Statutory Sick Pay

[vodkancoke]

I don't know if this belongs in Law or not but here goes,

I have a 55 year old employee who has been off for the past 2 weeks sick. She has ended up in hospital and is very poorly and is to be off indefinately. I have been paying her SSP from day 1 and her husband phoned today to ask for a self-certification form. I do not possess any of these and was wondering where I get them or how I go about getting them? Is it as simple as contacting HMRC and asking them? I'm only asking here as I know I will get a quick answer....quicker than HMRC!!!

Thank you in advance

[vodkancoke]

I'm a soft touch TCL, more fool me!

Thanks Postdog....to be honest plautus has a point. I was never aware an employer had to provide these. Any job I have had I have always got them from my GP but was just curious as her husband had phoned me so assumed I was wrong.

Thanks for all your answers!

[joko]

i think the person gets them themselves from their doctor...its not for you to give them out...

[vodkancoke]

Thanks joko

[joko]

obviously plautus has never been a competent employer as hed know its not the employers job to provide them...

[THECORBYLOON]

An employer can use their own version if they want, it's up to them. The point of the self cert is to avoid having to go to the doc for proof of a short illness and an employer CAN NOT insist on a medical cerficate for those first seven days.

[THECORBYLOON]

If and when plautus re-appears, on the HMRC site it says about the SC2, "This form is available from your Local Tax Office or our Forms Ordering Service" (maybe plautus was knocked back by Alan Sugar in the past...)

[vodkancoke]

Lol thank you everyone for your answers. I have downloaded one for her and put it in the post along with a wee note to say she can get them from her doc surgery if she needs anymore. Thanks again :)

[pink-kittens]

A self cert is different top a sick cert form the GP
Self cert is used for the first 7 days of sickness and is given by the employer - it doesn't have to be a specially formulated one, just something for your records. For prolonged periods of sickness of 7 days or more, the GP should provide sick notes/certs. This will enable you to pay the SSP

[stokemaveric]

a self certification only lasts for a week and then YOU as her employer should get a full doctors sick note detailing how long the employee will be off sick for..her husband can get a self cert form from the doctors,that is their responsibility not yours..

[boxtops]

I can only speak from my own experience. A GP will not certify for less than 7 days and all my employers have always provided a self cert form for periods of less than that. After 7 days you need a doctor's certificate and it is the responsibility of the employee to obtain that from the doctor and to give it to the employer. At my place an employee is not allowed to come back to work until the doctor has signed them off as fit to return.