SSP Query: 61 yo Female in NIC Category C

[BrendaF]

Can someone help please?

I have a female employee who has just turned 61years old. She is part time and works varying hours on varying days but always meets the £97 + average weekly earnings. She has been off sick for the past 4 weeks. As she no longer pays NIC, can someone advise if she is still entitled to SSP? I'm a bit puzzled by this so would appreciate any advice Thanks.

Brenda.

[Ian Congreave]

Entitlement to SSP (and SMP etc) is not dependent on payment of NICs. (In fact, employees on other table letters who earn between the lower earnings limit and the primary threshold are treated as having made a contribution, even though they have not paid any NICs.)

The earnings condition is simply whether their average earnings in the 8-week qualifying period has reached or exceeded the LEL. As your employee meets that condition, she is entitled to SSP (assuming that the other qualifying conditions are met).

[BrendaF]

Hi Ian
MANY thanks for that great reply. I was going all around the houses with it and you have put it most succinctly Superb.