Page 7 - Community Living Magazine 34-1

welfare rights
Support under Covid-19: an update

Financial assistance to help those affected by coronavirus is still exception rather than the rule and are
available but there have been changes, including to reviews and usually for claimants who cannot get the
help they want online or over the phone.
reassessments for disability benefits, reports Charlie Callanan The suspension of all face-to-face
medical assessments continues for UC,
ESA and personal independence payments
t the start of the Covid-19 (PIPs). Assessment providers are continuing
lockdown in March, measures were to carry out telephone as well as “paper-
Aintroduced to provide financial based” assessments where possible.
support to both those in employment and The DWP has restarted reviews and
those who were out of work and claiming reassessments for PIP and disability
welfare benefits. living allowance (DLA), initially in the
At the time of writing, several of the following circumstances:
measures were still in place, and some of ● Reviews and reassessments of PIP that
these have been modified. were under way but were suspended
The job retention scheme provides a in March
grant to employers to enable them to pay ● Inviting people whose PIP award is
the wages of staff who remain on the coming to an end to reclaim PIP
payroll but who are temporarily ● Inviting children who get DLA and are
furloughed during the outbreak. The turning 16 to apply for PIP
scheme is due to close on 31 October. ● Accepting renewal applications for
For self-employed people who have other child DLA claimants
been adversely affected by the crisis, the ● Invitations to claim PIP for existing adult
self-employed income support scheme is DLA claimants are on hold and DLA
still in place. However, they must apply for Job centres are expected to remain closed for payments will continue.
this by 19 October, and applications for now, with face-to-face appointments rare As all face-to-face assessments remain
the first grant can no longer be made. suspended, assessments will be via
When claiming UC, people with an illness telephone or possibly paper based.
Illness and sick pay or disability that limits their capability to The DWP is prioritising clients who
As before, people who are off work and ill work should provide evidence of this experience a relevant change of
with Covid-19 may be entitled to claim (usually via a fit note) when making their circumstance. So, if a client has a change
statutory sick pay (SSP). If they are not claim or as soon as possible thereafter. that means their PIP award could be
entitled to SSP, or have already been paid increased or decreased, they should
it for 28 weeks, they may be able to claim Sanctions and reviews report this to the DWP as soon as possible.
employment and support allowance (ESA). Conditionality and benefit sanctions have
A client may be able to claim universal been reintroduced from July following Care and support
credit (UC) as their main income or to top their temporary suspension. Carers continue to get carer’s allowance if
up other income, whether during or The “claimant commitment” for those they have a temporary break in caring as a
outside of the Covid-19 crisis. However, if already claiming UC, ESA and jobseeker’s result of isolation because they or the
the claimant gets a “legacy” benefit (such allowance will be reviewed and updated person they care for is infected with or at
as income-related ESA), they should as capacity allows. risk of contamination with Covid-19. This
always seek advice before doing so. The DWP has said that claimants who is expected to last until mid November.
For Covid-19 related claims made are, for example, shielding or have Providing “emotional support”
before 10 July, medical evidence was not childcare responsibilities because of remotely, for example over the telephone,
required. Now, all new claims for Covid-19 restrictions will have their can count towards the 35 hours needed to
contributory ESA have to be supported by claimant commitment tailored to reflect claim carer’s allowance.
medical evidence. their circumstances “and will not be asked As per the government’s stated
The Department for Work and Pensions to do anything unreasonable”. intentions, it is expected that the financial
(DWP) is contacting affected claimants to Sanctions will be imposed only where a support described here is not for the long
advise the date from which they are claimant has not provided good reason for term, and the benefit rules that have
required to provide evidence. meeting the agreed requirements in the been relaxed will be tightened up again.
claimant commitment. However, we know a government can
Requirements to attend appointments change its mind, so please seek the most
Providing remote “emotional at job centres in person were suspended up-to-date news and information. n

support” by phone can count in March. Claimant commitments for both ● DWP. Coronavirus Support for
Employees, Benefit Claimants and
new and existing claimants are likely to be
towards the 35 hours needed
Christy Lawrance for carer’s allowance dealt with over the telephone. Businesses. https://tinyurl.com/wvykjtq
It is expected to be some time before all
Charlie Callanan is an adviser and writer
job centres are open and operating as
on welfare rights
usual. Face-to-face appointments are the
www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 34 No 1 | Autumn 2020 7