COVID-19 SSP Rebate Scheme to Close on 30 September 2021
The COVID-19 SSP Rebate Scheme was introduced to allow eligible employers with fewer than 250 employees to apply to HMRC for reimbursement of statutory sick pay (SSP) for employees' sickness absences resulting from COVID-19.
The Rebate Scheme will now close with effect from 30 September 2021 after which any COVID-19 absences occurring after 30 September 2021 will not be eligible for a rebate and SSP will revert to being funded entirely by the employer.
Employers have until 31 December 2021 to make any claims for eligible SSP costs incurred up to and including 30 September 2021.
Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Consultation
Employers should also be aware that the government launched a consultation on mandatory vaccination for frontline health and care staff on 9 September 2021 to run for 6 weeks.
The consultation will consider whether frontline workers in health and care settings will be required to have the COVID-19 and flu vaccinations in order to protect patients. If so, unless medically exempt, only those who are fully vaccinated could be deployed to deliver health and care services.