Thursday 07 Jan 2021 @ 10:10
Department for Work and Pensions
Printable version

Jobcentre guidance on new national COVID restrictions

On 4 January 2021, the Prime Minister announced that the government will be introducing new national COVID-19 measures in England to protect the NHS and save lives.

This means from 5 January 2021 until further notice, the following updated jobcentre guidance will apply to customers in England, and will ensure essential support is provided whilst keeping colleagues and customers safe.

  • Jobcentres will remain open, as they have throughout this pandemic, to provide essential services and support to those who we cannot help in any other way.
  • We will ensure that this support continues to be delivered in line with the latest government and PHE guidance – such as maintaining social distancing and rigorous cleaning regimes - keeping our colleagues and customers safe.
  • Work Coaches will be empowered to support customers through the best and most appropriate channels - whether online, by phone, or in person - with jobcentres remaining open to help those who need extra support and are unable to interact with us on the phone or digitally.
  • Our Work Coaches will continue to deliver employment support programmes such as the Job Entry Targeted Support (JETs) scheme, by phone or through online channels.
  • Face-to-face assessments for disability benefits remain suspended.
  • If you think you might be entitled to a health and disability benefit, you should contact us as soon as possible to make a claim in the usual way.
  • For existing customers, payments will continue as normal. Anyone who has a change in their needs should contact us immediately so we can ensure they are receiving the correct level of support.

On 3 November 2020, we also confirmed that the suspension of the Minimum Income Floor for self-employed customers claiming Universal Credit in England, Scotland, and Wales has been extended to the end of April 2021. This means that self-employed customers on Universal Credit will receive a payment that reflects their earnings at this difficult time.

For Scotland:

On 4 January 2021, the Scottish Government announced they are moving to level five - the highest of their COVID tiered system. The jobcentre guidance in place for England above will therefore also apply to jobcentres and customers in Scotland.

For Wales:

On 28 December 2020, Wales moved into alert level four – the highest of their COVID tiered system. The jobcentre guidance in place for England above will therefore also apply to jobcentres and customers in Wales.

For Northern Ireland:

Please contact the Department for Communities for more information on measures introduced in Northern Ireland - 028 9082 9000.

Contact Press Office

Media enquiries for this press release – 020 3267 5144

Press Office

Caxton House
Tothill Street
London
SW1H 9NA

London Press Office (national media and London area enquiries only – not questions about personal claims) 020 3267 5144

Out-of-hours (journalists only) 07623 928 975

England and Wales (local media enquiries) 029 20 586 then 097 or 098 or 099

Scotland (local media enquiries) 0131 310 1122

Follow DWP on:

 

Channel website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions

Original article link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jobcentre-guidance-on-new-national-covid-restrictions-1

Share this article

Latest News from
Department for Work and Pensions

Back to work boost as quarter of a million workplace training places delivered

17/04/2024 15:10:00

More than a quarter of a million workplace training places for benefit claimants have been delivered in just three years, new data reveals.

£1.5 Million investment to improve in-work health services as part of government drive to tackle inactivity

15/04/2024 12:10:00

Reforms to occupational health services will be shaped through a £1.5m innovation fund, as the government continues its drive to tackle in work sickness and boost economic activity using new technology and artificial intelligence.

Working parents on Universal Credit set receive up to £20,872 a year in childcare support

10/04/2024 16:20:00

Parents on Universal Credit can now receive up to £1,311 more a year in childcare support following a 6.7% boost coming into effect, as the government’s expansion of free childcare for working parents delivers 150,000 places in a week.

Fraudsters behind £53.9 million benefits scam brought to justice in country’s largest benefit fraud case

10/04/2024 14:15:00

A group who stole over £50 million of taxpayers’ money has been brought to justice in the largest ever benefit fraud case in England and Wales.

Government reaffirms commitment to backing pensioners with £900 rise to state pension

10/04/2024 10:10:10

The State Pension is increasing by 8.5 percent as part of the Government’s commitment to support pensioners in retirement.

Half a million more benefit claimants set to benefit from back to work support as Universal Credit expands

10/04/2024 09:20:00

Half a million people claiming old benefits will be invited to claim Universal Credit, unlocking all the work support it offers.

New guide published to help businesses boost disabled people’s prospects at work

09/04/2024 12:20:00

A new Disability Confident guide for managers helping them recruit, retain, and foster the progression of disabled people and those with health conditions in the workplace has been published today by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

£5 billion in support for energy bills paid this Winter

05/04/2024 15:25:00

An estimated £5 billion in support has been paid throughout Winter to help families with energy costs.

New laws to cut migration and put British workers first in force

05/04/2024 12:12:00

Changes that are now in force will slash migration and prevent the undercutting of British workers by employers looking to recruit cheap labour from overseas.