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

John Stevenson MP will be hosting Carlisle Skills Fair at the Sands Centre in Carlisle from 2pm - 7pm on Thursday 25th January 2018.

The 5^th Carlisle Skills Fair will give young people and jobseekers an opportunity to take a look at the training, job and career options available in and around Carlisle. There will be representatives on hand from businesses and organisations to discuss the options available.

Are you looking for space in Carlisle District to locate your business? Try our renewed Property Search facility to find available retail, office, industrial and many more premises for leasehold or freehold. Local agents add their available properties to the search facility, providing the most comprehensive search of properties available in Carlisle District right now.

The Small Business Saturday Bus Tour will visit Carlisle on Monday 31st October between 10am and 2pm near the Crown & Mitre Hotel. The bus will be hosting workshops and activities and and will offer businesses the opportunity to network with eachother. Please click here for more info. 

Defra has launched a new grant scheme to champion food tourism which is open to applications until 26 September 2016. The grant scheme forms part of the Defra's Great British Food Campaign, which aims to celebrate our world class food industry and culture, drive growth and jobs in the sector and enhance Britian's reputation as a great food nation. Grants are available from between £5,000 and £25,000. Projects will be expected to start at the end of October 2016 and be completed by the end of March 2017. For more information and to apply, click here.