• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Concern people whose loved ones died on front line face choice between benefits or compensation

“It is utterly shameful that bereaved families of NHS and care workers face losing access to benefits if they receive a payment from the Covid-19 compensation scheme."

Joe Mellor by Joe Mellor
2020-08-21 14:45
in News
Credit;PA

Credit;PA

FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Families who lost loved ones to Covid-19 while they were working on the front line could be stripped of their social security payments, it has been claimed.

Under the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme, a £60,000 lump sum given to relatives of workers who die after contracting coronavirus is being treated as capital in means-tested benefits.

This means that, under current rules, a family entitled to Universal Credit, Housing Benefit or Pension Credit would lose their entitlement.

Labour has warned ministers that families are having to choose between losing access to benefits or receiving a compensation payment.

The party has called for such payments to be disregarded in the same way as other schemes such as the Windrush Compensation Scheme, or for those who hold a Victoria or George Cross.

Universal Credit

It has also previously requested that the £16,000 upper capital limit is removed during the pandemic, with a rise in Universal Credit claims.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Reynolds said families must be allowed to grieve with the full support they are right to expect.

RelatedPosts

UK ministers defend asylum seeker plans after UN criticism as ‘hundreds’ likely to be sent to Rwanda each year

Furious residents taken to streets to protest plans to house asylum seekers in village

Hung out to dry? Legal expert questions ‘odd’ fines for junior staff while PM escapes

Watch: Reactions to George Bush’s ultimate Freudian slip over Iraq war

“Health and social care workers are putting their lives on the line to care for coronavirus patients, often without the proper equipment, and many have sadly lost their lives as a result,” he said.

“The Government was right to say we must honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

“So it is shocking that families are being forced to choose between accessing social security they are entitled to or the compensation they need.

“This must change so that families can grieve in peace with the full support they have every right to expect.”

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran said: “It is utterly shameful that bereaved families of NHS and care workers face losing access to benefits if they receive a payment from the Covid-19 compensation scheme.

“This scheme was set up to provide financial security and comfort to the loved ones of those who tragically died on the front line against coronavirus.

“This exercise in penny-pinching is completely tone deaf and risks rubbing salt in the wounds of grieving families. The Government must scrap this senseless rule immediately.”

Makes no sense

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis added: “Taking away the income of families in need makes no sense.

“These payments are meant to provide financial security when it’s needed most, not an excuse to make savings elsewhere.

“Ministers must fix this to ensure the loved ones of health and care workers who lost their lives are provided for properly.”

A Government spokesman said: “The death of any healthcare worker is a tragedy.

“Since it began in May, the life assurance scheme has already provided additional financial security to families of frontline NHS and social care workers in England who have died due to coronavirus.

“It has always been one of the central principles of Universal Credit that decisions on awarding the benefit should take into account individuals’ existing ability to meet their basic needs, so that we maintain our focus on supporting families in most need.”

Related – Boris camping on edge of a cliff the “perfect metaphor for where he has taken the country”

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

Unemployment falls in Germany as Britain at risk of ‘serious’ economic hit from no-deal Brexit

Boris Johnson depicted as criminal in giant Parliament projection

Protester denies racially abusing journalist during “Free Tommy Robinson” rally

Barnier: Tory ‘quarrels and betrayals’ determined Britain’s post-Brexit fate

This is the car park wealthy collectors pay to hide their beloved cars

Why do chefs hate waiters?

Proof that in January ‘16, the British public “could not care less about Brexit and the EU referendum”

Impact of Russian media and ‘troll’ accounts on Brexit vote ‘not fully assessed’

Police probe fatal shooting of London passenger of crashed car in broad daylight

BREAKING: European Movement ‘on battle stations for the next election’

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.