SSP extended to people in 'support bubbles'

Yesterday the Statutory Sick Pay (Coronavirus) (Suspension of Waiting Days and General Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 came into force. These apply to England, Wales and Scotland.

Support bubbles

Statutory Sick Pay is now available to individuals who are part of a 'support bubble' with people they don't live with, where someone from the other household has coronavirus. 

In Scotland and Wales, support bubbles are referred to as 'extended households' and in England 'linked households' and are subject to specific rules. 

People who are shielding

The Regulations clarify that SSP will continue to be available to anyone who is shielding if they meet up with other people outside their household, in accordance with public health guidance, and are not strictly staying at home at all times. 

Extremely vulnerable people remain entitled to SSP until the end of the shielding period - which for most people looks as though it will be Saturday 1 August.  However, anyone who is notified to continue to shield or to restart shielding will still be eligible for SSP. 

The government has said that it will update its guidance on shielding on 1 August.

Negative tests

The Regulations also provide that anyone who is self-isolating because they or someone they live with, or a member of their extended or linked household, has symptoms of coronavirus, will remain entitled to SSP until they or that person receives a negative test and therefore stops self-isolating after less than seven or 14 days.

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