COVID-19 POLICY UPDATE 30 May - 5 June 2020

Social Security Changes, Announcements, Information

Official DfC Announcements

• The majority of State Care Monuments, managed by DfC’s Historic Environment Division, have reopened to the public.  Read more of the story here https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/news/re-opening-outdoor-spaces-state-care-monuments
• And the DfC website has a list of the locations that are now open to visit, https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/articles/historic-places-visit
• DfC announced that the Public Record Office (PRONI) is calling for the public to help create an archive of how we lived during the lock down.  You can find full information on the ‘Stay Home’ Memories project, and how you can contribute to it, on the PRONI website https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni

Changes to COVID-19 Regulations

• The Executive announced a number of changes to the Coronavirus Regulations, to be introduced from Monday 8 June.  These will bring in minor relaxations to the restrictions:
  • Those shielding will be able to spend time outside with people from their own household or a person from another household whilst ensuring social distancing is observed.
  • People will be able 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 the number of people attending limited to 10.
  • Outdoor sports facilities will be permitted to re-open.
  • Outdoor non-food retailers will be permitted to reopen, 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.
  • Non-food retail outlets with lower frequency customer visits and/or with a greater propensity for larger store areas will be permitted to reopen, but only where those outlets have direct street access or direct access within a retail park.
• Read the full details at this link https://www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/news/executive-confirms-changes-covid-19-regulations

New Statutory Rule for COVID-19 Related SSP

• The Schedule to the Statutory Sick Pay (General) Regulations (NI) 1982 has been amended by a new statutory rule, the Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations (NI) 2020 (SR.No.89/2020).  The new rule adds a person who has been notified to self-isolate due to contact with a person infected with COVID-19 to list of qualifying people.  The legislation is available to read here http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2020/89/made

Reopening of Hotels and Other Tourist Accommodation

• The Executive announced plans to allow hotels and other tourist accommodation to re-open from July 20, although this will only be possible if virus transmissions rates continue to decline.  A final decision to allow this reopening can only be made nearer the time.  Read the full details here https://www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/news/executive-daily-update-initiatives-deal-coronavirus-03-june-2020

Workers’ Compensation Legislation Amended

• New regulations have been introduced to amend the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2020.  The new regulations are related to the annual up-rating of social security benefits and pensions and increase the amounts payable in lump sum compensation payments to sufferers of certain dust-related diseases.  The new regulations are available here http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2020/26/pdfs/nisr_20200026_en.pdf

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
• Further advice on NI Direct for businesses can be found at https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-businesses-and-employers and at https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/campaign/coronavirus-updates-support-your-business
• Further advice on NI Direct for workers can be found at
• https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-workers
• 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 Update

• Starting from 1 July 2020, businesses using the job retention scheme will have the flexibility to bring furloughed employees back to work part-time.  The government will continue to pay 80% of wages for any of their normal hours they don’t work up until the end of August.  This is happening a month earlier than previously announced.
• From August, the grant provided through the scheme will be slowly tapered.
• The scheme will close to new entrants from 30 June.
• Further details are available from this link https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-extends-self-employment-support-scheme-and-confirms-furlough-next-steps

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Update

• SEISS has been extended for anybody whose trade continues to be, or is newly, adversely affected by COVID-19.  Eligible self-employed people will be able to claim a second and final SEISS grant in August that will be taxable and worth 70% of their average monthly trading profits for three months.  The grant will be paid out in a single instalment and capped at £6,570 in total.
• The eligibility criteria for the second grant will be the same as for the first grant.  People don’t need to have claimed the first grant to claim the second grant.
• More information will be available on 12 June.  In the meantime, self-employed people still have until 13 July to apply for the first SEISS grant.  Applications details can be found here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-self-employment-income-support-scheme

HMRC’s Time to Pay Service

• HMRC’s Time to Pay service is now available to support businesses and self-employed people in financial distress and with outstanding tax liabilities.  Arrangements are agreed on a case-by-case basis and are tailored to individual circumstances and liabilities.  Anyone in need of support can contact HMRC on their helpline at 0800-024-1222.  More information at this link https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tax-helpline-to-support-businesses-affected-by-coronavirus-covid-19

UC and Redundancy

• With approximately 200K local workers on the job retention scheme, fears are growing about a huge job loss spike as the scheme winds down.  If this does happen, it will be vital that employees know how to handle the situation where they may receive redundancy and have to claim UC.
• Advice NI has produced a ‘Universal Credit & Redundancy’ briefing paper to assist employees and advisers where a redundancy situation arises.  Read the blog here https://www.adviceni.net/blog/advice-ni-produce-‘universal-credit-redundancy-payments’-briefing-paper-fears-grow-about-job-0
• The briefing paper itself can be found here https://www.adviceni.net/sites/default/files/publications/universal-credit-and-redundancy-payments-june-2020.pdf