We at Platform understand that this is a particularly worrying time for our People. The changes, and the speed of change, can be very unsettling. We want to let you know that we are here to help you at this time. There is a lot of information out there, and some gets a bit complicated, so we’re trying to keep things simple for you.
If you are still able to pay your rent, we encourage you to continue making these payments. Paying by Direct Debit is still the easiest and most convenient method of payment. If you would like to set this method of payment up on your rent account, please contact the Income team on 0333 200 7304 or email the team via rents@platformhg.com.
Platform’s Rent Support Team can help with benefits and budgeting advice.
We have a dedicated team of Rent Support Officers who can help you check to see if you might be entitled to financial assistance and guide you through the process of making claims. They can assist you with setting a budget to manage your money. Don’t panic, we are here to help you through these changing times.
You can email us at welfarereform@platformhg.com to ask for help. Just make sure to give us your name and first line of your address so that we can find you on the system.
Budgeting Advice
In the days ahead it is a good idea to start looking at your money. Make a budget - list everything you spend. You may need to try and cut some costs to help you afford extra spending on electric/ gas and water for example.
You may need guidance to access further support if your outgoings include ‘non-priority’ debts. We can point you in the right direction for free advice, licensed by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Benefits Advice
People who are/ were working:
If you’ve found yourself with a reduced income, or even no income at all, you may be wondering where to start. If you have never claimed a benefit, or if it’s been a while and you’re not sure about how to, please get in touch with us! We can guide you, over the phone, through this. You can also watch this short video explaining how the claiming process works: Universal Credit Overview
There are several different routes you could take:
If you are staying at home because of COVID-19 you can now claim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). This includes people who are caring for people in the same household and therefore have been advised to do a household quarantine.
The Government has said that SSP is to be paid from day 1 of your absence from work if you are absent from work due to sickness or need to stay at home due to COVID-19.
To check your sick pay entitlement, you should talk to your employer. You can get £94.25 per week Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you’re too ill to work. It’s paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks.
If you have COVID-19 or are advised to stay at home, you can get an ‘isolation note’ by visiting NHS 111 online, rather than visiting a doctor. For COVID-19 cases this replaces the usual need to provide a ‘fit note’ (sometimes called a ‘sick note’) after 7 days of sickness absence.
For further information visit the Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) page on gov.uk
If you are not eligible for SSP – for example if you earn below the Lower Earnings Limit of £118 per week – and you have COVID-19 or are advised to stay at home, you can make a claim for Universal Credit and/or new style Employment and Support Allowance.
If your employer has terminated your employment you can claim ‘New Style Jobseekers’ Allowance’ and/or Universal Credit to help with living and housing costs.
If your employer cannot cover staff costs due to COVID-19, they may be able to access Government support to continue paying 80% of your wages and avoid redundancies.
If your employer intends to access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, they will discuss this with you and you will be classified as a “furloughed worker”. This would mean that you are kept on your employer’s payroll, rather than being laid off.
To qualify for this scheme, you should not undertake work for them while you are furloughed. This will allow your employer to claim a grant of up to 80% of your wage for all employment costs, up to a cap of £2,500 per month.
You will remain employed while furloughed. Your employer could choose to fund the differences between this payment and your salary but does not have to.
If your salary is reduced as a result of being furloughed, you may be eligible for support through the welfare system, including Universal Credit which could include help with your housing costs. Platform’s Rent Support Team can help with a budgeting and benefits check.
The Government intends the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to run for at least 3 months from 1 March 2020, but this may be extended if necessary.
Those who are not eligible for SSP or those who lose their jobs will be able to claim either ‘New Style Jobseekers’ Allowance’ or Universal Credit from the first day they are out of work.
You may able to apply for Universal Credit if on reduced hours.
Self-employed claimants on Universal Credit who are required to stay at home or are ill as a result of coronavirus will not have a Minimum Income Floor (an assumed level of income) for a period of time while affected.
