Coronavirus (COVID-19): what to do if you’re employed and cannot work

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If your employer has no work for you to do (you’ve been put ‘on furlough’)
Your employer might be able to keep you on the payroll if they’re unable to operate and put you on temporary leave instead. This is known as being put ‘on furlough’.

Your employer could get a grant using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help them pay for some of your wages. Check if your employer can use it.

If your salary is reduced because of these changes, check if you’re eligible for Universal Credit.

Financial support if you cannot work because of coronavirus (COVID-19)
You must stay at home and self-isolate if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus symptoms or has tested positive for coronavirus
you’ve been notified by the NHS or public health authorities that you’ve been in contact with someone with coronavirus
someone in your linked household (or your ‘extended household’ if you live in Scotland or Wales) has symptoms or has tested positive for coronavirus
you’ve been advised by your doctor or health authority to shield because you’re at high risk of severe illness from coronavirus, for example as part of a local lockdown
you’ve been advised by a doctor or clinician to self-isolate before being admitted to hospital for surgery
Tell your employer that you have to self-isolate because of coronavirus (COVID-19).

If you can work from home
You should work from home if you can. Speak to your employer about working from home.

If you cannot work from home
You may be able to get Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from your employer for every day of work you miss because of coronavirus (COVID-19). Check if you are eligible for SSP.

If you’re off work for 7 or more days, your employer may ask you to provide proof that you are self-isolating because of coronavirus.

You may be able to get Universal Credit at the same time as SSP. Universal Credit includes extra money for children and for rent. If you get both Universal Credit and SSP, the amount of your Universal Credit may be reduced by the amount of your SSP.

If you’re not eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
You can apply online for Universal Credit if you cannot get SSP.

You might also be able to:

apply online for New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance
apply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance, if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work
You might also be able to get New Style Employment and Support Allowance if one of the following applies to you or your child, now or some time in the past:

you’re at high risk because you have an underlying health condition (shielding)
you’re self-isolating because you have symptoms of coronavirus
you’re self-isolating because you came into contact with someone who has symptoms of coronavirus, or you were told to self-isolate by a test and trace service
Interviews and assessments will be done by telephone. You should not go to a Jobcentre Plus unless asked to do so for an exceptional purpose, for example to collect your Payment Exception Service vouchers.

Processing your application
Because of coronavirus (COVID-19), it might take longer than usual to process your application and answer questions about it. We apologise for these delays – we know this is a difficult time.

Advance payments
If you do not have enough money to live on while you wait for your first Universal Credit payment you can ask for an advance payment.

Published 8 April 2020
Last updated 1 September 2020 + show all updates

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavi...nd-cannot-work