As fears over rising coronavirus cases continue, sick pay rules are temporarily being relaxed in a bid to help free up GPs for the booster rollout.
This means that employees will not need to see their doctor if they are unwell over the Christmas period, the Mirror reports.
Under the current rules, those who are unwell need to show their employer a GP-signed sick note after seven days on order to receive statutory sick pay.
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But now, this is being relaxed to 28 days so people will not be asked for a sick note until almost a month after you fall ill - including non-working days.
A DWP spokesperson said: “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.
“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.”
The same goes for those who become sick and are on benefits like Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is worth £96.35 a week for those who qualify and is paid by employers for up to 28 weeks after the first three days of illness and your earning at least £120 a week.
If you are self-isolating for Covid you can get SSP for the first three days.
Earlier this month, unions called for an increase in statutory sick pay, after research suggested it was at its lowest level in almost 20 years.
A report by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) suggested workers face drastic cuts to their livelihoods over Christmas as they run the risk of being left with no work and no income.
According to the TUC, the UK has the least generous statutory sick pay in Europe, at £96.35 per week and it is only available to those earning £120 per week or more.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Every worker should have the security of sick pay if they fall ill or need to isolate. But while we’re out celebrating and buying presents, many workers who make that possible get no sick pay protection at all.
“Our sick pay system is broken. No one should be left to choose between doing the right thing or putting food on the table. And we all risk having our Christmas ruined because our sick pay system doesn’t do what’s needed to stop the virus spreading."
Liverpool City Council has confirmed some people may be eligible for a one off payment of £500 under the Government's Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme if they are required to stay at home and self-isolate.
This payment only qualifies if you need to self-isolate because you have received a positive PCR test or you are a close contact of a positive case and are not exempt from self-isolating.
More information can be found on the council's website.
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