Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps to extend the NHS and Social Care Life Assurance Scheme 2020 to include support for (a) NHS and (b) social care staff who have (i) a long-term disability due to a covid-19 infection and (ii) Long Covid.

Answered by Will Quince

The NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme provided financial security to the families of frontline National Health Service and social care staff who died from COVID-19 contracted in the course of performing their duties. While the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme closed to new claims on 31 March 2022, it will remain open until 31 March 2023 to allow for outstanding claims which occurred whilst the Scheme was open. Financial and welfare support is available to support those affected by chronic healthcare conditions and who are unable to work.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2020 to Question 70487, how many and what proportion of claims to the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme have been successful (a) in 2020, (b) in 2021 and (c) to date.

Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

In 2020, there were 280 claims to the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme. Of these, 242 were successful. Two cases had been rejected as they did not meet the eligibility criteria for the scheme, and the remainder were under consideration.

In 2021, there have been 342 new claims to the Scheme to 21 July when the latest data was released. Of these, 279 have been successful. As of 21 July 2021, there have been 622 claims to the Scheme. Of these, 521 claims have been successful. These figures are inclusive of claims received and accepted in 2020. Eight cases have been rejected and the remainder are under consideration.