Coronavirus: Quarantine

(asked on 3rd June 2020) - View Source

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what economic support will be made available to (a) employees and (b) self-employed people who are asked to self-isolate in response to the track and trace system.


Answered by
Jesse Norman Portrait
Jesse Norman
This question was answered on 8th June 2020

The Government is committed to supporting individuals financially through this difficult time, and has taken unprecedented steps to support people’s incomes. Many people are able to work from home, and those currently supported through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will not see their entitlement affected by needing to isolate.

For employees unable to work from home, DWP has laid new regulations to ensure that people asked to isolate by the Test and Trace service will be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). This is in addition to changes already made, which make SSP payable from day one rather than day four of an absence from work. Employees will still be entitled to claim SSP from their employers even if they are asked to self-isolate several times. The SSP Rebate Scheme was announced at Budget to support SMEs which may face a financial strain due to staff absences caused by Covid-19.

Self-employed people are eligible for “new style” Contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if they are incapable of work due to Covid-19, including those who are required to self-isolate according to Government guidance. The Government has made it easier for people to claim by removing the seven-day waiting period which means people can get support from day one. In addition, the self-employed whose businesses have been adversely affected due to shielding or self-isolating may be able to claim a grant under the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS).

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