Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

The Government has said that Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will be payable from day one for employees who are self-isolating. Ordinarily, you would need to be off sick for four consecutive days before it is payable.

SSP is currently set at £94.25 per week, though bear in mind that is just the minimum ‒ some employers are more generous with their sick pay.

It’s worth checking your contract or having a chat with HR to establish exactly what you are entitled to.

The situation is a little more complicated if you are self-employed.

The Government has said that you can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), which is normally payable to people who have a disability or health issue which affects how much they can work.

Previously it would take seven days before this was payable, but this is now payable from day one of self-isolation.

And then there’s Universal Credit.

The Government has said that self-employed claimants on Universal Credit who are required to stay at home or fall ill with Coronavirus will not have a ‘minimum income floor’ applied for a period of time.

This floor usually affects how much UC you are entitled to.