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Winter Edition 2020
Welfare Benefits Team
CORONA VIRUS BENEFITS
Factsheet
In this edition
we cover
Help and advice
Test and Trace self-
isolation payment
Support for workers
who are sick, self-
isolating or furloughed
Support for self-
employed people
Benefits Information
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
Employment and
Support Allowance
(ESA) and Jobseekers
Allowance (JSA)
Disability Benefits and
Child Benefit
Universal Credit
Tax Credit and Pension
Credit
Welcome to the Welfare Benefits Team corona virus and benefits factsheet. We
Housing Benefit and have reviewed the changes to existing benefits and the implementation of new
Council Tax benefits, as a result of new legislation laid down by the government in response to
Benefit appeals and the COVID-19 pandemic.
tribunals; free school We have tried to ensure this information is correct at the time of writing
meals (November 2020). Please contact us for further updates: welfare.benefits@lbhf.gov.uk
Fuel, debt recovery
New employment HELP AND ADVICE
support Council tenants can call our advice line for help and advice on 020 8753 5566
Support and advice
Whilst every effort
Debt advice
has been made to The welfare benefits team offers personal Crosslight and London Credit Union. These
provide accurate budgeting support for all tenants who organisations also offer free, independent
information, this want to get on top of their finances and advice to people who are experiencing
factsheet is for guidance gain control of their money. Call our difficulties:
only and should not advice line for an appointment. We can Crosslight: www.crosslightadvice.org
be considered an also refer to our partner organisations, Credit Union: www.londonpluscu.co.uk
authoritative statement
of the law. For further information contact: welfare.benefit@lbhf.gov.uk
2 | Welfare Benefits Team Factsheet Winter Edition 2020
Jobcentre
Plus
Access to jobcentres is limited, with
members of the public only admitted
if they are invited or directed to do so
with a booked appointment. DWP’s
Visiting Service has suspended all
routine face-to-face home visits but
will be prioritising visits for customers Support for workers, unfit for • and be currently receiving
who are most vulnerable, after a risk work, self-isolating, unemployed, Universal Credit, Working Tax
assessment in each case. furloughed, made redundant Credit, income-based
Don’t call us we’ll call you and £500 test and trace support • Employment and Support
payment Allowance, income-based
People making new claims for To be eligible for a test and trace
Universal Credit no longer need Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income
support payment you must have Support, Housing Benefit and/or
to call the DWP as part of the been asked to self-isolate by NHS
process. Instead DWP staff will call Pension Credit.
test and trace either because you
claimants if they need to check any have: It is administered by
of the information provided as part Hammersmith and Fulham Benefits
• tested positive for coronavirus
of the claim, as well as messaging dept. and only applies to those
or have recently been in close
them on their online journal to who test positive, or are a traced
contact with someone who has
confirm details. contact, on or after 28 September.
tested positive;
Government Gateway account to For more information, see Public
• be employed or self-employed; Health England guidance - Stay at
confirm their identity.
• be unable to work from home home guidance for households with
Anyone who is unable to get online and will lose income as a result; possible or confirmed coronavirus
can still call the DWP as normal. (COVID-19) infection.
The Job Retention Scheme
The Coronavirus Job Retention and the employee’s salary or not. furloughed employees back part-
Scheme went live on Monday Wages under the scheme were time.
20 April 2020. backdated to 1 March and the NB - to enable the introduction of
If an employer was unable to scheme was open until 31 October part-time furloughing, and support
cover staff costs due to COVID-19, 2020. those staff already furloughed to
financial support was made available return back to work, claims from
from the government, to reduce the From employers had to July onwards were restricted to
risk of redundancies. August take on responsibility employers already using the scheme
If an employer accessed the 2020 for the payment and employees furloughed by
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, of employer June 10th (except those returning
they had to classify one or more national insurance from maternity or paternity leave).
of their employees as ‘furloughed and pension In the case of part-time working,
workers’. This meant the workers contributions, the furlough payment is made in
were kept on the payroll and whether furloughed respect of hours not worked, and the
could not undertake work for that or not; monthly cap will be proportional to
employer. From the government have hours not worked.
