Methods and apparatus for physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) reliability enhancements. A method includes receiving first information for a number of N>1 search space sets. For each of the N search space sets, the first information includes: an index, wherein search space sets are indexed in an ascending order of respective indexes, a periodicity, wherein the periodicity is same for all of the N search space sets, and an indication that the N search space sets are linked for receptions of PDCCHs, wherein the PDCCHs provide identical information. The method further includes determining a number of N PDCCH reception occasions in M≥1 slots within a period according to the periodicity. A n-th PDCCH reception occasion from the N PDCCH reception occasions is according to a n-th search space set from the N search space sets. The method further includes receiving N PDCCHs in the N PDCCH reception occasions.