Shielding

RedTed123

I work for a GP and this is my second week staying at home. Until my GP can setup me working at home. I have been told I may not get paid. Advice please!

Mrsn

Nobody seems to know for sure to be honest. The guidance is being interpreted in many different ways! Some employers are paying SSP to those who are shielding. It will be your employer who makes that final decision I think...

If your finances are affected by the decision please take a look at either www.entitledto.co.uk or www.turn2us.org.uk to see what help you may be eligible for. Your council may also be funding schemes to help with council tax etc

CIS

RedTed123 said:

I work for a GP and this is my second week staying at home. Until my GP can setup me working at home. I have been told I may not get paid. Advice please!

Essentially, if you cannot undertake the work due to a decision of the employer, and you remain available for work, then you are entitled to be paid. If you have made yourself unavailable then the issue would be different and you need to look at the wording of your contract. Most likely you would qualify for SSP under the new rules but that's only for a few weeks.

Information for individuals

If you think you are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), please read the following information: You can get £94.25 per week Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you’re too ill to work. It’s paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks.

If you are self-isolating because of COVID-19: From 13 March, you can now claim SSP. This includes individuals who are caring for people self-isolating in the same household and therefore have been advised to do a household quarantine. To check your sick pay entitlement, you should talk to your employer, and visit https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay for more information.

When does SSP apply?

The government is legislating for SSP to be paid from day 1, rather than day 4, of your absence from workif you are absent from work due to sickness or need to self-isolate caused by COVID-19. Once the legislation has been passed, this will apply retrospectively from 13 March. You should talk to your employer if you are eligible for SSP and need to claim.

Do I need a sick note?

From Friday 20 March onwards, those who have COVID-19 or are advised to self-isolate will be able to obtain an “isolation note” by visiting NHS 111 online and completing an online form, rather than visiting a doctor. For COVID-19 cases this replaces the usual need to provide a “fit note” after seven days of sickness absence. Isolation notes will also be accepted by Jobcentre Plus as evidence of your inability to attend.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-those-affected-by-covid-19/support-for-those-affected-by-covid-19