Coronavirus Guidance
Employees
To ensure people in work can take the necessary time off to stay at home if they are suffering from Coronavirus, or to prevent its spread, changes have been made to Statutory Sick Pay.
These changes include;
· Those entitled to Statutory Sick Pay, and cannot work due to Coronavirus, will be paid from day one, rather than from the fourth day of their illness.
· Statutory Sick Pay will be payable to people who are staying at home on government advice, not just those who are infected.
· Regulations put in place on the 12 March 2020, urges employers to use their discretion about what evidence, if any, that they ask for.
Those who have been advised to stay at home due to Coronavirus can obtain an Isolation Note to give to their employer from NHS 111 Online, rather than a fit-note from their GP.
Self-employed claimants on Universal Credit who are required to stay at home or are ill as a result of Coronavirus will not have a Minimum Income Floor (an assumed level of income) applied for a period of time while affected.
Furloughed workers
The definition of “furlough” is a temporary period of time off from work. In relation to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic it allows employers to retain staff without making them redundant.
The Government will pay 80% of your salary, up to £2,500 per month. It is officially called the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Think of it like your job being put on temporary hold until the economy is back up and running.
It's up to your employer to decide and define who is furloughed. It could be because you've no work that can be done at home, you have to be home to look after your children or because you are self-isolating.
You still need to pay tax and national insurance contributions on your wages. While you’re on furlough and you’ll still have the same rights as you did when you were working. This includes any entitlement to statutory sick pay or maternity pay, as well as redundancy payments.
The Government announced that the Money will be available "before the end of April" and it will be issued through grants which can be paid to your employer. Claims can be backdated to1st March. HMRC will be administering the scheme, more information will be set out shortly.
Useful links;
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/03/coronavirus-self-employed-and-employment-help
Self-Employed
You cannot get Statutory Sick Pay if you are self-employed. However, if you have had to take time off work due to being sick, self-isolating or your work has been affected by Coronavirus. You may be eligible for support through the Welfare benefit system. New claimants will not have to attend the Job Centre to process these benefits
The Government has also announced the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. Self-employed individuals will be able to apply for taxable grants to combat the loss of income caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
This is how it will work;
The grants will be paid at 80% of your monthly average profit, this is capped at £2,500. As it is a grant it does not need to be paid back.
Grants will be decided on your actual profits for the last 3 years. However, if you have only been self-employed for 1 year the profit from that year will be used.
You must have filed a tax return for 2018/19, meaning you must have been self-employed prior to April 2019. If you have missed the 2018/19 tax return deadline the government is giving you until the 26th April to submit your return to access the scheme.
You must earn more than half of your earnings from self-employment to access the scheme
Your average trading profits must be less than £50,000 for the year.
The scheme is expected to start paying out in June and will be backdated to cover March, April and May. It is initially for a 3-month period however may be extended.
Unlike the employment scheme, you CAN keep working. You don’t have to prove Coronavirus impact either.
While waiting for the grant you can apply for Universal Credit, once grant received it will be treated as earning on your claim.
There is no need to contact to apply, HMRC will make contact with you to apply if eligible.
Useful links:
Business Support
There is also support available for businesses that are affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19) – please refer to
https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme/
https://my.dundeecity.gov.uk/en/service/Coronavirus_Business_Support_Fund
Housing
Eviction
The Scottish Government has announced that it will bring in legislation to stop evictions in the private and social sectors for up to 6 months; this has now been confirmed in the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill 2020.
Private Rented Tenancies
The Housing and Property Chamber announced that all hearings and case management discussions will be postponed from 19 March 2020, this means that there will be no new eviction orders granted for private rented tenancies until 28 May 2020 at the earliest.
It isn't clear whether evictions will still go ahead if your landlord has already applied for and obtained an eviction order, we will update this page as and when this is clarified.
Social Tenancies
The SFHA have announced that there will be no evictions of housing association's tenants due to financial hardship brought on by COVID-19
If you are struggling to pay your mortgage
The first thing you should do is claim on your mortgage insurance if you have any.
The UK government announced on 17 March 2020 that mortgage lenders will allow payment breaks of 3 months for those struggling to meet payments.
