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21.02.09
10 Deputy G.P. Southern of the Minister for Social Security regarding the benefit
payments that had been available to those employees who had been unableto work due to Covid-19 (OQ.38/2021)
Will the Minister advise what benefit payments have been available to employees who have not been able to work as a result of contracting COVID-19, or having to self-isolate to protect vulnerable family members; together with the number of any successful claims and the total overall benefit amount paid?
Deputy J.A. Martin (The Minister for Social Security):
I thank the Deputy for his question. Anyone who is ill with COVID-19 and cannot work is eligible for short-term incapacity allowance in the normal way and receives a standard rate of benefit. In addition, COVID-19 sickness benefit or isolation benefit was introduced last February in 2020. Isolation benefit allows people who are normally employed or self-employed to claim the standard rate of benefit via an online form if they need to self-isolate in line with public health advice as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The benefit is available if the person is not able to work from home during the required isolation period and is not receiving their normal wages. To date there have been 4,854 claims for isolation benefit and the total of £1.6 million has been paid. Claimants are not required to consult with their G.P. (general practitioner) or provide a medical certificate and this has enabled a speedy access to this financial support.