Guidance for employees impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19)
There will be a significant impact on employees and the self-employed who are asked to self-isolate if they have symptoms of the virus, or if others in their household do, or if they take time off sick with the virus.
The Government guidance for employees linked below includes the following:
The document below - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Financial Fact Sheet - includes advice for employees, self-employed, businesses.
The overall advice is provided here and will be updated as new advice is provided.
Should I still be working?
Following current UK Government guidelines, work must only continue where it is safe to do so, according to the Social Distancing order, or if your work is one of the identified vital services.
For work places to be considered safe, changes must be made to work practices in order to ensure health and safety whilst working. This means that you must remain at least 2 metres away from customers and colleagues at all times and consideration must be given to preventing contact with surroundings. Protecting yourself but also your customers, is paramount.
You can find guidance on Social Distancing on my website: https://www.aluncairns.com/guide-social-distancing
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
The Chancellor announced an unprecedented response, with one of most comprehensive packages of economic support in the world. This included the Government providing direct support with the payment of wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This is a HMRC grant which can be used to pay the wages of staff who can no longer work due to Coronavirus, preventing their employers from taking the difficult and heart breaking decision to lay them off.
The Chancellor announced:
- A HMRC Grant which will cover at least 80% of wages up to the value of £2,500
- An increase in the basic rate of Universal Credit by £1000 – which can be paid to support the self-employed
- £7 billion of extra support through the welfare system
- Loans will be made available from Monday and will be interest-free for 12 months
As this package of support has only just been announced, further information will be included soon.
Find out if you're eligible
Find out if your employer is eligible, and how much your employer can claim if they're unable to operate or have no work for you to do because of coronavirus.
- Check if you’re eligible
- How much you’ll get
- While you’re on furlough
- If you do not want to go on furlough
More information here - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Update from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
- Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) mandatory face-to-face signing
This requirement has been suspended and payments will be made to customers as normal. This means that customers can be confident they will continue to be paid during this unprecedented outbreak.
- The suspension of National Insurance number (NINO) services
This means the vast majority of NINO customers will no longer be able to apply for a NINO. They will be given a Temporary Reference Number by HMRC, so that they are able to work as normal, until we are able to process their application in the future.
DWP are putting in place a process to continue to allow benefit inspired customers to verify their identity through the Universal Credit ID process, so that they are able to protect this vulnerable group. DWP will continue to process any existing applications, and UK Postal VISA applications.
Universal Credit Guide Finder
Information about Universal Credit can be found on https://www.gov.uk/ - There are lots of detailed guides covering specific topics which provide additional information to help claimants, landlords, stakeholders and advisers who support our claimants.
It’s not always easy to find the information you need, so a ‘Universal Credit guide finder’ has been published which provides links to all the current guidance available to make it easier for you.
You can find it on the first page of the Helping someone claim section on the Understanding Universal Credit website: https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/helping-someone-claim/how-to-use-this-section/