Can I claim SSP from two employers?

TELLIT01

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

This is fascinating, from https://www.gov.uk/taking-sick-leave: Employers can take a copy of the fit note. The employee should keep the original. That would seem to support the idea that you can receive two sets of SSP, but I have to say that historically I would not have dreamed of offering a copy to my employer.

There is a difference between the employer taking a copy of the fit note, and the employee giving the employer a copy. In the former, the employer has sight of the original and can easily see any possible changes made to it, that is not as obvious on a copy.
When I worked at DWP we certainly would not accept a photocopy of a 'fit note', and for very good reason. We saw far too many which had been altered, but that alteration would not necessarily have been obvious on a photocopy cert.

sportsarb

chrisbur wrote: »

It is interesting how guidance on SSP has changed over the years. The GOV.UK website for example has this to say about medical certs (Fit notes)

"Fit notes and proof of sickness
Employees must give their employer a doctor’s ‘fit note’ (sometimes called a ‘sick note’) if they’ve been ill for more than 7 days in a row and have taken sick leave. This includes non-working days, such as weekends and bank holidays.

Employees can get a fit note from a GP or hospital doctor. If their employer agrees, a similar document can be provided by a physiotherapist, podiatrist or occupational therapist instead."

While the old employers guide to SSP had this about fir notes....

"Incapacity lasts more than seven days
If your employee is sick for more than seven days, you can ask them to give you some form of medical evidence or a fit note from their doctor to support payment of SSP.
As an employer, the decision on whether or not evidence of illness is required, and if so, what evidence is acceptable, ultimately rests with you.

You may also find that your employee gives you certificates from someone who is not a registered medical practitioner, such as:
• osteopaths
• chiropractors
• Christian Scientists
• herbalists
• acupuncturists.
You should consider such certificates on their own merits. It is for you to decide whether or not you accept this evidence. If you have any doubts you can still ask for a doctor’s fit note."

I do not know if rules have been changed or if it is just the GOV.UK site over-simplifying things.

Also interesting that they lapsed in to the language so many of my colleagues do.

mark1234567890

Update:

I think this is now sorted as my second employer has said that I am entitled to SSP through them. I will update this thread if I have any further problems. Thank you for all of the replies.

TELLIT01

Pleased to see it's sorted. I suspect the vast majority of people, including many small employers, don't realise that SSP can be claimed from more than one employer. As I said earlier, it does seem odd that people with 2 part time jobs can potentially be better off when sick than a person with 1 full time job, but them's the rules.

chrisbur

TELLIT01 wrote: »

. As I said earlier, it does seem odd that people with 2 part time jobs can potentially be better off when sick than a person with 1 full time job, but them's the rules.

I believe that the reason for this is that from the beginning of SSP it was designed to be operated by the employer on information available to the employer. It was introduced to avoid the need of what must have been a sizable department paying out state sick pay so I would guess a few people double dipping was seen as only a very minor cost compared to the saving. Of course as time passed the full cost of SSP was passed on to employers so now even less need to worry about this, perhaps this was the plan from the start.

Savvy_Sue

And of course, it's possible to be Not Fit for one job while still able to do another.