Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Disability

(asked on 6th January 2021) - View Source

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what additional financial support is being made available for workers living with disabilities who have been furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.


Answered by
Jesse Norman Portrait
Jesse Norman
This question was answered on 11th January 2021

Individuals living with disabilities will benefit from the substantial financial support provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), which has been extended until the end of April 2021. It is up to the employer to make the best decision for their organisation and their employees about whether to furlough staff. Standard discrimination law applies: an employer cannot decide who should be furloughed based on any protected characteristic. However, if people with a protected characteristic disproportionately request furlough, it is acceptable that furloughs would be disproportionately weighted towards that group. It is acceptable – indeed encouraged – to consult on the process with employees.

The Government recognises the challenges presented by COVID-19 for all those who are living with a disability and are Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV). CEV individuals can access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), both of which can both be claimed during lockdown.

The Government’s support package during the pandemic sits alongside a substantial set of welfare support for individuals with disabilities. The Government will spend over £55 billion in 2020/21 on benefits to support disabled people and people with health conditions. The Personal Independence Payment remains the primary means of support to help with some of the extra cost of long-term ill-health or disability. Universal Credit and new style Employment and Support Allowance are available for those who have a disability or health condition that may affect how much they can work.

The Government has implemented a range of measures to make access to disability benefits easier and to protect existing claimants during the current situation. This includes temporarily suspending face to face assessments.

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