Benefits and coronavirus
From 1 July, if you do not follow your claimant commitment, your benefits may be cut. These are called ‘sanctions’.
If you were repaying benefit overpayments, these are starting again.
The Government has not said how this will affect face-to-face assessments, re-assessments or appeals.
Talk to your work coach if you cannot meet your claimant commitment because you or someone you live with is vulnerable to coronavirus.
Warning Telephone assessments
You may get a letter saying that you will be assessed by phone.
If a phone assessment would not be accessible for you, contact the organisation that sent you the letter. This will be Capita or Independent Assessment Services.
Preparing for your PIP assessment
Please help us with our survey
Scope wants to understand the experiences of disabled people who have had a telephone benefit assessment during the coronavirus pandemic.
If you would like to share your experiences with us, please take part in our survey. Survey responses are anonymous.
Benefits repayments starting again
If you were repaying money from your benefits before coronavirus, this will start again. You will receive a letter or a journal entry if you get Universal Credit.
The Department for Work and Pensions paused the recovery of overpayments for 3 months for:
- Universal Credit
- legacy benefits
- Social Fund loans
- Tax Credit debts
If you're employed
If you are self-isolating because of Government advice, ask your employer what options are available to you. Check their policy on:
- paid sick leave in your contract
- statutory sick pay
- working from home
- reasonable adjustments
If you're self-employed
If you’re self-employed, there may be other support.
Government support if you’re self-isolating
From 28 September, the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme will be available in England. If you have to self-isolate but cannot work from home and you meet the criteria, you could get a single payment of £500. Local authorities will be responsible for the payments.
Eligibility for financial support when self-isolating (GOV.UK)
Contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
You can receive, 'new style' Contribution-based ESA from the first day of self-isolation due to coronavirus.
If you cannot apply online, you can call the Universal Credit helpline even if you're not claiming Universal Credit.
New Style Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
If you have lost your job, you might be able to claim New Style JSA. This does not involve an assessment. You can get this even if your partner is still working.
You could claim this and Universal Credit.
Universal Credit
You can now claim Universal Credit online or over the phone due to Government lockdown or self-isolation.
If you are self-employed or have a zero hours contract, you will be able to get the same amount of Universal Credit as an employed person. This is a temporary measure.
Apply for Universal Credit (GOV.UK)
Emergency Universal Credit loans are available to people affected by coronavirus. This means you can ask for your first payment straight away. This is a loan. You will pay this back from your Universal Credit payments. If you stop claiming UC, you will still have to pay this back.
If you already claim Universal Credit and are working
Let your Job Coach know if the work ends and whether this is permanent or temporary. If you get Statutory Sick Pay, this will be deducted from your Universal Credit in the same way that wages would be.
Warning If you receive Working Tax Credit
If you apply for Universal Credit, you will stop receiving Working Tax Credit.
You will not be able to re-claim Working Tax Credit. Most people who move from Working Tax Credit to Universal Credit have a fall in income.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Check if you are eligible to claim PIP. This is a disability benefit that can help you with some of the extra costs if you have a long-term health condition or impairment.
The amount you get depends on how your condition affects you, not the condition itself.
If you are struggling to pay your bills
Contact your utility companies to see if there is any help that they can give you.
For rent or mortgage payments, the government has introduced support to make sure people are protected if they are struggling financially due to coronavirus.
Government support available for landlords and renters during coronavirus (GOV.UK)
Emergency funding
Your local authority may have emergency funding schemes for people in extreme hardship.
See if your local authority has a scheme (Shelter)
In Wales, you can apply for a grant called Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP). It helps cover the cost of food, gas and electricity, clothing and emergency travel. You do not need to pay this back.
You may be eligible if:
- you’re in extreme hardship for reasons like benefit delays
- you need help with essential costs after an emergency
- you’ve experienced a disaster like flooding or a fire in your home
Last reviewed by Scope on: 24/09/2020
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