Sick pay rebate scheme to continue for SMEs

Budget 2021: Delivering his Budget to the House of Commons, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has confirmed that the statutory sick pay (SSP) rebate scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will remain in place.

The scheme, which was announced at last year’s March Budget, allows SME employers to claim a refund for statutory sick pay in relation to Covid-19 (Coronavirus) of up to two weeks of eligible SSP costs per employee.

The scheme was put in place as a temporary measure to support employers in response to the pandemic and high levels of sickness absence.