IMPORTANT – Claimants who are self-isolating as a result of the coronavirus will not be sanctioned ‘as long as they let their work coach know before the appointment’
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has confirmed: “If claimants cannot attend their jobcentre appointment in person because of self-isolation, work coaches can exercise discretion, so claimants should engage with them and they will not be sanctioned – as long they let us know before the appointment”
The Parliamentary Under-secretary added: “Claimants who are self-isolating as a result of Covid-19 will have their mandatory work search and work availability requirements switched off during that period.
“Any work-related requirements outside of this will be tailored to take into consideration the claimant’s capability and circumstances, can be conducted over the phone or through digital formats and ensure they are realistic and achievable”
If you have been sanctioned you will be able to challenge that decision.
Scottish Government has announced a £350 million fund to support welfare and wellbeing
The funding will be made available to councils, charities, businesses and community groups and designed to be flexible, cutting down on red tape to enable them to respond swiftly and according to local need for people impacted economically or through reduced contact with society, including anyone struggling to access food.
The emergency funding package will be allocated to existing funding streams through several new funds, with the £95 million package direct to local authorities made up of:
£50 million in Barnett consequentials from the UK Government’s hardship fund is being passed direct to local authorities to support their own local resilience, support and hardship plans.
£45 million will be added to the existing Scottish Welfare Fund which makes Community Grants and Crisis Grants available to those in immediate need. This more than doubles the current £35.5 million fund, which is administered by local authorities. They will be given more flexibility in how it is used to ensure they can fully support people in financial crisis, including workers in the ‘gig economy’.
In addition:
- a £70 million Food Fund will help organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors address issues of food insecurity, especially for older people, and families who may not be able to rely on free school meals
- a £50 million Wellbeing Fund will help charities and others who require additional capacity to work with at-risk people who may be worst affected by the crisis, including homeless people and those experiencing fuel poverty
- a £40 million Supporting Communities Fund will be used to support the rapidly growing and inspiring community efforts at a local level which will be vital to national resilience, including supporting people at risk because of age, isolation, carers, homeless people and asylum seekers and signposting people to sources of help such as applying for benefits
- £50 million will go to meet an anticipated increase in applications for the existing Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Scottish social security benefits
- £20 million will be allocated to a Third Sector Resilience Fund, to help ensure the health and continued viability of the third sector organisations affected by cash flow and other problems, which have a key role to play in our national response
- £25 million will be kept in reserve to allow swift and flexible responses to rapidly changing circumstances
This advice is from Citizens Advice Scotland –
If you’re claiming benefits
The government has postponed all face-to-face benefits assessments or appointments at the Jobcentre Plus until at least 19 June 2020.
This means you don’t have to go to:
- interviews if you’re starting a claim for JSA, ESA or Universal Credit
- medical assessments for ESA, Universal Credit or PIP
- appointments with your work coach
The Jobcentre Plus might still ask to talk to you by phone.
You can still go to the Jobcentre Plus – for example if you want to hand in a form.
If you’re ill or you’re following guidance to self-isolate
Don’t go to the Jobcentre Plus. Tell the Jobcentre Plus you’re ill or self-isolating by:
- calling the office paying your benefit
- updating your online journal if you get Universal Credit
You won’t have to search for work or do work-related activity.