Employees to be furloughed had September only paid 70 per cent The government paid employees’
to be employed and on the PAYE 2020 of wages, up to a cap wages through the scheme if a
payroll and received wages by 19 of £2,187.50; business was forced to temporarily
March 2020. close because of the COVID-19
The employer could contact HM during the government will outbreak.
Revenues and Customs (HMRC) to October pay 60 per cent of Where an employee has been
claim a grant of up to 80% of the 2020 wages up to a cap of furloughed, they are permitted
employee’s wages and staff costs, £1,875. to work for another employer, if
up to a maximum of £2,500 per contractually allowed, and this will
month per employee. The employer To ease the transition to the not affect the grant that they can
could choose to use this scheme and scheme then being brought to an claim under the Scheme.
also choose whether to fund the end, from 1 July 2020, employers
difference between this payment were given the flexibility to bring
For further information contact: welfare.benefit@lbhf.gov.uk
Welfare Benefits Team Factsheet Winter Edition 2020 | 3
Job
Retention
Bonus
The bonus will see businesses
receive a one-off payment of £1,000
for every previously furloughed
employee if they are still employed
at the end of January 2021. A policy
statement published by the HMRC
gives employers further details on
eligibility requirements and how they
can claim the bonus.
The self-employed income
Job Entry support scheme (SEISS)
Targetted On 26 March 2020, the Government
announced a scheme to support
the scheme, or would be except
for COVID-19
Support self-employed people affected by
the COVID-19 outbreak. This scheme
• intend to continue to trade in the
tax year 2020-21 and have lost
(JETS) allowed self-employed people to
claim a taxable grant worth 80%
of their trading profits up to a
trading/partnership trading profits
due to COVID-19
New employment programme to The applicant’s self-employed
maximum of £2,500 per month for 3 trading profits must also be less
support those left jobless due to months.
COVID-19 than £50,000 and more than half
A self-employed individual or of their income must come from self-
Job Entry Targeted Support a member of a partnership could
(JETS) will target certain universal employment.
apply if they: Self-employed parents, whose
credit and JSA claimants who have • have submitted an income tax
been out of work for at least 13 trading profits dipped in 2018/19
self-assessment tax return for the because they took time out to have
weeks. JETS will provide intensive tax year 2018-19
employment support to universal children, could claim for a payment
credit claimants in the ‘All Work- • traded in the tax year 2019-20 under the self-employed income
related Requirements’ group and • are trading when they apply to support scheme (SEISS).
New Style JSA claimants who have
been unemployed for at least 13
weeks.
The original Self-Employment Income
Support Scheme has been replaced
The second and final stage of the Scheme has now closed. Those eligible
were able to receive a grant worth 70% of their average monthly trading
profits, paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months’ worth of profits,
and capped at £6,570 in total. HMRC has published guidance on deciding
if a businesses has been adversely affected by coronavirus. The claim for
the second and final grant had to have been made on or before 19 October
2020.
For further information contact: welfare.benefit@lbhf.gov.uk
4 | Welfare Benefits Team Factsheet Winter Edition 2020
The
replacement
scheme for
self-employed
people from
1 November
The SEISS Grant Extension offers
support from November 2020
to April 2021 for self-employed
individuals who were previously
eligible for the original SEISS.
• The extension provides two
additional grants, each covering a
three-month period.
• The first grant will cover the
period from 1 November 2020
to 31 January 2021 and will
be based on 40% of average • They declare that they are
monthly trading profits, capped impacted by reduced demand Entitled To benefits calculator also
at £3,750. due to coronavirus in the enables people to see how any SEISS
• The second grant will cover the qualifying period. The ‘qualifying grant will affect future UC payments
period from 1 February 2021 to period’ for the first grant under as well, due to something called the
30 April 2021. The government the extended scheme is from 1 ‘surplus earnings rule’. This applies
will set the level of this grant and November 2020 to the date of where a universal credit claimant
provide details in due course. the claim.It is anticipated that has an increase in their earned
‘reduced demand’ will be defined income that takes them outside of
• The grants are subject to Income more narrowly than the ‘adversely entitlement to universal credit by
Tax and National Insurance. affected’ requirement of the initial more than £2,500. Earnings above
Self-employed individuals are eligible SEISS grants. this level can reduce subsequent
for the grant extension if: More details are expected soon. entitlement, not just in the month it
• They were previously eligible for As this is an extension and not an is received.
