Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the financial effect on key workers who have had to self isolate on multiple occasions during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government has committed to an unprecedented package to support individuals, including key workers, through this difficult time. This includes the introduction of the Coronavirus Job Retention and Self-Employment Income Support Schemes, as well as through injecting an additional £8bn into the welfare system.

The Government has extended Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) so that employees can claim if they are required to self-isolate, including on multiple occasions, and the Government has changed the rules so that SSP is payable from day one rather than day four.

Many employees will be eligible for more than SSP. More than half of employees receive more than the statutory minimum when they are off sick, and the changes to SSP have been made in parallel with increases in the generosity of the welfare system to support the most vulnerable, including a £20 increase to the Universal Credit standard allowance.