If you are an employee, you must tell your employer as soon as possible if you are showing signs of Coronavirus or someone you live with has symptoms of the disease.
Your employer will be able to inform you if you are covered by their sick leave policy. If you are, you may be asked to furnish them with an isolation note that proves you cannot work due to Coronavirus symptoms. You can obtain an isolation note from NHS 111 online in England, NHS inform in Scotland, NHS Direct in Wales and from the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland.
If you do not qualify for sick pay from your employer, you may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for every day you are in isolation. You must self-isolate for at least 4 days to be eligible.
You may be eligible for Universal Credit if you cannot get Statutory Sick Pay, for example if you are self-employed or earning below the Lower Earnings Limit of £118 per week. You can request an advance payment of Universal Credit if you do not have enough money to live on whilst waiting for your payment.
You might also be able to:
- apply online for the 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.