the SEISS. But applicants for the entirely new scheme, it is anticipated The DWP have confirmed that
grant extension do not need to that some of the qualifying anyone getting a payment from the
have claimed the previous grants conditions for the initial SEISS grants Bounce Back Loan Scheme will have
under the SEISS. will continue to apply. that loan treated as a business asset
• They declare that they are Self-employed people, whose so it will not affect any means-tested
currently actively trading and capital and current income is low benefits as either income or personal
intend to continue to trade. This enough, may also be able to claim capital.
means that businesses which have Universal Credit and/or a Council Self-employed people who are
closed during lockdown will need Tax Reduction whilst waiting for sick or self-isolating may be able to
to resume trading if they wish to payment and won’t have to repay claim new style employment and
make claims under the extended any of the benefit received when support allowance, universal credit
scheme. SEISS payments are received. The and a council tax reduction.
New HMRC People receiving
helpline direct payments
0800 024 1222 New guidance has been
published for people who
This is for people who run buy care and support
businesses or are self- through a direct payment
employed and are affected in order to know how and
by the COVID-19 outbreak. when they can use the CJRS
to furlough employees.
For further information contact: welfare.benefit@lbhf.gov.uk
Welfare Benefits Team Factsheet Winter Edition 2020 | 5
Welfare Benefits Information
The Government introduced a new Test and Trace Support Payment on 28 September.
• To be eligible for a Test and Trace JSA, Income Support, Housing will be able to make a backdated
Support Payment, you must: Benefit or Pension Credit. claim.
- have been asked to self- • There is some very limited • On-line or telephone application
isolate by NHS Test and Trace discretion outside of eligibility are required, giving details of:
either because you’ve tested criteria - a notification from NHS Test
positive for coronavirus or have • Payment is £500, as a lump sum, and Trace with a Unique ID
recently been in close contact which is subject to income tax but number;
with someone who has tested not - a bank statement;
positive; National Insurance contributions and - proof of employment/self-
- be employed or self-employed; it will not count as income or savings employment, which also
- be unable to work from home for benefit purposes confirms that they cannot
and will lose income as a • It is in effect from 28 September, work from home whilst self-
result; with local authorities expected isolating.
- and be currently receiving to have systems in place by 12 www.lbhf.gov.uk/coronavirus-
Universal Credit, Working October and the scheme will run covid-19/help-residents-facing-
Tax Credit, Income-based until 31 January 2021. hardship-or-difficulties/self-
Employment and Support • Only individuals who tested isolation-support-payments
Allowance, Income-related positive on or after 28 September
For further information contact: welfare.benefit@lbhf.gov.uk
6 | Welfare Benefits Team Factsheet Winter Edition 2020
STATUTORY SICK PAY (SSP)
Employees who are too ill to work, A person is classed as self- reintroduced, either in the case of
or who are following government isolating if they: local lockdowns or nationally, and
guidance to self-isolate, may be • have symptoms of COVID-19 and individuals receive a notification
eligible for SSP from their employer, have used the NHS111 online advising them to shield, they will
unless the employer has a more service and they have been told be eligible to receive SSP again if
generous scheme in place. The by a healthcare professional they they meet all eligibility criteria.
amount is £95.85 pw. from April have symptoms of COVID-19 or Guidance (updated 15 October)
2020, but the employer may top this they live with someone who has now states that people in England
up with contractual sick pay. SSP can symptoms of COVID-19 and the should shield (and can claim SSP or
be paid for up to 28 weeks. above applies Employment and Support Allowance
An employee on SSP may also top • A person who has been notified on those grounds) if they have
up their income by claiming universal that they have had contact received a letter from their doctor or
credit. with a person with coronavirus health authority because:
Statutory Sick SSP over the (COVID-19) is also eligible if they • they are in an area with local
qualifying period must be £120 are self-isolating, for 14 days restrictions that include advice
per week or more to qualify. from the latest date on which to shield; and they need to
Someone can still qualify if they only that contact occurred, or a date shield because they are “clinically
recently started work and have not specified in the latest notification. extremely vulnerable” and are
received 8 weeks’ pay yet. To check at very high risk of severe illness
entitlement, visit www.gov.uk/ • Individuals who are clinically
extremely vulnerable are no from coronavirus.
