The government wants to ensure that businesses are supported to deal with the economic impacts of an outbreak of coronavirus. As per gov.co.uk, there shall be a range of extra support and measures put in place to help the employees, offer benefits to claimants and businesses that are affected by a coronavirus.
For minimum 3 months, people those who are receiving the benefits will not have to attend jobcentre appointments starting from Thursday 19 March 2020. They shall continue to receive their benefits as normal. They will continue to receive their payments while their assessment is rearranged. They will have their mandatory work search and work availability requirements removed.
There are few special arrangements made for people in receipt of benefits who cannot attend reassessments or jobcentre appointments as they are homebound or infected by COVID-19. For instance, people will not be required to produce a fit note that needs to claim ESA or Universal Credit because of coronavirus.
For people who are required to reside at home or are infected by coronavirus may need financial support quickly. So, for people who need to make a new claim for financial support may receive up to a month’s advance upfront without physically attending a jobcentre and the 7 waiting days for ESA for new claimants will not apply if they are suffering from CVOID-19 or are homebound.
For the Employees and self-employed people, if they are suffering from coronavirus or to prevent its spread are qualified for Statutory Sick Pay will get it from day one and this measure applies retrospectively from 13 March 2020.
Statutory Sick Pay will be owed to all (infected and non-infected) homebound people from 13 March 2020 after regulations were laid on 12 March 2020
In case employees need to provide evidence to their company to stay at home due to the virus, they can get it from NHS 111 Online
Self-employed claimants who are ill or are staying at home as a result of coronavirus will not have a Minimum Income Floor applied for a period of time while affected
To ensure that the businesses are supported in the pandemic, employers with fewer than 250 staff will be able to reclaim Statutory Sick Pay for employees incapable to work because of coronavirus. The repayment will be for up to 2 weeks for each employee.
Kindly note: the above are some highlights that help you to get a summary of the announcement.
For health information and advice see the NHS pages on coronavirus
Learn more about the government response to coronavirus
Also, Corona Virus How to Protect Yourself and Others – Infographics
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