| answer text |
<p>The health and safety of our claimants and staff is our key priority. We suspended
all face-to-face assessments for sickness and disability benefits in March 2020. This
temporary suspension, brought in to protect people from unnecessary risk of coronavirus
at the outset of the pandemic, remains in place, and is being kept under review in
line with the latest public health guidance. Any re-introduction of face-to-face assessments
would involve stringent Covid-19 related safety measures, supported by guidance for
claimants and assessment providers to ensure compliance with the relevant public health
guidance.</p><p> </p><p>However, throughout the pandemic we have continued to assess
people on paper evidence, using this route whenever possible. We also introduced telephone
assessments, providing limited outcomes, in June 2020. We have continued building
our capacity and capability since June enabling us to provide the full range of outcomes
at volume from this February. This action will ensure that claimants receive their
correct benefit entitlement as quickly as possible and reduce the time claimants who
may be entitled to a higher award are waiting for their assessment.</p><p> </p><p>Where
an individual’s contributory ESA ends if they require further financial support they
may be eligible for Universal Credit, depending on their personal circumstances.</p><p>
</p><p>For people who are ineligible for Universal Credit they may be eligible for
other assistance such as Discretionary Housing Payments provided by their Local Authority,
which helps the most vulnerable and supports renters with housing costs in the private
and social rented sectors.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Government has introduced
a raft of temporary measures to support those hardest hit:</p><ul><li>Extension of
the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to support individuals and businesses who are
impacted by disruption caused by coronavirus (COVID-19) this winter. The CJRS (also
known as the furlough scheme) will remain open until 31 March 2021</li><li>The Self-Employment
Income Support Scheme grant extension provides critical support to the self-employed
in the form of 2 further grants, each available for 3-month periods covering November
2020 to January 2021 and February 2021 to April 2021.</li><li>Affected self-employed
claimants will also not have a Minimum Income Floor (an assumed level of income) applied
for a period of time within UC.</li><li>Working people on low incomes who are required
to remain at home by NHS Test and Trace to help stop the spread of the virus and cannot
work from home can now receive £500 to financially support them while self-isolating.</li><li>Local
housing allowance rates have been increased to cover the lowest 30th percent of local
rents. This £1bn investment will benefit over 1 million households with an average
increase of £600 this year, and help alleviate the pressure on Discretionary Housing
Payments.</li><li>People in England can also apply to their Local Authority for support
from the £170 million Covid Winter Grant Scheme that we have introduced to help with
food and essential utility bills to the end of March. Devolved Administrations have
received equivalent funding.</li></ul><p> </p><p>In addition, there is a Flexible
Support Fund, which has been increased by £150 million, to support customers facing
redundancy.</p>
|
|
