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Written Question
NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020
Thursday 8th December 2022

Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)

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.


Written Question
NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020
Friday 30th July 2021

Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)

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.


Written Question
NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020
Friday 5th March 2021

Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of claims received by the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme were made by (a) healthcare and (b) social care workers; and if he will publish a breakdown of claims by occupation.

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

The latest data for the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme (England) was released on 23 February, with 354 claims to the Scheme having been received in total. Of these, 209 have come from the National Health Service, 138 from social care and seven are of an unknown employment type. The NHS Business Services Authority has requested further information from the claimant in these cases. Further information on claims by occupation is not available.


Written Question
NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020
Monday 15th February 2021

Asked by: Baroness Sherlock (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bethell on 24 November 2020 (HL9950), how many claims the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme has received; how many payments have been made by that Scheme; and what was the total value of those payments.

Answered by Lord Bethell

As of 27 January, the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme (England) has received 307 claims, of which 268 have been accepted. Payment has been made for 175 of these claims, with a further 92 accepted for payment pending proof of probate from the claimant and one case in the course of payment. Two cases have not been accepted and the remainder are going through the stages of being processed and assessed. The total value of accepted claims is £16,080,000.


Written Question
NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020
Friday 5th February 2021

Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)

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 28 January 2021 to Question 140829 on NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020, how many of the 261 accepted claims have been paid.

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

The latest data for the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme (England) was released on 27 January, with 268 claims to the Scheme having been accepted. Payment has been made for 175 of these claims, with a further 92 accepted for payment pending proof of probate from the claimant, and one case in the course of payment.


Written Question
NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020
Thursday 4th February 2021

Asked by: Baroness Sherlock (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial support is available to the estates of deceased frontline workers who are not eligible for the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme.

Answered by Lord Bethell

The NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme provides a safety net for the families of National Health Service and social care staff who have no life insurance cover provided by their employer or a pension scheme. For those who do, it provides an extra level of financial protection in addition to death in service benefits they have bought though their pension scheme.

NHS staff receive good quality death in service benefits through the NHS Pension Scheme, providing a lump sum and survivor pensions for a partner and dependents for qualifying members. NHS staff who claim their pension are guaranteed five years’ worth of pension payments plus ongoing survivor pensions. Around 90% of NHS staff participate in the scheme.

The ‘What to do when someone dies’ online resource provides a step by step guide on what to do after a death, including how to manage financial issues. This guide covers the financial support available to help with paying for a funeral and how to check entitlement to bereavement benefits. For those in receipt of income related benefits or tax credits, the Department for Work and Pensions Funeral Expense Payments scheme can offer a significant contribution to the cost of a funeral. Also, the Bereavement Support Payment provides short-term financial support to working age people whose deceased spouse or civil partner has paid sufficient National Insurance contributions. It is intended to help with the immediate costs of bereavement and can be paid to both widows and widowers.


Written Question
NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020
Wednesday 3rd February 2021

Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)

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 28 January 2021 to Question 140829 on the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme, how many applicants have received payments through that scheme to date.

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

As of 27 January, the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme (England) has received 307 claims, of which 268 have been accepted. Payment has been made for 175 of these claims, with a further 92 accepted for payment pending proof of probate from the claimant, and one case in the course of payment. Two cases have not been accepted and the rest are under consideration.


Written Question
NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020
Thursday 28th January 2021

Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of applications made under the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance scheme have been accepted since its introduction.

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

As of 20 January, 295 claims have been received in England. 261 claims have been accepted for payment and 32 are going through the stages of being processed and assessed. Two claims have been declined as the eligibility criteria was not met.


Written Question
NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020
Tuesday 15th December 2020

Asked by: Jonathan Reynolds (Labour (Co-op) - Stalybridge and Hyde)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many applications have been (a) made to and (b) accepted by the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme to date.

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

As of 9 December, 268 claims have been received in England. 228 claims have been accepted for payment and the remainder are going through the stages of being processed and assessed.


Written Question
NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020
Tuesday 24th November 2020

Asked by: Baroness Sherlock (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applications have been (1) made to, and (2) accepted by, the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme.

Answered by Lord Bethell

As of 4 November, the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme (England) has received 236 claims. Payment has been made for 96 of those claims. A further 109 have been accepted for payment pending proof of probate from the claimant, and the remainder are going through the stages of being processed and assessed. The total value of accepted claims is £12,300,000.