COVID-19 – What help can you get as an individual?
As well as help for businesses and self employed the government as also announced help for individuals during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Statutory Sick Pay
Statutory Sick Pay will apply from the first day of your leave if you are self-isolating due to COVID-19 or are off work due to sickness. This will apply if you are self-isolating because someone else in your household as COVID-19 and you have been advised to do a household quarantine.
From March 20th 2020, if you are advised to self-isolate you will no longer need a sick note from your Doctor, instead you will be able to get an ‘isolation note’ from visiting NHS111 online and competing an online form. For cases involving COVID-19 this will replace the ‘fit note’ that is normally required after seven days absence, it will also be accepted by Jobcentre Plus as evidence of your inability to attend an appointment.
Self-employed
If you are self-employed or not eligible for Statutory Sick Pay and you have COVID-19 or have been advised to self-isolate, you can make a claim for Universal Credit or the new style Employment and Support Allowance. More information on these two benefits can be found here and here.
If you are self employed and claiming universal credit the minimum floor income requirements will be relaxed for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, this means that you will continue to receive universal credit. Universal Credit will be claimable online, and you will not need to attend an interview at your local Jobcentre Plus.
The new style Employment Support and Allowance will now also be payable from day one of your period of sickness rather than day eight if you are off work due to COVID-19 or have been advised to self-isolate.
If you think that you need extra financial support from your local authority, you may be entitled to support from the Hardship Fund, you will need to contact your local authority if you wish to make an application or have any questions.
Mortages
If you are making mortgage payments, you should contact your lender as soon as possible if you are experiencing financial difficulties and want to arrange a mortgage payment holiday because of COVID-19. You may be entitled to a mortgage payment holiday of up to three months.
Rents
If you are living in rented accommodation the government will protect you from eviction if you are experiencing financial difficulties and legislation will be passed to prevent landlords from starting eviction proceedings against tenants for at least the next three months. This will apply if you are a private or social housing renter.
We are seeing notices published from credit reference agencies and lenders stating that any missed payments on finance agreements or credit cards will not adversely affect your credit file during the COVID-19 outbreak. If you are experiencing financial hardship during the current crisis our advice would be to speak to your credit provider at the earliest opportunity to discuss your options.
Credit reference agencies such as Experian, Equifax and Trans Union would also be good sources of information and help for those experiencing financial hardship.