Sick note requests – temporary change to 28 days
Temporary changes to MED3 (Fit Notes) till 27th January 2022 – Only required after 28 days of sickness (rather than 7 days)
For Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), where employees go off sick on or after 10 December 2021, employers can only ask employees for proof of sickness (such as a fit note) after 28 days of sickness (including non-working days). Proof of sickness cannot be requested earlier than 28 days.
Fit notes do not have to be provided for DWP benefit claims until 27 January 2022. This will not affect claims to benefit.
These changes are to give GPs more time to work on the Coronavirus (Covid-19) booster programme.