pay currently stands at £116.75 per week, with it being paid by employers for up to 28 weeks when employees are too ill to work. Employees may get more if the company has a sick pay scheme.
You can find out more about the consultation here.