MILLIONS of Brits won’t have to provide a sick note within seven days of being ill after a change to rules because of Covid.
Anyone who’s unwell and needs a sick note to get pay or benefits will not have to show one until 28 days after they become unwell.
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Usually you don’t need to show a sick note for the first seven days, and then after that you need proof of your illness to get statutory sick pay.
But anyone in work who goes off sick from 10 December won’t be asked for one until after 28 days of sickness, which includes non-working days.
The same goes for those who become sick and are on benefits like Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
The change to rules comes as the country attempts to get millions more people jabbed against coronavirus.
The Prime Minister said the government is targeting the majority of Brits to get booster before the end of December to fight against the spread of the Omicron variant.
It comes after The Sun relaunched our hugely successful Jabs Army campaign urging the country to get vaccinated.
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Extending the usual sick note time from seven to 28 days will free up GPs to focus on getting more jabs in arms.
The longer doctors note requirement will be in place until January 27, 2022. After that the rules will return to the normal seven day period.
? Read our Omicron live blog for the latest updates
A DWP spokesperson told The Sun: “To free up capacity for our GPs to support the ramping up of the Covid booster jab rollout, we’ve introduced Statutory Sick Pay changes today.
“For any sickness absences which began on or after 10 December 2021, up to and including 26 January 2022, GPs will not need to provide employees with medical evidence of sickness, such as a fit note, for the first 28 days of absence.
“We encourage everyone eligible to get their booster jab as soon as possible.”
Under normal rules you self-certify for the first seven days of illness.
Once you have been ill for more than seven consecutive days (including weekend days, bank holidays or days you wouldn’t usually work anyway) most employers ask you to provide a sick note.
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is worth £96.35 a week for those who qualify.
It’s paid by employers for up to 28 weeks after the first three days of illness and your earning at least £120 a week.
But of you are self-isolating for Covid you can get SSP for the first three days.
SSP is the minimum you get under the law and your employer might pay more, or form the first day of being ill.
Meanwhile if you’re claiming Universal Credit and become unwell and that affects your search for work, you have to show a note to the DWP.
Instead of seven days, that till now be 28 days until January 27, 2022
The temporary rule change also applies to Employment and Support Allowance benefits (ESA), which you can claim if an illness or disability is affecting your capacity to work.
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