Coronavirus: Universal Credit and benefits claimants urged to contact job centres if they are unable to work
BRITS on Universal Credit who have to self-isolate over coronavirus are being urged to contact job centres so they don't get sanctioned.
The six-in-one benefits system requires individuals to complete a certain number of hours of work, attend meetings or search for a job in order to receive welfare support.
A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesperson said: "Our staff are ready to support people who are impacted - we urge them to contact us by phone, or their work coach via their online journal, to explain their situation.
"Anyone not eligible to receive sick pay is able to claim Universal Credit and/or contributory Employment and Support Allowance."
The warning came as:
40 cases of coronavirus have now been confirmed in Britain - including at least one who caught the disease in Britain
Thirty-five schools are now on lockdown amid pandemic fears
Rugby has already been hit by the postponement of next week’s Six Nations clash between Ireland and virus-plagued Italy
Millions could be told to work from home to stop it spreading further in emergency plans under consideration
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development slashed the 2020 global growth forecast by 0.5 per cent over the outbreak
New chancellor Rishi Sunak was warned his budget plans may be blown apart due to the coronavirus causing massive economic disruption
The EU warned the virus could cause huge disruption to the economy and society
Anyone on the flagship benefits system who needs to self-isolate or do fewer hours is urged to report it in their online journals.
Ministers have already said that anyone who has to stay at home due to the spread of the killer bug should be entitled to claim sick pay.
Brits who have returned from Wuhan, Iran, parts of Korea and Italy are told to self-isolate and stay at home if they have come back from there in the last 14 days.
GMB union demanded that the Government give everyone the right to normal pay during any period they have to self-isolate.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/110822...rs-job-centre/