You are also able to claim Universal Credit (providing you meet the usual eligibility criteria) to support you with loss of income as a result of lost business due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
New claimants will not need to attend the Jobcentre to demonstrate gainful self-employment.
If you are employed, have caring responsibilities and have been advised to 'self-isolate' by NHS 111 or a medical professional, you must tell your employer as soon as possible. This does not need to be in writing. Your workplace’s usual sick leave and pay entitlements will apply. The government has promised that Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will be given from day one of self-isolation. You should check your contract of employment to see if your employer offers contractual sick pay on top. You may also be asked to certify your absence.
By law, for the first seven days of sickness, you are not required to provide medical evidence to your employer. However, after seven days, it is at the discretion of your employer to decide what evidence, if any, they need from you. If you have COVID-19 or are advised to stay at home, you can get an ‘isolation note’ by visiting NHS 111 online, rather than visiting a doctor.
For workers that are ineligible for SSP, support will be available through Universal Credit and contributory Employment and Support Allowance.
If you need to take time off to help someone else, as an employee you also have a statutory right to take a ‘reasonable’ amount of time off from work to see to an emergency or unforeseen matter involving your partner, child, parent, grandchild, or someone who relies on you for care. There is no fixed amount of time you can take off. The time off is unpaid unless your employer is willing to give paid time off as a contractual right, check your work policy on care leave.
Already Receiving a Benefit?
- People receiving benefits do not have to attend Jobcentre appointments for three months.
- People will continue to receive their benefits as normal, but all requirements to attend the Jobcentre in person are suspended.
- People can still make applications for benefits online if they are eligible.
- Face-to-face health assessments for benefits have been suspended.
- Jobcentres remain open and will continue to support people who are not able to use phones and online, including homeless people.
If you’re already claiming Universal Credit and think you may have been affected by coronavirus, please contact your work coach as soon as possible. You can do this by:
- using your online journal
- calling the Universal Credit helpline
From 6th April the Standard Allowance of Universal Credit and the basic element of Working Tax credit will both increase by £20 a week.
You can also find out more on from the official Universal Credit website:
https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/coronavirus/
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ABUSE
Having to stay at home in close proximity with family can be a very testing time, even under the normal circumstances. Being confined at home with an abusive person can be devastating.
In the coming months, it is likely that the number of people self-isolating will increase significantly and this for many could make for an extremely dangerous environment.
Many abusers use isolation as a means of control. Keeping their partner or family member away from family and friends keeps the suspicion of others at bay. The current situation may also increase physical violence in the home for those in abusive relationships.
This could be because the abuser has less concern that marks resulting from physical violence will be noticed or due to rising tensions in the family home resulting from people being in closer proximity for longer periods of time.
Domestic abuse is not just physical violence. It could be sexual abuse, bullying or controlling behaviour, financial controlling etc.
Victims may find themselves being controlled by their abuser taking advantage of the worry of the virus or using money worries such as potential job losses, lack of access to help etc. as a reason to control.
An abuser may interfere with their partner’s ability to work from home by refusing to share childcare, or preventing them from accessing the equipment they need, such as a laptop or phone.
Domestic abuse or violence is a crime and should be reported to the police. If it is an emergency or you are in imminent danger then call 999. The police are there to help you.
There are LOTS of support services out there, your local council will have a specialist team, or
There are LOTS of support services out there: your local council will have a specialist team or you can call one of the numbers below:
Regional/National Helplines
Childline - 0800 1111
National Domestic Violence Helpline: www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk - 24hr helpline 0808 2000 247
National LGBT+ domestic abuse helpline - 0800 999 5428
Rape Crisis England and Wales - 0808 802 9999
Men’s Advice Line - 0808 801 0327
Victim Support - 0300 303 1977 / www.victimsupport.org
Respect helpline (for anyone worried about their own behaviour) - 0808 802 0231
West Midlands Forced Marriage - 24hr helpline 0800 953 9777
Useful Apps for victims
Hollie Guard - https://hollieguard.com/
Bright Sky - https://www.hestia.org/brightsky
Read Rent and support information for tenants impacted by Covid-19…
