Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken to ensure disabled workers with an impairment or health condition who cannot work from home can be furloughed by their employers during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is available to all employers and employees providing they meet the eligibility criteria, and this includes the clinically extremely vulnerable and disabled workers.
In cases where their employer chooses not to furlough them under the CJRS and does not have other suitable policies in place (e.g. the ability to work from home, or the provision of special leave), Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is available as a safety net. Those who receive a notification that they need to shield from going to work if they cannot work from home, will be eligible for SSP from their employer, or new style Employment and Support Allowance, subject to the wider eligibility criteria. Individuals on low incomes may also be able to claim Universal Credit, depending on their personal circumstances.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure the Job Support Scheme will provide support for all disabled workers.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is available to all employers and employees providing they meet the eligibility criteria, and this includes the clinically extremely vulnerable and disabled workers.
In cases where their employer chooses not to furlough them under the CJRS and does not have other suitable policies in place (e.g. the ability to work from home, or the provision of special leave), Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is available as a safety net. Those who receive a notification that they need to shield from going to work if they cannot work from home, will be eligible for SSP from their employer, or new style Employment and Support Allowance, subject to the wider eligibility criteria. Individuals on low incomes may also be able to claim Universal Credit, depending on their personal circumstances.
My constituent, Alex, is a Blue Badge guide. Her income is just above the threshold for the self-employment income support scheme. The money that she has saved to cover her tax bill pushes her over the threshold for universal credit. Despite moving her tours online, Alex is earning very little. …
..."Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what financial support will be made available to shielding people who are unable to work from home and whose places of work cannot be made covid-19-safe by 1 August 2020.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
From 1 August the Government has relaxed national advice to those who are clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV), bringing it in line with the advice to those who are clinically vulnerable. The advice to the CEV is still to stay at home as much as possible. However, if the CEV are unable to work from home, they will be able to return, provided their workplace is COVID-safe.
It is important that this group continue to take careful precautions, and employers should do all they can to enable them to work from home where this is possible, including moving them to another role if required. Where this is not possible, the CEV should be provided with the safest onsite roles that enable them to maintain social distancing from others.
If employers cannot provide a safe working environment, the CEV will continue to have access to an unprecedented package of financial support. This is not limited to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and includes the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and an increase in the generosity of welfare payments worth a further £9.3bn according to Office for Budget Responsibility estimates.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that people who (a) are shielding, (b) live with people who are shielding and (c) are clinically vulnerable but are not shielding are offered furlough during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Employees who are unable to work because they are shielding in line with public health guidance, or who need to stay home with someone who is shielding, can be furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). Those who are clinically vulnerable but not shielding are eligible for furlough on the same grounds as other employees. Any decision to access the CJRS is at the employer’s discretion.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support he will extend to people who started new jobs on or before 19 March 2020 but who are ineligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme as an RTI submission had not been made for them by the cut-off date.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The eligibility cut-off date for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme was pushed back from 28 February 2020 to 19 March 2020. This means that employees who were originally ineligible can now participate in the scheme. This change makes the scheme more generous while keeping the significant fraud risks under control.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is open to any individual who was on an employer’s PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020 and for whom HMRC received an RTI submission notifying payment in respect of that employee on or before the 19 March 2020. Processing claims for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme where HMRC did not have RTI data by 19 March would significantly slow down the system while risking substantial levels of fraud. It would also require greater resource for HMRC when they are already under significant pressure to deliver the system designed.
Those not eligible for the scheme may be able to access other support that the Government is providing, including a package of temporary welfare measures and up to three months’ mortgage payment holidays for those struggling with their mortgage payments.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has plans to amend the calculation of Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme claims to include the gross pay of employees whose salaries are topped up through bonuses or tronc schemes.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The objective of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is to enable employers to continue to keep people in employment. To achieve this, the grants compensate employers for the payments that they are contractually obliged to make, in order to avoid the need for redundancies. Covering discretionary payments would go beyond the objectives of the scheme. Full guidance on how to calculate 80% of wages can be found at: www.gov.uk/guidance/work-out-80-of-your-employees-wages-to-claim-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
For some employees, the pay in scope for the grant will be less than the overall sum they usually receive. The Government is also supporting those on low incomes who need to rely on the welfare system through a significant package of temporary welfare measures. This includes a £20 per week increase to the Universal Credit standard allowance and Working Tax Credit basic element, and a nearly £1 billion increase in support for renters through increases to the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants. These changes will benefit all new and existing claimants. Anyone can check their eligibility and apply for Universal Credit by visiting www.gov.uk/universal-credit.