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New DWP guidance on ESA and coronavirus
Is anyone clear about whether vulnerable people who are strongly advised to ‘socially distance’ themselves or extremely vulnerable people who are supposed to ‘shield and protect’ themselves are covered by these rules. I think not and they seem to be in a confused space in respect of both employment rights and benefits.
I think they are covered. The guidance refers to people who have been advised to self-isolate, and Decision makers are referred to the government’s website listing people who are vulnerable as being advised to self-isolate. So it seems to me that if someone has diabetes, a chest condition, a heart condition ... then they have already been advised to self-isolate and they are covered.
I think they are covered. The guidance refers to people who have been advised to self-isolate, and Decision makers are referred to the government’s website listing people who are vulnerable as being advised to self-isolate. So it seems to me that if someone has diabetes, a chest condition, a heart condition ... then they have already been advised to self-isolate and they are covered.
I’m still not so sure….those Age 70+ or with underlying conditions are not included under the self-isolation guidance they are under social distancing https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults
I can’t see anything that uses the words self-isolate in terms of this group.
Yes I may have been too optimistic here. When I read it again it did seem more limiting. But it would seem perverse to put a vulnerable group in a situation where they are denied benefits if they do the sensible thing and are perhaps forced into work
Yes maybe I was too generous in my interpretation of advised to here. But it would seem perverse to deny a vulnerable group benefits and therefore pressurizevthem into continuing to work.
So the ADM 02/20 only refers to self-employed who have LCW being exempt from MIF.
But Neil Couling’s letter of 23 Mar says the MIF is suspended for ‘all self-employed claimants affected by the economic impact of COVID19’.
So is the ADM wrong?
See this discussion:
https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/15754/#74902
I think Victoria was right. I am now really worried about the group of people who are at high risk if they develop the disease but have only been advised to be extra careful in their social distancing (whatever that means - which parts do the rest of us not have to be so careful about?) As I now read it, this is going to leave a lot of people who are at serious risk (say with COPD) unable to self-isolate and claim ESA (unless they think they have actually caught the virus). What do others think?
If they have pre-existing conditions, then presumably fit notes could be issued on the basis of those conditions. If someone has COPD etc which wouldn’t normally keep them out of work but, given the prevailing conditions, they have now been advised that any work (or leaving the house at all) could amount to a risk to their health, I don’t see what’s to stop the GP just issuing a fit note which says as much.
I don’t see what’s to stop the GP just issuing a fit note which says as much.
I’ve not revisited the guidance but I thought the Isolation Notes covered this.
I think it only covers people who have been advised to self-isolate because they either have symptoms or live with someone who does.