Temporary increase in timeframe for employees to submit medical evidence for sickness absence

Implementation date: 17 December 2021

The Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/1453) temporarily increase the number of days during which employees are not required to provide medical evidence of sickness absence for statutory sick pay purposes from seven days to 28 days.

The increase applies to periods of incapacity that start from 17 December 2021 until 26 January 2022, or periods of incapacity that commence before 17 December 2021 but that on 17 December 2021 have lasted for no longer than seven days.

The Government has said that this measure is "intended to increase General Practice (GP) capacity to support the coronavirus vaccine booster programme by reducing the need for employees to visit their GP for medical evidence for the purposes of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)".

The Regulations apply in England, Scotland and Wales.