Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether individual Trusts will be responsible for determining the (a) eligibility and (b) funding for the death in service benefit for NHS employees.

The Government launched the National Health Service and social care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme on 20 May 2020 and applications could be made from that date. The scheme is non-contributory and pays a £60,000 lump sum where frontline NHS and social staff who had been recently working where personal care is provided to individuals who have contracted COVID-19 die as a result of the virus.

Employers are asked to tell their employees about the scheme and distribute communication materials provided by the scheme administrator; the NHS Business Services Authority. If employers become aware of a death where there may be eligibility for a claim, they should contact the next of kin to explain the scheme to them and the process to be followed if a claim is appropriate.

It is for the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to decide if a claim satisfies the eligibility criteria. The employer provides information to inform the decision but has no role in the decision-making process.

Funding for the scheme is provided by HM Treasury.