statutory-sick-pay An employee does not have
If an employee wishes to dispute longer required to shield since 1
August. This means those who to provide a fit note for the first 7
a decision to refuse SSP, they should days of sickness or self-isolation.
contact the Statutory Payments are unable to work from home
but can work on site should do After 7 days, people with COVID-19
Disputes Team: 03000 560630. symptoms and people who are self-
SSP is paid from the first day so, providing the workplace is
COVID-safe. Individuals will no isolating can get an isolation note
a person is sick with COVID-19 or online at which they can send to
self-isolating. The 3 “waiting days” longer be eligible for SSP on the
basis of being clinically extremely their employer.
are abolished but not for anyone
claiming SSP for any other reason. vulnerable. If shielding guidance is
For further information contact: welfare.benefit@lbhf.gov.uk
Welfare Benefits Team Factsheet Winter Edition 2020 | 7
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
For details see Gov.uk’s employment supported by medical evidence. Any
and support allowance guidance. assessments for fitness for work will
Universal Credit claimants be done over the phone or by an
should now apply for New Style evidence review, not a face to face
Employment and Support Allowance interview.
online or by phone instead of For claims in existence prior to 10
through their online account. July 2020, medical evidence will be
Workers, who are sick or self- introduced gradually and DWP will
isolating, and whose earnings are be writing to all of those claimants
insufficient to qualify for SSP, may advising the date from which they
be entitled to new style ESA, if are required to provide evidence.
they have paid sufficient national The New Style Employment
insurance contributions. Self- and Support Allowance detailed
employed people, who cannot claim guide on Gov.uk has been updated
SSP, may be due ESA instead. to include details of the evidence
From 13 March 2020 until 12 • caring for a child or qualifying customers will need to provide
November 2020, claimants ‘affected young person who is a member if they are claiming New Style
by COVID-19’ do not have to serve of the person’s household and Employment and Support Allowance
7 waiting days before they can be who is in isolation or infected because of coronavirus
paid ESA. The regulations state that with coronavirus disease. Reassessments of existing ESA
a person is affected by coronavirus However, the requirement to awards is soon to be re-introduced
disease (COVID-19) if they are: provide medical evidence to support by telephone, not face to face.
• infected or contaminated with claims to Employment and Support ESA claimants are encouraged to
coronavirus disease or; Allowance that was deferred is now contact the Jobcentre if their health
• in isolation (because they have being reintroduced on a phased deteriorates and they believe they
been advised to isolate by NHS basis. All new claims received from are entitled to the ESA support
111 Online) or; 10 July 2020 for ESA must now be component.
New-style (or contributory) Child
Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) Benefit (CB)
and Universal Credit (UC) if If you did not claim CB in the
looking for work past because you or your partner
earned over £50,000 and did not
From 30 March 2020, jobseekers hours.” Claimant commitments want to be taxed on it, you can
no longer had to look for work or must be reasonable for the ‘new revoke that decision if your income
be available to start work. JSA and normal’, acknowledging the reality has now fallen. Call 0300 200
UC claimants did not have any work of a person’s local jobs market and 3100.
search requirements placed upon personal circumstances to prepare HMRC has announced that
them and were not required to be them for getting back into work. parents of new-borns can claim
able and willing to immediately Claimants can now make an child benefit without registering
take up paid work. However, since appointment to see their work coach the birth if General Register
1 July the DWP have reintroduced if they can’t get the help they want Offices are closed as a result of the
the requirement for claimants of online or over the phone. coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
universal credit, new-style and legacy JSA claimants can have up to First-time parents will need to fill
jobseeker’s allowance to accept a two, 2-week periods of sickness in Child Benefit Claim form CH2
claimant commitment as part of any and one, 13-week extended period and send it to the Child Benefit
new claim. Claimant commitments of sickness within any 12-month Office and should add a note to
are a signed declaration regarding period, before losing entitlement the claim if they have been unable
the how the claimant is going to JSA. From 30 March 2020, these to register the birth because of
to carry out job seeking activity. sickness periods do not include any COVID-19. If people are already in
For existing claimants, DWP will time when a claimant is infected receipt of child benefit, they can
review and update their claimant with COVID-19, in isolation, or complete the form or add their
commitment as capacity allows, caring for a child or qualifying young new-born’s details over the phone
to “provide tailored support to person who is a member of the on 0300 200 3100.
help them find work or increase claimant’s household.
