Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken to ensure that clinically extremely vulnerable disabled workers who cannot work from home are furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme by their employers during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is available to all employers and employees providing they meet the eligibility criteria, and this includes the clinically extremely vulnerable and disabled workers.

In cases where their employer chooses not to furlough them under the CJRS and does not have other suitable policies in place (e.g. the ability to work from home, or the provision of special leave), Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is available as a safety net. Those who receive a notification that they need to shield from going to work if they cannot work from home, will be eligible for SSP from their employer, or new style Employment and Support Allowance, subject to the wider eligibility criteria. Individuals on low incomes may also be able to claim Universal Credit, depending on their personal circumstances.