Coronavirus Support Overhaul: No Jobcentre Visits, Fast Cash, and Sick Pay Boosts
Jobcentre Appointments Suspended for 3 Months
From Thursday 19 March 2020, benefit claimants won’t have to attend jobcentre appointments in person for at least three months. Payments continue as normal, with face-to-face requirements paused. Applications for benefits can still be made online.
Jobcentres remain open to help those who can’t use phone or internet services, including the homeless.
Benefits Rules Relaxed for Sick and Self-Isolating Claimants
Those already claiming benefits and affected by coronavirus will get special treatment:
- Disabled and sick claimants missing reassessments for PIP, ESA, or Universal Credit will keep receiving payments while assessments are rescheduled.
- No fit notes needed for new ESA or Universal Credit claims linked to coronavirus.
- No sanctions for those staying home or diagnosed with coronavirus, as long as they inform the department promptly.
- Mandatory work search and availability rules paused for self-isolating claimants.
New Claims Fast-Tracked and Advances Offered
If you need financial support due to coronavirus, the government is speeding up help:
- Apply for Universal Credit online and receive up to a month’s advance without attending a jobcentre.
- The usual 7-day wait for ESA is waived for coronavirus sufferers or those required to self-isolate – payments start from day one.
Sick Pay and Support for Employees and Self-Employed
Time off work because of coronavirus just got easier and better paid:
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) starts from day one of illness, not day four, applied retroactively from 13 March 2020.
- SSP covers employees staying home on government advice, not just those infected.
- Employers asked to be flexible on sickness evidence. NHS 111 Online will soon offer official statements to replace doctor fit notes.
- Self-employed Universal Credit claimants won’t be penalised with Minimum Income Floor rules while off sick or isolating.
Businesses to Recover Sick Pay Costs
Support extends to employers too. Businesses with under 250 staff can reclaim Statutory Sick Pay paid to employees who can’t work due to coronavirus.
This refund covers up to 2 weeks per affected employee.
