Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Information about coronavirus and claiming benefits.

Guidance for employers and businesses.

Guidance for professionals helping people in education, transport and other sectors.

Advice for the general public.

The coronavirus action plan, a public guide to the UK’s plans to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

People Affected by COVID-19

Statutory Sick Pay

What the budget announces

• Extension of Statutory Sick Pay to self-isolators and those caring for self-isolators
• Can soon use NHS 111 to get a fit note at 7 days instead of going to the GP. (DWP/DHSC to set out more details soon).

How it works

• Paid by employers for up to 28 weeks to employees with average weekly earnings of at least £118 per week. Usually paid from 4th consecutive day of an absence (brought forward to 1st day for CV-19 cases).
• DWP and the NHS are urgently developing the alternative which will be available in the coming weeks. The alternative will enable people who are advised to self-isolate to obtain evidence via NHS111 that they can use as evidence for absence from work, where necessary. It will be a web-based summary which people can download.  Further details will be set out in due course, including provision for those who cannot access online services. 

Who is eligible

• Employees who earn over £118 per week from a single employer
• Doesn’t include: People earning less than £118 per week and self-employed people

Entitlement

• £94.25 per week
• (£95.85 from 6th April)

Universal Credit

What the budget announces

• For those directly affected or self-isolating due to Covid-19, Universal Credit advances will be available online / via phone (no attendance requirements)
• The Minimum Income Floor will be temporarily relaxed for those self-employed claimants directly affected by Covid-19 for the duration of the outbreak
• A carer could benefit if (1) they are self-employed and therefore subject to the MIF; and (2) the person they care for has been advised to self-isolate (or they themselves are advised to self-isolate).&nb

Cumbria Innovations Platform together with The Entrepreneurs Group are holding their 4^th Innovation Summit on Friday 20^th March 2020 9am – 4 pm at Whitehaven Golf Club.  The theme for this event is Innovators and Entrepreneurs and the purpose of the event is to provide local businesses and anyone thinking of starting up a new venture with the opportunity to hear from successful businesses and entrepreneurs.
 
Our speakers have been chosen specifically for their experience of operating in Cumbria and West Cumbria in particular.  Each of our inspirational speakers has a story to share about the challenges of starting out and how they have overcome those challenges to be successful. 

• Jo Corbishley - Jo Corbishley Leadership
• Lee Grears - Responsive Ltd
• Stuart MacLennan – Cows & Co

Our key note speaker, Toby McCartney, is an entrepreneur with a difference. Toby’s latest venture is one that is solving two world problems; the abundance of single use plastic filling landfill sites and our oceans, and the repairs of our world road surfaces ( see more at www.macrebur.com )
 
We will be joined by Jamie Reed, Head of Corporate Affairs – Sellafield, who will update us on the changing local economic landscape, the priorities and opportunities for innovation within the nuclear supply chain.
 
Throughout the afternoon there will be a series of workshops on the following themes:

• The Entrepreneur mind-set – what it takes to succeed
• Building Resilience & Staying Motivated
• Finance for start-ups and innovation
• How to write a great business case and apply for funding

This is a free to attend event that you can't afford to miss, so don't, click here and register today.