The Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme will launch online today

The scheme will enable employers with fewer than 250 employees to claim coronavirus-related Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). Tax agents will also be able to make claims on behalf of employers.
You’re eligible to use the scheme if:

• You’re claiming for an employee who’s eligible for sick pay due to coronavirus
• You had a PAYE payroll scheme in operation before 28 February 2020
• You had fewer than 250 employees across all PAYE schemes on 28 February 2020
• You’re eligible to receive State Aid under the EU Commission Temporary Framework.

The repayment will cover up to two weeks of the applicable rate of SSP, and is payable if a current or former employee was unable to work on or after 13 March 2020 and entitled to SSP, because they either:

• Have coronavirus
• Are self-isolating and unable to work from home
• Are shielding because they’ve been advised that they’re at high risk of severe illness from coronavirus.

To prepare to make a claim, you should keep records of all the SSP payments you wish to claim for.

For more information about eligibility and how employers can prepare to use the scheme, please visit GOV.UK and search ‘Check if you can claim back Statutory Sick Pay paid to employees due to coronavirus (COVID-19)‘.

You can find out more about this coronavirus support measure, and others such as HMRC’s Job Retention Scheme, by signing up to one of their webinars. For more information please visit GOV.UK and search for ‘Help and support if your business is affected by coronavirus (COVID-19)‘.

A word about scams

We are aware of an increase in scam emails, calls and texts. If someone gets in touch claiming to be from HMRC, saying that financial help can be claimed or that a tax refund is owed, and asks you to click on a link or to give information such as your name, credit card or bank details, please do not respond.

You can forward suspicious emails claiming to be from HMRC to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and texts to 60599.