Usually, your employer will ask for a fit note (Statement of Fitness for Work) if you are off of work sick for more than 7 days. However, for the purposes of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), from 10th December 2021 your employer can only ask 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 Department for Work and Pensions (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.