The Prime Minister confirmed that provisions for statutory sick pay (SSP) to be made from day one will be included in the Department of Health and Social Care’s emergency Bill. The commitment made in the March Budget to refund businesses with fewer than 250 employees, in full, the cost of providing statutory sick pay to any employee off work due to coronavirus for up to 14 days was a timely and welcome measure. It was also announced that statutory sick pay will be available for all those who are advised to self-isolate, even if they have not yet presented with symptoms. I welcome that to help those who are not eligible for sick pay, contributory employment and support allowance will be claimable from day 1 instead of day 8, and that the minimum income floor in Universal Credit will be temporarily removed.
