Issue: Universal Credit
Question: Where should I go for advice? Different advice is given in different places.
● The most up to date guidance on Universal Credit is available here: https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/coronavirus/
● The Department for Work and Pensions is constantly updating their online guidance.
Issue: Driving qualifications
Question: With colleges closed people cannot renew their Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualifications and therefore cannot continue to work?
● The Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training, along with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the Driver & Vehicle Agency, has advised trainers to cease the delivery of classroom based periodic training. However, it has decided to allow approved periodic trainers temporary authorisation to deliver approved courses remotely via digital platforms.
● Further guidance can be found here: https://www.jaupt.org.uk/news/2020/03/remote-delivery-of-driver-cpc/
Issue: Driving qualifications
Question: HGV drivers need a medical certificate to renew their license - has this been paused?
● No. The government is aware of the current difficulties drivers are having in trying to obtain medical examination reports (D4) to renew their HGV entitlement and the Department for Transport is reviewing its position.
Issue: Protecting vulnerable people
Question: Do GPs have a list of vulnerable people that need shielding? What should sector workers do if they think someone has been missed off the list?
● Those who meet the criteria for a vulnerable person would have been contacted by the NHS by Sunday 29 March.
● Guidance has been issued to GPs, hospital specialists and the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges so that clinicians are able to identify additional patients who have not been identified via central databases but are clinically extremely vulnerable.
● When GPs identify these patients, they will issue the guidance letter, which both advises people on how to shield and acts as a fit note. Additionally, the GP will ‘mark’ their surgery systems to ensure the patient registry of people who are clinically extremely vulnerable remains live.
Issue: Sports support
Question: What help is there for sports clubs?
● The Department for Culture, Media and Sport alongside Sport England has announced a £195 million package to help sport and physical activity throughout coronavirus.
● More details can be found here: https://www.sportengland.org/news/195-million-package-help-sport-and-physical-activity-through-coronavirus
Issue: Businesses
Question: Is my business a critical business?
● With the exception of the organisations covered in existing guidance on closing non-essential shops and public spaces, the government has not required any other businesses to close and it is important for business to carry on.
● Guidance on businesses that are required to close, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close-guidance
Issue: Childcare
Question: What support is there for child carers?
● The government has announced plans for a Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. This will pay up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for 3 months. The grant will be paid directly into an applicant’s bank account. HMRC will contact you if you are eligible for the scheme and invite you to apply online.
● Full details can be found on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19self-employment-income-support-scheme
● The government is encouraging local authorities to follow the Department for Education’s position and to continue early entitlement funding for all childminders currently delivering funded hours to children in their setting, regardless of whether children are attending.
● For the self-employed (including childminders) the minimum income floor will be temporarily relaxed, meaning Universal Credit can be accessed at a rate to match statutory sick pay (SSP).
● There will also be a £20 per week increase to the Universal Credit standard allowance and Working Tax Credit basic element has been increased by £20 a week.
● Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit have also been increased
● The government is also supporting the self-employed by deferring income tax self-assessment payments due in July 2020 to January 2021. This is also an automatic offer with no applications required.
Issue: Job Retention Scheme
Question: I own my company and I am the sole employee; can I furlough myself?
● This is dependent on the legal structure of the company: - Those who are self-employed and eligible can apply to the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). - Limited company directors can furlough themselves in their capacity as employees for their company, and claim grants for wages of 80% of the regular salary that they have paid themselves via PAYE, up to a cap of £2,500 a month. - To note, for companies with a sole director, their statutory and administrative responsibilities under company law should not impinge on their ability to furlough themselves as employees for the purposes of this scheme, as long as they do no work beyond this.
Issue: Zoos
Question: Is there any government advice for zoos during the coronavirus outbreak?
● Zoos are undertaking very valuable work at this time to ensure that the health and welfare needs of the diverse range of animals they care for are well met.
● The government is aware of the issues currently facing zoos and we have been engaging with the main industry association, the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), and with individual zoos about the best way forward, also taking expert advice from Defra’s Zoos Expert Committee.
● The government has published guidance which clarifies that zoos are not on the list of businesses and venues that have been ordered to close. This guidance also confirms that people may travel for work purposes where they cannot work from home, and this applies to those caring for zoo animals. The government has published other guidance which indicates which workers may secure places in schools and nurseries to enable them to continue to work. This includes those essential to the running of charities and workers delivering key frontline services.
● Zoos are eligible to apply for a range of support schemes including business rates relief, the business interruption loan scheme, and the job retention scheme. This is additional to other available relief such as VAT deferral.
Issue: Childcare
Question: What support is available for parents who are paying nursery fees, even if their child isn’t there?
● The government is urging all childcare providers to be reasonable and balanced in their dealings with parents, given the great uncertainty they will be facing too.
● For further information please refer to the early years and childcare guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures
Issue: Childcare for critical workers
Question: I am a critical worker, do nurseries have to stay open so that my children have somewhere to go?
● The government has asked schools, colleges, nurseries, childminders and other registered childcare settings to remain open for children of critical workers and vulnerable children where they can.
● The government is working with local authorities to use neighbouring schools, colleges and childcare providers to continue to support vulnerable children and children of critical workers if other establishments have to temporarily shut down due to staff shortages.
● The emergency Coronavirus Act 2020 seeks temporary powers to make changes to childcare regulations in order to help local authorities respond to pressures from this outbreak, without being in breach of regulatory requirements, as well as addressing the legal issues around closing and opening schools and other education settings.
● For further information please refer to the early years and childcare guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures
Issue: Registering the death of a person
Question: GOV.UK says people must register a death in person - is this correct and when might there be a change in advice?
● The provisions of the Coronavirus Act 2020 allow for a death to be registered by means other than in person at a register office.
● Registration districts are now able to offer registration by telephone. However, depending on local arrangements (in line with Public Health England advice) a death may still be able to be registered in person.
● GOV.UK will be updated to advise the public to contact their local register office for up to date information on local arrangements.
Issue: Free school meals
Question: What support is there for families whose children get free school meals?
● Children eligible for free school meals will benefit from a national voucher scheme allowing them to continue to access meals whilst they stay at home.
● Schools can now provide every eligible child with a weekly shopping voucher worth £15 to spend at supermarkets while schools are closed due to coronavirus. Schools can continue to provide meals for collection or delivery themselves, but where this is not possible, the scheme will allow schools to provide vouchers to families electronically, or as a gift card for those without internet access.
● The vouchers can be spent on food at a range of shops including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose and M&S, with the Department working to get more shops to join the scheme as soon as possible.
● Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/Coronavirus-free-school-meals-guidance/Coronavirus-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools
Issue: Construction workers
Question: Should construction sites be closing?
● Construction should continue where it can happen in a way that follows PHE and industry guidance.
● However, we urge employers and individual employees to follow the government guidance and use their common sense.
● Saving lives is the government’s number one priority, which is why we have told people they must stay at home.
● Travelling to work is an exception, only where this cannot be done from home, provided you and your household are well and not self-isolating. This is consistent with the Chief Medical Officer’s advice.
● Construction sites have not been asked to close, so work can continue if it is done safely.
Issue: Funerals
Question: Can I still attend funerals - are they considered large gatherings?
● We want to maintain the right for a person or their loved ones to have the preferences around their death respected and upholding the wishes of the bereaved wherever possible is of utmost importance.
● Funerals will continue to go ahead, but the number of mourners should be restricted to immediate family only with appropriate social distancing measures in place.