Employment costs
The government is working to prepare the Legislation to allow small and medium-sized businesses and employers to reclaim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) paid for sickness absence due to COVID-19.
The eligibility criteria for the scheme will be as follows:
- The refund will cover up to 2 weeks’ SSP per eligible employee who has been off work because of COVID-19
- Employers with fewer than 250 employees (to be determined with reference to the number employed as of 28 February 2020) will be eligible. Employers will be able to reclaim expenditure for any employee who has claimed SSP (according to the new eligibility criteria) as a result of COVID-19
- Employers should maintain records of staff absences, but employees will not need to provide a GP fit note.
- Eligible period for the scheme will commence the day after the regulations on the extension of Statutory Sick Pay to self-isolators comes into force.
- The government will work with employers over the coming months to set up the repayment mechanism for employers as soon as possible (possibly via the RTI system). Existing systems are not designed to facilitate employer refunds for SSP.
Employment allowance to increase by £1000
Those businesses who employ people are currently entitled to Employment Allowance of £3,000. This is now increased from £3,000 to £4,000 to protect small businesses from the rise in the minimum wage. From next month companies will not have to pay Employer National Insurance Contributions on the first £4,000 of their annual bill.
Changes had already been announced that the Allowance is only available where from 6 April the Class 1 National Insurance bill of the business or charity was below £100,000 in the previous tax year.
You cannot claim the Employment Allowance from April 2020 if:
- you’re the director and the only employee paid above the secondary threshold.
- you employ someone for personal, household or domestic work (like a nanny or gardener) – unless they’re a care or support worker.
- you’re a public body or business doing more than half your work in the public sector (such as local councils and NHS services) – unless you’re a charity.
- you’re a service company working under ‘IR35 rules’ and your only income is the earnings of the intermediary (such as your personal service company, limited company or partnership).
- Class 1 National Insurance contributions (NICs) liability are at or above £100,000 in the tax year before the year of claim. This includes connected companies.
- if the business exceeds the de minimis state aid threshold.
We can help
Sterling Finance is open for business to support businesses during this tough time. Our experienced and knowledgeable team is ready to help you. Here is our contact details
Sterling Finance UK Limited
Website www.sterlingfinance.net
Email info@sterlingfinance.net
Tel 0161 339 4989