For further information contact: welfare.benefit@lbhf.gov.uk
8 | Welfare Benefits Team Factsheet Winter Edition 2020
Carer’s
Allowance (CA)
Carers retain their entitlement to
CA during any temporary break in
caring as a result of isolation due
to infection or contamination with
coronavirus, whether this applies
to the carer or the person being
cared for. This concession is due
to end on 13 November 2020.
The support can also be being
provided by non-contact means
e.g. phone or social media. Any
payments received from the Job
Support or SEIS schemes will be
counted as earnings for carers
allowance purposes.
Disability Living Universal Credit (UC)
Allowance, UC is a means-tested benefit that is
replacing tax credits, housing benefit,
use) a phone or go online.
Watch this video about making a
Personal income support, and the income-
related versions of ESA and JSA. It
claim.
New out-of-work UC claimants
Independence has a savings limit (£16,000) and will now be required to look for
Payment and people who live together as a couple
have to claim and be assessed jointly,
work and could in theory therefore
be ‘sanctioned’. A sanction is a
Attendance on a month by month basis. It can penalty, where benefit payment is
Allowance be paid on its own, or as a top-up to
other benefits or earnings, including
suspended for a specified period
of time. Existing claimants will be
Personal independence payment (PIP) furlough pay. asked to update their claimant
claimants now have up to 3 months The families of NHS and commitment once contacted by
to return their PIP2 claim form after social care workers who die the Job Centre. However, with
they have made their initial phone from coronavirus, and receive effect from 22 July 2020, anyone
call to start the claim. compensation under the NHS transferring to Universal Credit from
Face-to-face assessments for all and Social Care Coronavirus Life income support or income-related
sickness and disability benefits Assurance Scheme, will find that the ESA and JSA will have two weeks
have been temporarily suspended. £60,000 lump sum breaches capital ’run-on’ of those legacy benefits,
Assessments for new claims will limits rules for most benefits such as and housing benefit, whilst waiting
either be paper-based or conducted universal credit and housing benefit. for their universal credit to start.
over the phone. Guardian article – UK families This should reduce the need for an
Almost all other reassessments bereaved by Covid lose eligibility for advance payment.
were postponed in April 2020 for at welfare benefits. Self-employed claimants no
least 6 months. Reviews of existing Workers, who are sick or self- longer have to attend an interview
Attendance Allowance and DLA isolating, and whose household with a case manager at the start of
claims for those aged 65+ began income and capital are low enough, their claim to see whether they are
again on October. may qualify for UC. UC can also ‘gainfully self-employed’.
If a claim is being made for be paid on top of the Job Support Minimum Income Floor (MIF) is
someone terminally ill, the DWP has Scheme, SEISS, SSP or new style a notional level of self-employed
opened an e-mail facility to allow the ESA, if their household income and earnings used to calculate the UC
relevant form (DS1500), which is a capital are low enough. award. It is used by DWP when
certificate from the GP or consultant, Claiming UC can be done by the actual net profit from self-
stating that the claimant has a creating an on-line account at gov. employment is lower than the MIF.
terminal illness and is not expected uk or via the phone 0800 328 5644. This has now been temporarily
to live for more than 6 months, is The demand on the DWP is huge removed, which means the
to be e-mailed to them, rather than and delays are inevitable. Claimants claimant’s actual self-employed
posted. The DS1500 will only be are no longer required to attend earnings are used in the calculation
accepted if it’s sent in from a face-to-face meetings with work of UC, even if they are low (or zero)
GOV.UK email address. coaches. Jobcentres remain open, due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The
The DS1500 should be sent to the but with a limited service, and will MIF is due to be reintroduced in
following email address: continue to support people who do March 2021
pip.e-ds1500@dwp.gsi.gov.uk not have access to (or are unable to
For further information contact: welfare.benefit@lbhf.gov.uk
Welfare Benefits Team Factsheet Winter Edition 2020 | 9
Pension
Credit
(PC)
To get PC, the claimant has to be
over state pension age. If part of
a couple, they BOTH need to be
over pension age. If one of them is
under pension age, and they need
help with rent or to replace lost or
reduced earnings, they would need
to claim UC. Pension credit can now
be claimed on-line via
www.gov.uk/pension credit.
