On 17 March, the Chancellor announced a range of measures to support individuals affected by Covid19.3

We are doing everything we can to keep this country, and our people, healthy and financially secure. No one will be penalised for doing the right thing.

In addition to making Statutory Sick Pay available earlier, and ensuring that people who are selfisolating in line with PHE guidance are also able to receive it, we will also make it easier to obtain a sick note and ensure there is support in place for people who do not receive Statutory Sick Pay. We are also introducing a three month mortgage holiday for those in difficulty due to coronavirus.

We will give every British citizen the tools they need to get through this. We will support jobs, we will support incomes, we will support businesses, and we will help people to protect their loved ones.

We are doing this by:

For those in difficulty due to coronavirus, we are introducing a three month mortgage holiday – so that people will not have to pay a penny towards their mortgage while they get back on their feet. And in the coming days, we will go much further to support people’s financial security. We will work with trade unions and businesses to develop new forms of employment support to help protect people’s jobs and incomes through this period.

Making Statutory Sick Pay available for people diagnosed with COVID-19 or who are self-isolating, helping people with their finances. Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will be now be available for eligible individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 who are unable to work because they have the virus or are selfisolating in line with PHE guidance. This is in addition to the change announced by the Prime Minister that SSP will be payable from day 1 instead of day 4 for affected individuals.

Making it easier for people to obtain a sick note. People who are advised to self-isolate will be able to obtain an alternative to the sick note to cover this by contacting NHS 111, rather than visiting a doctor. This can be used by employees where their employers require evidence.

Supporting people who are not eligible for Statutory Sick Pay, like the self-employed, so that nobody is penalised for doing the right thing. For the duration of the outbreak, the requirements of the Universal Credit Minimum Income Floor, will be temporarily relaxed for those who have COVID-19 or are selfisolating according to government advice. Employment and Support Allowance will also be payable for eligible people affected by COVID-19 or self-isolating from day 1 of sickness, rather than day 8.

Helping local authorities support more vulnerable people. We are providing £500 million more funding so local authorities can support economically vulnerable people and households. We expect most of this funding to be used to provide more council tax relief, either through existing Local Council Tax Support schemes, or through complementary reliefs.

Suspending face-to-face assessments for all sickness and disability benefits for the next 3 months. This temporary move (effective from 17 March) is being taken as a precautionary measure to protect vulnerable people from unnecessary risk of exposure to coronavirus. We will ensure those who are entitled to a benefit continue to receive support, and that new claimants are able to access the safety net.