DWP announces that there will be no requirement to attend jobcentre appointments for at least three months

However, jobcentres will remain open and will continue to support people who cannot go online or use the phone to make claims or get support

The DWP has announced that there will be no requirement to attend jobcentre appointments for at least three months starting from Thursday 19 March 2020.

In guidance updated today, the DWP says that - 

• people receiving benefits do not have to attend jobcentre appointments for at least three months, starting from Thursday 19 March 2020;
• people will continue to receive their benefits as normal, but all requirements to attend the jobcentre in person are suspended;
• jobcentres remain open, and will continue to support people who are not able to use phones and online, including homeless people; and
• people can still make applications for benefits online if they are eligible.

The updated guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19) support for employees, benefit claimants and businesses is available from gov.uk

Stop press (15 April 2020) - Work and Pensions Minister Mims Davies has updated a holding answer that she gave to a written question on 19 March 2020 to confirm that face-to-face checks for universal credit advances have been removed for people self-isolating due to coronavirus, and that advances are available online or via the phone.