Following announcements in the Budget, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is making temporary arrangements to support those impacted by coronavirus.

Existing Claimants

Special arrangements will be in place for people in receipt of benefits who cannot attend reassessments or jobcentre appointments because they are required to stay at home or are infected by coronavirus.

The arrangements are (as quoted):

disabled and sick claimants who cannot attend a reassessment for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Employment and Support Allowance (ESA ) or Universal Credit will continue to receive their payments while their assessment is rearranged

people who need to claim ESA or Universal Credit because of coronavirus will not be required to produce a fit note.

when claimants tell us in good time that they are staying at home or that they have been diagnosed with coronavirus, they will not be sanctioned – we will review their conditionality requirements in their claimant commitment, to ensure they are reasonable.

claimants who are staying at home as a result of coronavirus will have their mandatory work search and work availability requirements removed to account for a period of sickness.

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New Claimants

The DWP say they understand people who are required to stay at home or are infected by coronavirus may need financial support, so:

those affected by coronavirus will be able to apply for Universal Credit and can receive up to a month’s advance up front without physically attending a jobcentre.

the 7 waiting days for ESA for new claimants will not apply if they are suffering from coronavirus or are required to stay at home – so it will be payable from day one.

Employees and self-employed people

To make sure people in work can take the necessary time off to stay at home if they are suffering from coronavirus or to prevent its spread, changes have been made to Statutory Sick Pay and how Universal Credit supports self-employed claimants.