REC Legal FAQ - What is the difference between shielding and self-isolation for SSP?

Emma Clapham is a legal advisor at the REC.

What is the difference between shielding and self-isolation for SSP?

As you are probably aware, Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) entitlement has been extended during the Coronavirus pandemic to include people who are ‘shielding’ and ‘self-isolating’, but what is the difference between the two?

Somebody is ‘shielding’ if they have received a letter from government telling them to stay at home because they have an underlying health condition that makes them extremely vulnerable.

Do also bear in mind you can put somebody who is shielding onto the Job Retention Scheme if both you and they meet the eligibility criteria, but you cannot use the Job Retention Scheme and the Statutory Sick Pay scheme at the same time.

Somebody will be ‘self-isolating’ if they have symptoms of coronavirus and have to stay at home for seven days; or they are staying at home for 14 days because somebody in their household has symptoms; or whilst they were staying at home for 14 days, they themselves developed symptoms of the Coronavirus and have to stay at home for seven days from the first day of their symptoms.

For full details of Statutory Sick Pay in relation to the Coronavirus and Statutory Sick Pay generally, please see our Coronavirus hub and a legal guide online.