Government must do more to protect vulnerable people and low-income families during the coronavirus pandemic, says Citizens Advice

Charity calls for SSP to be increased, suspension of the minimum income floor, and extension of cold weather payments

The government must do more to protect vulnerable people and low-income families during the coronavirus pandemic, Citizens Advice has said.

Warning that many households will face higher energy bills and other essential costs as a consequence of having to self-isolate or stay at home to look after dependants, Citizens Advice calls for a range of temporary emergency measures to be brought in to protect the most vulnerable during the coronavirus outbreak, including - 

• sick pay - legislating to provide statutory sick pay (SSP) at 80 per cent of their wage for people earning less than the lower earnings limit, and temporarily increasing SSP and the level of benefits to support people facing sustained drops in income;
• universal credit - suspending the Minimum Income Floor (MIF) for all self-employed people, making advance payments a grant for those making new claims and advised to self-isolate, and making use of repayment pauses for benefit debt and third party deductions; and
• household bills - extending the existing cold weather payment to provide support for self-isolating households in receipt of universal credit or legacy benefits.

Commenting on the proposed measures, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Gillian Guy said - 

'The government has made it clear that it will do everything in its power to support the public health response to this virus, but financial protections are crucial to ensure people can follow guidance to self-isolate.

Millions of families across the country are already balanced on a financial cliff edge. Their biggest worry right now is that the knock-on effects of the coronavirus could send them tumbling over, with missed bills and rent arrears.

No one should fear being pushed into poverty if they fall ill or need to self-isolate. Yet without further emergency measures to protect society’s most vulnerable, this will be the reality for millions of people.'

NB - Citizens Advice Scotland is also calling for an increase in the Scottish Welfare Fund to protect people in poverty from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

For more information see Citizens Advice calls for emergency measures to protect people being pushed into poverty by Covid-19 from citizensadvice.org.uk