Purpose of the Scheme

Eligibility

Full Guidance & Declaration Form

How to claim

COVID-19 Test Results

 

Purpose of the Scheme

This new Welsh Government scheme provides financial support to care workers who are required to stay off work due to actual or suspected COVID-19, or because they have to self-isolate.

The scheme enables employers to pay the care worker full pay from the first day of absence. This removes the financial disadvantage to care workers of staying away from work. This will help to protect vulnerable citizens and supports the purpose of infection control.

The scheme is currently scheduled to run from 1st November 2020 until 30th September 2021.

 

Eligibility

A Personal Assistant (PA) paid through the Direct Payment scheme is eligible regardless of whether they are:

• Full-time or part-time
• On a zero hours contract
• On a permanent or temporary contract

If a PA cannot report for work because they either:

1. have symptoms of COVID-19 (click here for a list of symptoms). They should take a test without delay – click here for details
2. have tested positive for COVID-19
3. are self-isolating due to being identified as a contact by NHS Wales Test Trace Protect (TTP) service
4. are self-isolating because a member of their (extended) household is self-isolating (has symptoms of COVID-19 or has tested positive for it)

You are able to claim either all of their sick pay or the part above SSP from Cardiff Council.

The scheme applies for a maximum number of days (set in line with the Welsh Government’s Stay at home guidance).

The scheme is only open to PAs whose contract of employment does not allow for them to receive full sick pay.

 

Full Guidance & Declaration Form

Cardiff Council - Letter to Direct Payments Employers

Form 1 – the Employee Declaration form – English & Welsh

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Welsh Government website - SSP Enhancement Scheme

Welsh Government website - Self-Isolation Support Scheme

Welsh Government website - Eligibility check for the SSP Enhancement Scheme

COVID-19 test for symptomatic PAs

Welsh Government Website - Stay at home guidance

Welsh Government Website - Guidance for those notified by TTP

 

How to claim

The scheme is made up of three steps:

Step 1 – The Employee Declaration form

Step 2 – Understanding the guidance and supporting your employee

Step 3 – Making a claim

Employers

Please read Cardiff Council’s letter to Direct Payments Employers (click here)

PAs

There are three steps:

1. Please read and complete the Declaration form (click here). The form can be completed electronically or printed. You should sign and return this declaration to your employer now by email or hand it to them. You should ensure it is in place before you need it. If you have not signed and returned the declaration this may result in delays.
2. You should familiarise yourself with both the SSP Enhancement scheme and the Self-isolation Support scheme as you can only claim from one scheme at a time. Links to the Welsh Government websites are contained within the Full Guidance & Declaration Form section above.
3. If you are scheduled to work but are forced to be off work due to one of the four eligible reasons you should:

• Contact your employer in line with your usual sickness absence reporting procedure
• Confirm the reason for your eligibility
• Confirm whether you wish to claim for the SSP Enhancement (a completed Declaration form is required by your employer before any claim can be made).
• Confirm if you have applied/intend to apply for the Self-Isolation scheme instead. If you apply for the Self-Isolation scheme, you may still qualify for ordinary SSP but cannot receive the SSP Enhancement.

It is your responsibility to only apply and claim for either the SSP Enhancement scheme or the Self-Isolation Support scheme for each relevant absence and to notify your employer of any changes from one scheme to the other.

• If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you are expected to seek a COVID-19 test immediately and return to work as soon as possible. Tests can be requested through Dewis CIL here.
• If you are eligible for and wish to claim from the SSP Enhancement scheme and you have provided your employer with the completed Declaration form, you will receive full pay.

 

COVID-19 Test Results

Positive Test Result – A positive test result will be viewed as a new, separate absence. You should provide your employer with a copy of the test result. At this stage you may choose to apply for the Self-isolation Support scheme instead (if eligible) as it may be more financially beneficial for you. Click here for details. You should let your employer know immediately which scheme you would like to use for this new absence period. No overlap of schemes is permitted.

Negative Test Result – On receipt of a negative test result, you should return to work if able. If you are still unwell due to a different illness, the SSP Enhancement scheme will end and wages for the remainder of your absence will reduce to what they would be ordinarily when you take sickness absence. You should provide your employer with a copy of your test result.

If you have any further queries, please contact Dewis CIL on 02922 40 50 60