Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Blood Cancer

(asked on 28th August 2020) - View Source

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend financial support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to people with blood cancer who have been shielding during the covid-19 outbreak who (a) cannot work from home and (b) have been advised to continue shielding from August 2020.


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

The Government recognises that COVID-19 has posed significant challenges for those suffering with cancer. This group has access to the unprecedented package of support for people’s incomes that the Government has introduced in response to COVID-19. This includes the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), but also the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), changes to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and the £9.3 billion which the OBR estimates the Government has injected into the welfare system.

From 1 August the Government relaxed advice to those shielding, bringing it in line with the advice to those who are clinically vulnerable. Employees who are unable to work because they are clinically extremely vulnerable but cannot work from home or work safely on site can be furloughed. However, such employees can only continue to be furloughed from 1 July if they have previously been furloughed for at least 3 consecutive weeks taking place at any time between 1 March 2020 and 30 June.

Those who live or work in local lockdown areas who receive a notification that they need to shield will be eligible for SSP for as long as the advice for them to shield remains in place (subject to the normal eligibility conditions). Individuals will be able to use this notification as evidence for their employer that they cannot work, including for SSP purposes.

Reticulating Splines