BENEFITS UPLIFT - The Chancellor has outlined an unprecedented package of measures to protect millions of people’s jobs and incomes as part of the national effort in response to coronavirus. This comes as Government instructs entertainment and hospitality premises, like bars and restaurants, to close from tonight to limit spread of coronavirus.
A new Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be set up to help pay people’s wages. Employers will be able to contact HMRC for a grant to cover most of the wages of their workforce who remain on payroll but are temporarily not working during the coronavirus outbreak. Any employer in the country- small or large, charitable or non-profit will be eligible for the scheme.
Universal Credit and tax credits will also be increased as part of an almost £7 billion welfare boost, as he outlined one of the most generous business and welfare packages by any government so far in response to Covid-19.
To ease cash flow pressures for UK VAT registered businesses, VAT bills from now until the end of June, will be deferred until the end of the tax year.
The Chancellor’s workers’ support package means:
Image: Will Quince MP.
ABC Note, Will Quince, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Welfare Delivery kindly explained this in a special letter to the ABC.
For anyone seeking support from Universal Credit, or for anyone with any questions or concernsFor anyone seeking support from Universal Credit, or for anyone with any questions or concernssurrounding Universal Credit, please contact the Universal Credit Helpline: 0800 328 5644. You canalso find out more information about Universal Credit during these times, including how to apply,through the government website, Understanding Universal Credit, and its specialist coronaviruspage: https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/coronavirus/Some key information about benefits and coronavirus:- If you need to claim Universal Credit or Employment Support Allowance (ESA) because of coronavirus, you will not be required to produce a Fit Note.
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HMRC are working night and day to get the unprecedented Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme up and running and we expect the first grants to be paid within weeks.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said:
We continue to do everything possible to protect the public from coronavirus. We have been working round the clock so that we can today confirm an unprecedented package of support to protect people’s jobs and wages. And we’re strengthening our safety net at the same time.
I said we would help individuals, businesses and the most vulnerable through this outbreak and I meant it. We will do whatever it takes in the weeks and months ahead.
Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey said:
We will do whatever it takes to protect the most vulnerable and get them through these unprecedented times, and the changes we are making to Universal Credit will help millions of people in most need.
We are standing by those who rely on the welfare safety net as we work towards turning the tide on this disease and moving on together.
Image: Alok Sharma.
Business Secretary, Alok Sharma, said:
We have committed to doing whatever it takes to support businesses and households through these unprecedented times, and today shows just how far we are willing to go.
This intervention is unheard of in peacetime, but it is crucial we stand behind our businesses and those that rely on them for work and income.
All measures announced today across the business and welfare package are UK-wide.
In order to help delay the spread of Coronavirus, the Government has instructed entertainment and hospitality businesses including pubs, bars and restaurants to close from tonight.
This follows expert advice that more needs to be done in order tackle the spread of infection - following the call to action to isolate or socially distance. The measure, set to be reviewed on a monthly basis, will not affect supermarkets or retailers that supply fuel, medicines and other vital goods, which will continue to be open as normal for the public.
The following businesses have been asked to close:
This measure will not impact the relaxation of planning rules announced earlier this week which will allow pubs and restaurants to operate as hot food takeaways during the coronavirus outbreak.
The decision on closures will be reviewed on a monthly basis, and are being implemented across the whole of the UK in agreement with the devolved administrations. If needed, the government will enforce these measures by law.
Image: Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP.
Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:
We will do whatever it takes to protect people across this country as we tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
While people have responded well to calls for social distancing and self-isolation, we must go further if we are to be able to stop the spread of the virus and protect the most vulnerable people in our society, and our NHS.
That is why we are now telling entertainment and hospitality premises to close temporarily, and people to only travel if absolutely essential, to help protect each other from the further spread of the virus.
We stand behind businesses and their employees and are offering an unprecedented range of support as we tackle this huge challenge together.
More information about the measures announced for businesses by the Chancellor can be found here.
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