COVID-19 POLICY UPDATE 23 May - 29 May

Social Security Changes, Announcements, Information

Official DfC Announcements

• The Minister, Deirdre Hargey, has called for landlords to act responsibly to ensure tenants have security tenancy during the crisis.  She has encouraged landlords and tenants to work together; read more here https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/news/hargey-encourages-landlords-and-tenants-work-together
• DfC is expected to announce its £15.5m COVID-19 Charities Fund soon.  The Executive approved the funding and DfC will be responsible for delivery.  They are currently considering how the Fund will be administered.  All charities will be eligible to apply but there will be criteria to ensure double funding doesn’t take place.

Update from the Executive: Review of Coronavirus Regulations

• The Executive announced that it intends to make changes to the Coronavirus Regulations in the weeks ahead, but stressed that the changes would be conditional on the R number i.e. the transmission rate of the virus, and that people should not become complacent.
• The R number currently sits at 0.9 and if it remains at or below this level, certain restrictions will be eased in just over a weeks’ time, on the week commencing 8 June.
• These easements include:
  • People will be permitted to leave home to attend to the needs or welfare of an animal or animals.
  • Outdoor marriages and civil partnership ceremonies will be allowed, with number of people attending limited to 10.
  • Outdoor sports courts will be permitted to reopen.
  • The conduct of business by outdoor non-food retailers will be permitted, including new and used car retailers; retailers of light motor vehicles, lorries/trailers; retailers of caravans or motorhomes, and retailers of agricultural or other large machinery.
  • The conduct of business by non-food retail outlets with lower frequency customer visits and / or with a greater propensity for larger store areas, will be permitted. But only where those outlets have direct street access or direct access within a retail park.
• This is the third review of the Regulations.  The last time restrictions were relaxed, the R number was actually lower, between 0.7 and 0.8.  It’s for this reason that the restrictions aren’t coming into force right away but have been delayed until 8 June.
• The Executive intend to review the restrictions again on 4 June.
• A strong message was given by the Executive, warning people to continue following the advice of maintaining social distancing, washing their hands and staying at home as much as possible.
• The advice and the restrictions are not open to interpretation and not adhering strictly to them risks further spread of the virus.  The battle against the virus is far from over, and despite any statistics that might seem encouraging, and we must be prepared for a second wave.

Online Pension Credit Applications

• Pensioners are now able to apply for Pension Credit online, providing an additional option to add to the existing methods of claiming, i.e. by phone or by completing a downloadable application form, which remain in place.
• To find out information about the different ways to apply, see this link https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/applying-pension-credit

Rates Bills on the Way

• This year’s rates bills were deferred from going out at the usual time and the Executive froze the element of the bill which it sets.  But it’s been announced that Land & Property Services (LPS) will issue bills to households this week.
• You can find out about the range of rates reliefs and entitlements at this link www.nidirect.gov.uk/rates
• Anybody having difficulty paying is encouraged to contact LPS on 0300-200-7801 or rating@lpsni.gov.uk
• Read more here https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/news/households-receive-rate-bills

Relaxation of Restrictions

• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (NI) 2020 became law on 28 March 2020 and require a review every 21 days.  Go to the following links to see the most recent version of the Regulations and how they impact our everyday lives:
  • https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/health-protection-coronavirus-restrictions-northern-ireland-regulations-2020
  • https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-regulations-and-what-they-mean-you

Coronavirus & Government Services Information from NI Direct

• NI Direct has a COVID-19 webpage with up-to-date information on a range of issues relating to the crisis.  Visit https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/coronavirus-covid-19
• DfC has a COVID-19 webpage providing the last updates on action they’re taking during the crisis.  Visit https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/landing-pages/covid-19-service-updates
• Department of Health daily statistics on COVID-19 are available at www.health-ni.gov.uk

HMRC and Employment Updates

Job Retention Scheme

• The government decision to extend the Job Retention Scheme to the end of October 2020 has been ratified in law through a new Treasury Direction made under Sections 71 and 76 of the Coronavirus Act 2020; the full details are here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/treasury-direction-made-under-sections-71-and-76-of-the-coronavirus-act-2020

Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme Live

• The HMRC Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme is now live.  Employers with fewer than 250 employees can claim and the repayment will cover up to 2 weeks of the applicable rate of SSP.  Employees don’t have to provide a doctor’s fit note but they will need either an isolation note from the NHS or a GP shielding letter; the full details of the Scheme are available at this link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-back-statutory-sick-pay-paid-to-employees-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19
• Employers who can’t find the information they need, are asked not to call HMRC but instead to go through HRMC’s webchat service at https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/ask-hmrc/virtual-assistant/support-for-coronavirus?VA=GOVUK&_ga=2.234314398.1258637369.1590571225-1426655660.1585836970