Tynwald has approved measures around sick pay to support businesses and people having to self-isolate.
The motion brought forward by Treasury Minister, Alf Cannan MHK, to approve the Coronavirus Sick Pay Compensation Scheme 2020 was approved by the court today.
It means employers who have to make a sick pay payment to an employee who is having to self-isolate will be entitled to compensation of £20 a day for up to 10 working days, for each employee.
People will now be able to self-certify as sick for 2 weeks, as opposed to the current 7 days.
Lone parents claiming Income Support will be able to continue to do so until their youngest child reaches age 12 - until recently, this was due to reduce to age 6 from 2 April 2020, this postponement will apply for 26 weeks.
Anyone claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance will not be required to attend in person at a Social Security office to claim their benefit. Instead, applications can be submitted by post. They will also be temporarily excused from the requirements to sign-on in person at a social security office, usually once a fortnight.
Workers who are not incapacitated for work and are not self-isolating, but are prevented from attending work and unable to earn a wage, will be able to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance.
Meanwhile, another motion was also given the green light to allow those going into quarantine to be able to claim short-term incapacity benefit from the first day they're out of work.
The plans are aiming to address the financial burden which could be put on companies and people ihaving to take the time off so they can following health guidelines over COVID-19.
