I have been affected by Coronavirus, can I claim benefits?

If you’ve been affected by coronavirus, you might be able to claim benefits or get more money on your current benefits. 

This might be because you: 

• are self-isolating because you have coronavirus or symptoms of coronavirus – find out more about self-isolating on NHS Inform  

• are earning less than usual because you can’t go to work 
• are self-employed and earning less than usual 
• have lost your job or stopped being self-employed
• are self-isolating because the NHS told you that you’ve come into contact with someone who has coronavirus 
• got a letter from the NHS telling you to shield because you’re ‘extremely vulnerable’ – find out more about shielding on NHS Inform

Each benefit has different rules – what you can claim will depend on your situation.

If your employer has told you not to work, you might be able to keep getting paid. You should check if your employer can pay your wages and claim 80% back from the government.

If you’re not a UK citizen, you might still be able to claim benefits – check the rules for the benefit you want to apply for.

Although lots of people are applying for help due to coronavirus, it’s important that you still apply as soon as you can. Don’t be put off by longer waiting times.

If you need emergency help

If you need urgent help to pay for essentials like food, gas or electricity because of coronavirus, you could apply for a crisis grant from the Scottish Welfare Fund.

The council will check your eligibility. They’re getting more money so they can pay out more grants from the Scottish Welfare Fund because of coronavirus.

Read more about crisis grants from the Scottish Welfare Fund.

Check if you can get Statutory Sick Pay

You might get statutory sick pay (SSP) if you’re following government guidance to self-isolate or you’re shielding.

You could get SSP if:

• you have coronavirus or symptoms of coronavirus 
• someone you live with has coronavirus or symptoms of coronavirus
• you’re self-isolating because you’ve been told by the NHS that you’ve come into contact with someone who has coronavirus 
• the NHS has sent you a letter advising you to shield because you’re ‘extremely vulnerable’ – find out more about shielding on NHS inform

You can read the government guidance about self-isolating on NHS inform.

If you have a health condition but you’re not classed as extremely vulnerable, you can find out what to do if you’re worried about working.

Find out more about getting SSP.

If you’re self-employed or can’t get SSP 

You might be able to claim contribution-based or new-style Employment Support Allowance (ESA) if:

• you or your child think you have coronavirus or you’re recovering from it
• you or your child are self-isolating because you came into contact with someone who might have coronavirus
• the NHS sent you a letter advising you to shield because you’re ‘extremely vulnerable’ 

You’ll need to have paid or been credited with enough National Insurance contributions for 2 tax years – in 2020 the tax years are 2017-18 and 2018-19.

If you can get ESA, you’ll be paid from the first day you were sick or self-isolating.

Check if you can get ESA. 

If you’ve been employed in the past, you might have paid enough National Insurance contributions to get ‘new style’ Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). 

Check if you can get JSA.

If you’re struggling to pay your bills, you might be able to get extra help. 

If you’re already claiming benefits

You might be able to get more money if you’re earning less because of coronavirus. Check if the government has made any changes to your benefits.

Universal Credit is gradually replacing these benefits:

• Housing Benefit
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Income Support

You can usually stay on one of these benefits unless something about your situation has changed – this is called a ‘change of circumstance’. Not every change of circumstance means you need to claim Universal Credit.

Find out more about moving to Universal Credit from other benefits.

If you’re on Working Tax Credits

You’ll only get more money if your income drops by £2,500 or more across the tax year, which runs from April 6 to April 5. If you report your income will drop by this much and it doesn’t, you’ll have to pay back any extra money you got.

If you don’t think your income will drop by that much, you should check if you would get more money on Universal Credit. If you start claiming Universal Credit, you won’t be able to claim Working Tax Credits any more. It’s best to talk to an adviser about moving on to Universal Credit.

If you’ve not claimed benefits before 

You might be able to claim Universal Credit as well as SSP, ESA or JSA. You can still get Universal Credit if you’re self-employed.

If you’re newly self-employed, check if you can get help from the Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund.

You can still get Universal Credit if you’ve had a drop in your income but you’re still working. This includes if you’re on a zero-hours contract. 

Check if you can claim Universal Credit.

If you’re struggling to pay your bills, you might be able to get extra help.

Can’t find the answer to your question? Call our freephone number 0300 303 4321 or email us by filling in our online enquiry form.