Mortgage lenders have also announced they won't apply to court to repossess homeowners, including BTL mortgages, for 3 months starting from 19 March 2020.
Some mortgage providers are introducing other support for customers whose income is affected by the coronavirus outbreak. including:
no fees for late payments
reduced or deferred payments
switching to a lower interest rate
Speak to your lender to find out what support they’re offering.
Please refer to;
https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/scottish_housing_advice_coronavirus_COVID_19
https://www.gov.scot/news/tenants-to-be-given-extra-protection/
https://debtcamel.co.uk/coronavirus-mortgage-payment-holiday/
Welfare Benefits
In the wake of the Coronavirus crisis the government has made changes to applying for benefits so that you do not need to attend the job centre.
If you are already claiming benefits you do not need to attend job centre appointments in person for 3 months commencing Thursday 19th March, 2020. You will continue to receive the benefit as normal.
People will still be able to apply for benefits online and/or over the phone. You will be given a telephone appointment with a work coach
Freezing Advance Payment Deductions
Universal Credit claimants who are repaying an Advance Payment can request a three month freeze on repayments. Please make this request via the UC online journal.
Deductions for Benefit Overpayments
The DWP will suspend deductions from Universal Credit for benefit overpayments; if your UC award is being reduced because of this, and your payments do not increase, please submit a request for the deductions to end via the UC online journal.
Health assessments
The DWP has taken the temporary measure to postponed all face –to-face health assessments for PIP, ESA and UC. If you have already assessment planned, you need not attend the health assessor will be in contact.
Changes to the amount of Universal Credit you will receive
From the 6th April, 2020 the Government is increasing the standard allowance element of Universal Credit and the basic element of working tax will increase by £20 per week for a period of a year, this will be on top of already planned up uprating.
This means that for a single Universal Credit claimant (aged 25 or over), the standard allowance will increase from £317.82 to £409.89 per month.
Changes to the amount of Tax Credits you will receive
The basic element in Working Tax Credit will be increased for one year by £20 per week on top of the planned annual uprating. This will apply to existing Working Tax Credit claimants.
DEBT ADVICE
The Financial Conduct Authority has proposed a set of measures that will offer help to many people whose income has been affected by Coronavirus. These include:
firms will be expected to offer a 3-month payment holiday freeze on loans and credit cards;
banks should not charge interest on the first £500 of any arranged overdrafts;
banks must ensure no customers with overdrafts are worse off because of the new charges coming into force in April;
customers’ credit records should not be affected by these measures – this has already been approved by the credit reference agencies who say that payment breaks or reductions that are agreed with your lender will not harm your credit score.
The measures will officially come into effect from 9 April 2020. Most creditors are being sympathetic to clients struggling. If you do need assistance, please contact and one of our Money Advisors can assist.
Useful links:
https://debtcamel.co.uk/coronavirus-more-help-debts/
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/03/uk-coronavirus-help-and-your-rights/
Other useful information;
Topping up prepaid energy metres maybe a problem if self-isolating or in lockdown. The government and energy providers have agreed to help customers during the pandemic
Some mobile phone companies are giving free calls and data boost to customers to keep them in touch during the pandemic. Please contact your supplier for more information.
Broadband/TV Packages
Suppliers have stated that they will try and assist people struggling to pay their bills, contact your supplier directly to see what assistance they can give. Also Sky Sports customers can pause their subscriptions.
Car MOTs
The government has granted a 6-month exemption on MOTS for car owners, from the 30th March, 2020. Garages still be open for essential repairs.
Student Loans/Bursaries
Student loans and bursaries will still continue throughout the time you are scheduled to undertake studies.
Education Maintenance Payments
EMA payments will still continue for all students receiving them prior to the closure of schools/colleges.
TV License fees for over 75s
The BBC is to delay TV licence fee changes for the over-75s until August in light of the coronavirus situation.
Free TV licences for up to 3.7 million people had been due to be scrapped on 1 June, but that has been put back to 1 August.
Coronavirus Scams
Unfortunately, there are a number of scams circulating by email or over the phone. Be careful opening email links, giving personal information out over the phone.
