Coronavirus support for employees, benefit claimants and businesses

A range of extra support and measures will be put in place to help workers, benefit claimants and businesses affected by coronavirus.

Following announcements in the Budget, the Department for Work and Pensions is making temporary arrangements to support those impacted by coronavirus.

A DWP spokesperson said: "We understand people who are required to stay at home or are infected by Coronavirus may need financial support, and quickly.

"Those affected will be able to apply for Universal Credit and can receive up to a month's advance up front without physically attending a Jobcentre.

"If you believe that you may have been infected, or have been in close contact with someone who has, please do not delay making a claim to Universal Credit. You should stay at home and apply at the earliest opportunity."

For people already claiming support

Special arrangements will be in place for people in receipt of benefits who cannot attend reassessments or jobcentre appointments because they are required to stay at home or are infected by coronavirus.

• Disabled and sick claimants who cannot attend a reassessment for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit will continue to receive their payments while their assessment is rearranged.
• People who need to claim ESA or Universal Credit because of coronavirus will not be required to produce a Fit Note.
• When claimants tell the Jobcentre in good time that they are staying at home or that they have been diagnosed with coronavirus, they will not be sanctioned. Conditionality requirements in their claimant commitment will be reviewed, to ensure they are reasonable.
• Claimants who are staying at home as a result of coronavirus will have their mandatory work search and work availability requirements removed to account for a period of sickness.

For people who need to make a new claim for financial support

People who are required to stay at home or are infected by coronavirus may need financial support, and quickly.

• Those affected by coronavirus will be able to apply for Universal Credit and can receive up to a month’s advance up front without physically attending a jobcentre.
• The seven waiting days for ESA for new claimants suffering from coronavirus or required to stay at home will not apply, so it will be payable from day one.

Information for benefit claimants and people thinking about making a claim to benefit is published here:

• www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/coronavirus/

Employees and self-employed people

To make sure people in work can take the necessary time off to stay at home if they are suffering from coronavirus or to prevent its spread, changes have been made to Statutory Sick Pay and how Universal Credit supports self-employed claimants.

• People who cannot work due to coronavirus and are eligible for Statutory Sick Pay will get it from day one, rather than from the fourth day of their illness. This measure applies retrospectively from 13 March.
• Statutory Sick Pay will be payable to people who are staying at home on Government advice, not just those who are infected, from 13 March after regulations were laid on 12 March. Employers are urged to use their discretion about what evidence, if any, they ask for.
• Paid by employers for up to 28 weeks to employees with average weekly earnings of at least £118 per week.
• If employees need to provide evidence to their employer that they need to stay at home due to coronavirus, they will be able to get it from NHS 111 Online instead of having to get a Fit Note from their doctor. This is currently under development and will be made available soon.
• Self-employed claimants on Universal Credit who are required to stay at home or are ill as a result of coronavirus will not have a Minimum Income Floor (an assumed level of income) applied for a period of time while affected.

Businesses

The government wants to ensure businesses are supported to deal with the temporary economic impacts of an outbreak of coronavirus.

• Employers with fewer than 250 employees will be able to reclaim Statutory Sick Pay for employees unable to work because of coronavirus. This refund will be for up to two weeks per employee.

Other government support for businesses can be found here:

• www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-employees-employers-and-businesses