Changes to SSP Forms

In Issue 29 of our online Employer Bulletin we told you that form SSP1 is to change. The new style form (version 10/08, available from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website) should be used by all employers from 27 October 2008 when Employment Support Allowance (ESA) replaces Incapacity Benefit and Income Support for new customers. The changes to SSP1 will make it quicker to complete – there will be less information to report for benefit claims starting on or after 27 October 2008.

SSP1 is given to an employee, by their employer, when SSP stops or is not payable. The old style form may still be used in these circumstances after 27 October 2008 – but some of the information it asks for will no longer be necessary. The new SSP1 will be available for use from that date.

Form SSP 1L (Leaver's statement of SSP) will be also be discontinued from 27 October 2008. This is because periods of SSP with a previous employer will no longer count towards an employee’s maximum period of SSP.