The coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme will launch online next week (26 May).

The scheme enables companies with fewer than 250 employees to claim back coronavirus-related Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).

Tax agents will also be able to make claims on behalf of their clients.

You’re eligible to use the scheme if:

• you’re claiming for an employee who is eligible for sick pay due to coronavirus
• you had a PAYE payroll scheme in operation before 28 February 2020
• you had fewer than 250 employees across all PAYE schemes on 28 February 2020
• you’re eligible to receive State Aid under the EU Commission Temporary Framework.

The repayment will cover up to two weeks of the applicable rate of SSP and is payable if a current or former employee was unable to work on or after 13 March 2020 and was entitled to SSP because:

• they had coronavirus Covid-19
• or were self-isolating and unable to work from home
• or were shielding because they’ve been advised that they were at high risk of severe illness from coronavirus.

To prepare your claim you should have records of all the SSP payments you wish to claim for.

For more information about eligibility and how you can prepare to use the scheme, click here.

You can find out more about this coronavirus support measure, and others (such as HMRC’s 80% Job Retention Scheme) by signing up to one of the webinars. For more information visit GOV.UK and search for 'Help and support if your business is affected by coronavirus (COVID-19)'.