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, if he will publish details the eligibility guidelines for the new death in service benefit for NHS staff.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government launched the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance scheme on 20 May 2020. The scheme is non-contributory and pays a £60,000 lump sum where frontline National Health Service 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.
NHS staff are eligible, providing that they meet the scheme eligibility criteria; that they were exposed to a high risk of contracting COVID-19, in circumstances where they could not reasonably avoid that risk because of the nature and location of their work. Further detail on the scheme, including more information on the eligibility criteria and the full scheme rules, has been published on the NHS Business Services Authority’s website.
Staff who are members of the NHS Pension Scheme may also qualify for additional benefits through their pension.
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, by what date the first payments will be made from the new death in service benefit.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government launched the NHS 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 National Health Service 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.
The scheme is time-limited and will remain open whilst Section 45 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 remains in effect. Deaths which occurred before the announcement of the scheme will also be considered.
Where a death falls within the scheme, payment will be made within 30 days of the claimant providing a certified claim for and supporting documentation to the scheme administrator.
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, what the qualifying criteria will be for NHS staff to receive death in service benefit.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government launched the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance scheme on 20 May 2020. The scheme is non-contributory and pays a £60,000 lump sum where frontline National Health Service 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.
NHS staff are eligible, providing that they meet the scheme eligibility criteria; that they were exposed to a high risk of contracting COVID-19, in circumstances where they could not reasonably avoid that risk because of the nature and location of their work. Further detail on the scheme, including more information on the eligibility criteria and the full scheme rules, has been published on the NHS Business Services Authority’s website.
Staff who are members of the NHS Pension Scheme may also qualify for additional benefits through their pension.
Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS employees' families have accessed the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance (England) Scheme 2020 opened on 20 May 2020. As of 11 June 2020, the scheme administrator has received 62 queries from families and employers. Four claim forms have so far been submitted.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the potential extension of the covid-19 life assurance scheme to include the families of transport workers who die from covid-19 in the course of their employment, (a) what assessment he has made of the costs of extending that scheme and (b) by what date the decision on that extension will be made.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced on 27th April a life assurance scheme where families of eligible NHS and care workers, who die from coronavirus in the course of their frontline work, will receive a £60,000 payment.
Payments in respect of transport workers who die from Covid-19, or for any other reason, vary depending on the terms of death in service benefits of each person, with specific arrangements varying across modes and employers. For example, many members of the Railways Pension Scheme may have a death in service benefit of four times their final average pay.
Support provided in respect of key workers on the frontline will continue to be reviewed across government.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the potential extension of the covid-19 life assurance scheme to include the families of transport workers who die from covid-19 in the course of their employment, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Health and Social Care on that matter; and which Minister has responsibility for taking that decision.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced on 27th April a life assurance scheme where families of eligible NHS and care workers, who die from coronavirus in the course of their frontline work, will receive a £60,000 payment.
Payments in respect of transport workers who die from Covid-19, or for any other reason, vary depending on the terms of death in service benefits of each person, with specific arrangements varying across modes and employers. For example, many members of the Railways Pension Scheme may have a death in service benefit of four times their final average pay.
Support provided in respect of key workers on the frontline will continue to be reviewed across government.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether employees who currently work for social care providers who receive no public funding will be eligible to receive the Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme Death in Service payments.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government launched the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance scheme on 20 May 2020. The scheme is non-contributory and pays a £60,000 lump sum where 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.
Care workers are eligible, providing that their work requires them to be present in frontline settings where COVID-19 is present. Employees of all care homes registered by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) are eligible, regardless of how they are funded.
Any social care staff working in non-CQC registered settings are also eligible, if their employer receives public funding.
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, whether individual Trusts will be responsible for determining the (a) eligibility and (b) funding for the death in service benefit for NHS employees.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
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.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to extend the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020 to the families of all key workers who die from covid-19.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
On 27 April, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced a new Life Assurance scheme for frontline NHS and social care workers who die from coronavirus. This recognises the increased risks faced by these staff during the course of their essential and lifesaving work during the crisis, and the need to encourage retired doctors and nurses to fill staff shortages and boost service capacity.
It pays a £60,000 tax-free lump sum where staff die as a result of coronavirus and had been recently working in frontline roles and locations where personal care is provided to individuals who have contracted coronavirus.
The government will continue to review the support provided to key workers on the front-line.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on extending the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020 to the families of transport workers who die from covid-19.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced on 27th April a scheme where families of eligible NHS and care workers, who die from coronavirus in the course of their frontline work, will receive a £60,000 payment. The government will continue to review the support provided to key workers on the front-line.