MILLIONS of Brits won’t have to provide a sick note within seven days of being ill after a change to rules because of Covid.Anyone who’s unwell and needs a sick note to get pay or benefits will not have to show one until 28 days after they become unwell.
1Covid Booster jab efforts mean sick note rules have changed for many BritsCredit: Getty
Usually you don’t need to show a sick note for the first seven days, and then after that you need proof of your illness to get statutory sick pay.
But anyone in work who goes off sick from 10 December won’t be asked for one until after 28 days of sickness, which includes non-working days.
The same goes for those who become sick and are on benefits like Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
The change to rules comes as the country attempts to get millions more people jabbed against coronavirus.
The Prime Minister said the government is targeting the majority of Brits to get booster before the end of December to fight against the spread of the Omicron variant.
It comes after The Sun relaunched our hugely successful Jabs Army campaign urging the country to get vaccinated.
Most read in Money
Extending the usual sick note time from seven to 28 days will free up GPs to focus on getting more jabs in arms.
The longer doctors note requirement will be in place until January 27, 2022. After that the rules will return to the normal seven day period.
🔵 Read our Omicron live blog for the latest updates
A DWP spokesperson told The Sun: “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 today.
“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, su …
Read more…….
