Covid Statutory Sick Pay (Northern Ireland Only)

The entitlement to SSP for Covid related absences will remain in force in Northern Ireland, having been extended for a period of 6 months up to 24th September 2022.

This means the temporary removal of the three-day waiting period for employees claiming statutory sick pay (SSP) as a result of COVID-19 remains in place in Northern Ireland until this date.

Processing Covid-19 related Statutory Sick Pay in 22-23 BrightPay for Northern Ireland only

22-23 BrightPay has been programmed to automate Covid-19 related SSP, where this is to apply:

1. Click 'Payroll' and select the employee’s name on the left
 
2. Under Statutory Pay, click Calendar

3. On the Calendar, select the date range the employee is out on sick leave
 
4. Click Sick Leave from the options on the right of the screen and choose 'COVID-19 Related Sick Leave (Allowed in Northern Ireland up until 24/09/2022)'


The number of Qualifying Days & SSP days will be displayed on the screen.

Where the sick leave is for a period of four days or more, SSP will be applied from the first working day. 


5. Close the Calendar and the program will automatically apply any SSP due to the employee.

Overriding the 'Average Weekly Earnings' Calculation

If existing payment records have not been recorded in BrightPay or there is insufficient historical payroll data to determine the employee's AWE, the automatic calculation performed by the program after completing the above may be inaccurate or not possible. You may override the AWE by doing the following:

1 On the main Payroll screen, click the Edit icon in the employee’s Statutory Payments section

2 In Sick Leave, select the option ‘Override average weekly earnings calculation’

3  The program will now automatically calculate SSP

Please note: The Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme for claiming back Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for coronavirus related absences closed to all UK nations on 17th March 2022.