SSP self-certification period temporarily extended to 28 days

Normally, employees can self-certify sickness absence for the first seven-days, but then they must obtain medical evidence to support their absence from a GP. From the 17th December, employees are no longer required to obtain medical evidence of their sickness absence for their employer for the first 28 days of absence.

This temporary change has been made in order to free up GP capacity, in order to focus on the current priorities of the government- the delivering of the coronavirus booster programme and emergency care by the NHS.

The self-certification period will change back to 7-days for absences that begin on the 27th January 2022.