Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government provides (a) financial and (b) other support to people who have been dismissed from their employment as a result of voluntary shielding during the covid-19 outbreak to protect a household member with underlying health conditions.

The Department for Work and Pensions does not hold the information requested.

There is a range of support, both financial and practical, available for people who are out of work, looking for work, including those who have been affected by the pandemic. This support is tailored to individuals’ circumstances, and can include includes benefits like Universal Credit, Job Seekers Allowance and Employment Support Allowance, employment schemes like The Work and Heath Programme and a range of support as part of the Plan for Jobs, and free debt advice in England through the Money and Pension Service.