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DWP response to coronavirus
I think all responses need to be seen in the context that other governments are largely addressing the issue from a health crisis perspective whereas the British government is addressing the issue from an economic crisis perspective. The reluctance to convene Cobra is thus entirely in keeping with that approach. Statements re: the benefits system are way down the list as the focus is on economic activity rather than economic inactivity.
Add in what we already know about the DWPs approach to anyone dying whilst on a social security benefit and I don’t see why such statements should be a surprise or why we should expect any more. Well, I know “why” we ought to expect more but, realistically, when seen as above it simply isn’t going to happen.
New House of Commons Library briefing published on coronavirus, SSP and employment rights (as at 10 March 2020).
Some coronanvirus-related stuff just now in the Budget speech
Just published: the Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) Regulations 2020
Meanwhile in N.Ireland ... we have the Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
Just published: the Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) Regulations 2020
This reads as if it only amends the definition of who is incapable; is something else needed to amend the provision for waiting days, or am I (not unusually) missing something?
HMCTS has just launched a new rolling guidance page relating to court and tribunal planning and preparation:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-courts-and-tribunals-planning-and-preparation
This reads as if it only amends the definition of who is incapable; is something else needed to amend the provision for waiting days, or am I (not unusually) missing something?
The budget documents say this change will be legislated for in the forthcoming “COVID-19 Bill”.
New press release - Coronavirus support for employees, benefit claimants and businesses - says -
‘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 – we intend to legislate so this measure applies retrospectively from 13 March 2020.’
New from Public Health England: COVID-19: residential care, supported living and home care guidance:
New ‘Coronavirus: Claiming welfare benefits’ briefing from the House of Commons Library:
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/insights/coronavirus-claiming-welfare-benefits
On Monday, the DWP will announce that face-to-face assessments for people claiming sickness and disability benefits will be suspended for three months. Instead claimants will be assessed by phone or paper-based methods ...
Paper based assessments will be great for many. However my fear is that people who are now not able to get into a advice agency to help complete their form to the level that allows a paper based assessment to run smoothly might start seeing a spike in poor decisions.
The nature of form filling i think is that a lot of advice organisations rely on volunteers to prop up that part of their work. Volunteers might be reluctant to venture out at the moment.
I would assume that the demand for form filling will continue , if not increase in the coming months unless so temporary blocks/extensions are issued by the DWP?
New regs ...
... the Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit (Coronavirus Disease) Regulations 2020
New SSP regs for N.Ireland ...
... the Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
On Monday, the DWP will announce that face-to-face assessments for people claiming sickness and disability benefits will be suspended for three months. Instead claimants will be assessed by phone or paper-based methods ...
Confirmation: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/face-to-face-health-assessments-for-benefits-suspended-amid-coronavirus-outbreak
COVID-19: guidance for hostel or day centres for people rough sleeping:
Hi all -
We’ve put together a new page to help collect together the information we’re all coming across as it relates to social welfare law ... let us know if you spot something we need to add ...
https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/covid19
Cheers - Shawn
I’ve picked up a couple of queries on other threads about what DWP will do about extending deadlines etc. in the light of coronavirus outbreak. I’m going to email via the stakeholder’s forum with those queries and am happy to send in any others if people want to post them here.
Daphne i’ve forwarded to your email an email we sent to our local regional DWP
I’ve picked up a couple of queries on other threads about what DWP will do about extending deadlines etc. in the light of coronavirus outbreak. I’m going to email via the stakeholder’s forum with those queries and am happy to send in any others if people want to post them here.
Thanks Daphne, we’ve been asked by local partners whether there will be flexibility around the 6-week window to return a completed Attendance Allowance form from first contact, where our advisers might have problems visiting clients in that timescale?
Update on coronavirus from the PCS DWP group yesterday incliudes -
‘... guidance for claimants is being improved to make clear that where they have had potentially any risk from coming into close contact with the coronavirus they should follow the health advice they are given. Where individuals cannot come into our offices there should be no impact on their benefits and we will be exploring ways with management to mitigate any other adverse impact on claimants who cannot attend our offices because of the coronavirus.
Work is being done to improve the scripts to help identify any claimants, who may be at risk of having come into close contact with the Coronavirus, before booking a face to face appointment for them in our offices or with visiting officers. Like our members this can include checking if they have recently travelled from a hotspot location for the coronavirus.
On Monday, the DWP will announce that face-to-face assessments for people claiming sickness and disability benefits will be suspended for three months. Instead claimants will be assessed by phone or paper-based methods ...
Confirmation: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/face-to-face-health-assessments-for-benefits-suspended-amid-coronavirus-outbreak
I thought this was just Northern Ireland, or am I mistaken?
On Monday, the DWP will announce that face-to-face assessments for people claiming sickness and disability benefits will be suspended for three months. Instead claimants will be assessed by phone or paper-based methods ...
Confirmation: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/face-to-face-health-assessments-for-benefits-suspended-amid-coronavirus-outbreak
I thought this was just Northern Ireland, or am I mistaken?
There’s a separate announcement on suspending face-to-face assessments for Northern Ireland which also postpones all routine appointments at jobcentres, excuses people from signing-on and announces more telephony support for people claiming universal credit -
Chancellor has just said -
- in the coming days, he will work with trade unions and businesses to support people’s financial security by urgently developing new forms of employment support to help protect jobs and incomes
- mortgage lenders are to offer a three month mortgage holiday for those in difficulty due to coronavirus
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chancellor-of-the-exchequer-rishi-sunak-on-covid19-response
Govt has published details of the emergency measures to be contained in the new Coronavirus Bill, including in relation to:
- paying statutory sick pay to those self-isolating without symptoms from day one; and
- allowing small businesses to reclaim SSP payments from HMRC
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/emergency-bill-to-strengthen-coronavirus-covid-19-response-plans
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-bill-what-it-will-do
Early Day Motion calling on the Government to introduce a temporary universal basic income:
That this House calls on the Government to introduce a temporary universal basic income or an emergency measure to help freelancers and the self-employed effected by the covid-19 outbreak.
https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/56765/temporary-universal-basic-income
Commons Library have prepared a briefing in relation to today’s Opposition Day Debate in the Commons on SSP. ....
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2020-0061/
Funding news for orgs in London:
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today pledged £1 million to a new emergency support fund to help London’s community and voluntary organisations affected by the impact of the coronavirus.
The Mayor has joined City Bridge Trust, the City of London Corporation’s charitable funder, and London Funders, a network of investors of London’s civil society, to launch the new fund – with an initial £1 million provided by City Hall and £1 million from City Bridge Trust.
He is also making a plea to other funding organisations – and calling on central Government – to contribute to the £2m fund.
The emergency scheme, which will be coordinated by London Funders, will be available to organisations facing immediate financial pressures and uncertainty because of the coronavirus. These include increasing demands for services, higher staff absences, fewer volunteers and lower donations.
https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/mayor-contributes-1m-to-emergency-support-fund
Unfortunately there is no change to the requirement for explicit consent.
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