Today I want to tell you how to support an employee who is not eligible for SSP but first lets look at what would make an employee ineligible.
Number 1. The employee earns below £123 per week
Number 2. If the employee has been off long-term sick and used up the maximum amount of SSP which is 28 weeks
Number 3. If the employee is getting Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity Allowance; please note there are special rules for pregnant women and new mothers who do not get these payments
Number 4. If the employee is off for a pregnancy-related illness in the 4 weeks before the week of the Sunday to Saturday that their baby is due
Number 5. If the employee was in custody or on strike on the first day of sickness, including any linked periods
Number 6. If the employee is working outside the EU and you’re not liable for their NI contributions
Number 7. If the employee received employment and support allowance with 12 weeks of starting or returning to work for you.
If an employee is not eligible or the 28 weeks of SSP ends, then you need to issue them an SSP 1 form.
For employees who’s SSP is ending you must send them form SSP1 either:
- within 7 days of their SSP ending, if it ends unexpectedly while they’re still sick
- on or before the beginning of the 23rd week, if their SSP is expected to end before their sickness does
If your employee does not qualify for SSP you must send them form SSP1 within 7 days of them going off sick.
Employees may be able to apply for Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). They use the SSP1 form to support their application.