If an employee has an immigration status with "no recourse to public funds", are they eligible for benefits such as statutory maternity pay and statutory sick pay?

Yes. An employee who has "no recourse to public funds" because of their immigration status will be entitled to statutory family-related pay and statutory sick pay, provided that they meet the relevant qualifying conditions.

A "no recourse to public funds" condition will apply where the employee has a time-limited permission to stay and work in the UK, eg through the skilled worker route or a student visa. However, statutory sick pay and statutory maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and parental bereavement pay are not considered public funds for these purposes.