Firms can now check to see if they can use the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate scheme to reclaim payments to current or former employees.

Firms with fewer than 250 employees, as of February 28, can claim back from both the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - which allows staff to be furloughed - and the sick pay scheme for the same employee, but not for the same period of time.

According to accountants and business advisors Kreston Reeves, which has offices in Canterbury and Chatham, employees do not have to provide their employer with a doctor’s fit note to enable it to make a claim, but employers can ask they provide a self-isolating note from NHS 111 if they were self-isolating and unable to work due to the pandemic. Additionally, if they have a GP or NHS letter telling them to stay at home for at least 12 weeks because they are at high risk of severe illness from the virus.

The scheme is open to businesses and charities and covers both full and part time employees, employees on agency, flexible or zero-hour or fixed term contracts.

Jennifer Williamson, partner at Kreston Reeves, explains: “The scheme will provide a welcome cash boost to many businesses and will cover up to two weeks statutory sick pay starting from the first day of the sickness if the employee was or is unable to work due to having coronavirus symptoms, because they are self-isolating or are shielding at home for a 12 week period.

"The claim period starts from March 13 for employees with symptoms or who were self-isolating, April 16 if they were shielding at home or May 28 if they were notified by the NHS or public health bodies that they’ve come into contact with someone with coronavirus.”

The weekly rate for sick pay was £94.25 before April 6 and is now £95.85. Details on how to claim can be found here.

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