Working Tax Credit (WTC)
and Child Tax Credit (CTC)
No new claims can be made for For 2020/21, HMRC will
tax credits. However, if a person is automatically renew almost all tax
already getting CTC, and is working, credits claims. Claimants will receive
they may be able to add WTC to it if an auto renewal pack and will only
their income has fallen. This would need to contact HMRC if their details
be as an alternative to claiming differ from the pack. Some claimants
universal credit, and people should will still be sent a reply-required
seek advice as to which is the best renewal pack and will be expected
option for them. to complete it in the normal way.
Workers already receiving WTC Parents and carers in receipt of
can continue to receive it for 28 the childcare element of Working Tax
weeks, while they are off work Credits who have continued to pay
and claiming SSP or new style ESA. childcare fees despite their children
Workers already in receipt of WTC do being unable to access childcare will
not have to report a drop in working no longer get this help beyond 7
hours due to the COVID-19 outbreak September.
but do have to report if they cease to Working parents or carers who
be employed. A furloughed worker are eligible for Tax-Free Childcare
is still employed. These regulations or 30 hours free childcare but
(easements) for WTC customers will have temporarily fallen below the
end when the Job Retention Scheme minimum income requirement as a
ends in October, whether they have result of the pandemic will continue
received payment through that to receive financial support until 31
scheme or not. The claimant then October 2020.
has 8 weeks to re-establish their You can check your eligibility for
hours (as long as they don’t have a Tax-Free Childcare or 30 hours free
permanent change in the meantime) childcare in relation to coronavirus
and then if they don’t re-establish (COVID-19) online. Parents and
their hours, they will get 4 weeks run carers who are Working Tax Credits
on of Working Tax Credit before it customers should check their
ends altogether. eligibility and updated guidance
HMRC’s tax credits calculator was relating to coronavirus online.
updated on 6 April 2020.
For further information contact: welfare.benefit@lbhf.gov.uk
10 | Welfare Benefits Team Factsheet Winter Edition 2020
Bereavement Council tax
Social Fund funeral payments are People may be able to get help
available from the DWP, based on with their council tax. Help with
the income of the claimant. Apart council tax is available either
from the cost of a basic funeral, through means-tested support or
the previous £700 cap for the various reductions, exemptions
discretionary element has been and discounts. People who have
increased to £1,000 for all deaths on claimed UC or other benefits
or after April 8th. For more details should make a simultaneous
about this and the bereavement application for support.
support payment, see Coronavirus A £500 million Fund is
(COVID-19): help and support if available to local authorities
someone dies. across the UK, to provide council
tax relief to households affected
by COVID-19. This is called
Benefit cap discretionary council tax support
To get help, worth £150 per
Some benefit claimants have a year, the applicant must be of
£20k a year (£23k in London) working age and getting means-
‘cap’ placed on the total tested council tax support.
amount of benefit income
they can receive. See Gov.uk
Benefit Caps and seek advice if
this applies to you. Also see Child Benefit appeals
poverty action group mind the
gap briefing. and tribunals
Newly-unemployed claimants There are new processes in place for
have a 9 months grace period all benefit tribunals, as Her Majesty’s
before the benefit cap is applied if Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS)
they have worked for the previous make their services coronavirus-
year. There are some exemptions to compliant.
the cap if a member of the family is in HMCTS will list all cases before a
receipt of PIP, DLA or Carers Allowance triage panel or in some cases a single
and also if they are working. judge. If the appeal can be allowed,
then the panel will issue a decision.
The appellant can still apply for the
Housing decision to be set aside if unhappy.
The matter would then be listed for
Benefit a telephone hearing (see below) and
all options will be available to the
(HB) next Tribunal, including disallowing
the appeal. Those appeals that the
No new HB claims can be made by triage panel feel unable to allow
people of a working age, unless on the papers will be listed for
they are being placed in temporary/ telephone hearings.
emergency accommodation – There will be no face-to-face
help with rent comes through UC be due more benefit. This would hearings during the current situation.
instead. However, if you are already be as an alternative to claiming UC, Where an appeal cannot be fairly
in receipt of HB and your income and people should seek advice as to and justly allowed ‘on the balance of
has fallen or stopped, you would which is the best option for them. probabilities on available evidence’,
judges are advised that they should
consider whether to:
Discretionary Housing • make directions to obtain further
Payments (DHP) evidence (although obtaining GP
records or any other evidence is
The government has announced They should apply to their local probably not an option during
an additional £40m in funding for council housing benefit department. this crisis); or
councils to spend on DHPs for people Each council has its own online • arrange a remote hearing when
who are struggling to pay their rent application page. If the tenant is a hearing needs to be held,
or other housing costs. To apply for a turned down, they should seek either online or by telephone or
DHP, a claimant must be receiving HB advice from an independent advice video, using the normal panel
or the housing costs element of UC. agency. composition where practicable.
For further information contact: welfare.benefit@lbhf.gov.ukWelfare Benefits Team Factsheet Winter Edition 2020 | 11
Help with fuel costs
The Government and energy provided information and advice for Ofgem has warned, in an
suppliers have agreed to new individuals and families struggling to open letter to energy supply
emergency measures to help pay their bills during the COVID-19 companies, that it will not tolerate
prepayment customers during the outbreak e.g.; ‘sharp practice or aggressive debt
pandemic, including posting cards • British Gas Coronavirus update collection’ as energy firms began to
loaded with emergency credit to restart debt management activities
those who are self-isolating, adding • EDF Coronavirus update from 1 July 2020.
discretionary credit to meters, and • EON Coronavirus update All water companies are halting
allowing users to nominate someone • Npower Coronavirus update. debt collection visits and are not
to top up for them. applying for any new court orders
Utility companies have also during the current crisis.
Free school meals
and Healthy Start
Vouchers
Under normal circumstances, schools are not
expected to provide free school meals to eligible
children who are not attending due to illness,
isolation or if the school is closed. However, recent
concessions have been made by the government
that seek to ensure that all children will have access
to free school meals during the Christmas and Easter
holidays, with a number of further provisions being
made to provide support.
Healthy Start vouchers, worth up to £6.20
per child, are available to pregnant women and
families who have a low income and have a child
under 4. See www.healthystart.nhs.uk to get more
information about who qualifies and how to apply.
For further information contact: welfare.benefit@lbhf.gov.uk12 | Welfare Benefits Team Factsheet Winter Edition 2020
Advice to People
Struggling with
Essential Bills
A news story on GOV.UK
highlights and provides
advice for those in difficulty
with energy, water or
telecommunications bills,
or repayment commitments
on credit cards, loans and
mortgages, as a result of
COVID-19. Contact our
team for further advice and
information.
Benefit debt
recovery
DWP stopped recovery action
associated with benefit
overpayments, tax credits debt, and
social fund loans, but NOT advance
payments of UC in March 2020.
Recovery action was reinstated
on 6 July.
New employment schemes
• Businesses will be given £2,000 for each new Department of
apprentice they hire under the age of 25. This is
in addition to the existing £1,000 payment the Work and Pensions
Government already provides for new 16-18-year-
old apprentices and those aged under 25 with an
GUIDANCE
Education, Health and Care Plan. Coronavirus (COVID-19):
• A Job Retention Bonus Scheme - a one-off £1,000 • What to do if you’re already getting benefits
payment to employers for each furloughed employee
that remains continuously employed until 31 January • What to do if you’re self-employed and getting
2021. less work or no work
• £150m increase to the local DWP flexible support fund • What to do if you were employed and have lost
to address claimants’ specific barriers preventing them your job
from returning to work or provide training e.g. funding • What to do if you’re employed and cannot
travel to interview costs, equipment or clothing to start work.
employment or paying for replacement adult or child
care to enable someone to undertake training, attend
interviews or start work. Further help and advice
• A Kickstart Scheme to provide 6 month placements Department of Work and Pensions
from Autumn this year. Funding available for each job Universal credit helpline:
placement will cover 100% of the National Minimum 0345 600 0723
Wage for 25 hours a week – and employers will be
able to top up this wage. The scheme will be focused Online information:
on supporting young people who are on Universal • www.gov.uk/universal-credit
Credit and at risk of long term unemployment. • www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk
391.27. 2020.
For further information contact: welfare.benefit@lbhf.gov.ukYou can also read
