UK coronavirus help and your rights - MSE News

SamsV

Hi, wondering if anyone can help regarding storage firms? I rented a unit in the hope emptying some rooms to rent out as my income was low. Meanwhile, as I emptied the rooms the lockdown came in. I would have thought this means I cannot go to my units as this would not be categorised as essential travel? Of course, even if I could & I emptied the room into the storage unit I could not take on a new tenants during such times. So basically, I am paying quite a high rent for a storage unit I cannot make use of whilst having a room which I will not be able to rent during the pandemic. Meanwhile, I have lost my work due to the pandemic. So I'm just haemorrhaging money to the storage company. I asked them about it and they said the government has said they can stay open, as for example there are medical companies which need to use storage facilities. When I explained I am an individual and clearly not such a company their reply was it's not for them to say whether my travelling to the storage company is essential travel, it is for me to decide, but if I do decide to use it, it will be accessible to me. This way they are clearing their hands of any wrong doing, whilst forming an excuse not to help me out of my predicament (and in my opinion very irresponsibly encourage people to break the travel restrictions). Lastly, I am on a 1 year contract. I'm really stuck with this and it is hitting me financially very badly, particularly when I have no income coming in. PLEASE, ANY ADVICE OR POINTERS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

amyjanebacon

I am looking for some advice please. My partner  left his previous employer on Friday 6th March and started work with his new employer on Monday 9th March. Based on the guidance set from the government he isnt entitled to the furlough payment from his new empoyer but is entitled fromhis old employer (as he was working for him on 28th Feb 2020)
The problem we are facing is that his previous employer was only a very small business with him being the only employee on the pay roll. We have approached the previous employer and have been told because of this, there is no possible way for him to go back on to a pay roll that doesnt exist anymore. We as a family are going to be down £2000 a month and it seems really unfair there is nothing to help us in this loop hole. Your advice and guidance would be hugely appreciated.

Regards

zantos

People are getting letters from their GP if they are elderly, to theoretically give them preference on home deliveries, and advised to register on the government website to achieve this. All very well and good BUT the government website makes no allowance for being elderly - you have to answer that you have a disability of some kind to proceed; so what is the point of saying the "elderly" and those with certain conditions are given preference for home deliveries?

pullarc

Two questions:
1) I’ve been paying extra pension contributions every month using a salary sacrifice scheme. I’ve been furloughed by my employer and have been told that these pension contributions will not be counted as part of my salary when calculating the 80% furlough payment. 

2) My contract of employment is for 4 days/week but for the last 4 months I have usually worked 5 days/week. I’ve been told that this will not be taken into account for the furlough payment. 

Any advice would be appreciated. 

sassy1961

I initially had 14 day isolation note from the nhs , I know this must be paid as SSP only for the 14 days I am not contesting this .I then asked my employer to furlough me after these 14 days was over as I am in the very vulnerable category . They had just started to furlough half of the workforce at this time .I was waiting for my shielding letter and the company said once I had the letter to let them see it as proof even though they know my ongoing medical condition .This took a further 2 weeks to arrive due to the nhs backlog .I emailed it to them straight away on the day of its arrival. They have now refused to furlough me and said I can only have the SSP of £95 a week and they won’t apply for the government scheme for me so I receive 80% of my wage.I feel like I am following government instructions that I must shield and I am being punished and singled out by having to accept SSP of £95 a week.

If no one else in the company was put on furlough then we could understand this but not when half already are. I know it’s a company decision who they put on furlough but how can they choose to exclude me from the scheme ? 

calcotti

sassy1961 said:

I initially had 14 day isolation note from the nhs , I know this must be paid as SSP only for the 14 days I am not contesting this .I then asked my employer to furlough me after these 14 days was over as I am in the very vulnerable category . They had just started to furlough half of the workforce at this time .I was waiting for my shielding letter and the company said once I had the letter to let them see it as proof even though they know my ongoing medical condition .This took a further 2 weeks to arrive due to the nhs backlog .I emailed it to them straight away on the day of its arrival. They have now refused to furlough me and said I can only have the SSP of £95 a week and they won’t apply for the government scheme for me so I receive 80% of my wage.I feel like I am following government instructions that I must shield and I am being punished and singled out by having to accept SSP of £95 a week.

If no one else in the company was put on furlough then we could understand this but not when half already are. I know it’s a company decision who they put on furlough but how can they choose to exclude me from the scheme ? 

In choosing who to furlough they have to follow normal discrimination rules so possible they are acting in a discriminatory fashion. You might wish to point out to them that if they furlough you they can recover the cost from the government whereas if you are paid SSP they have to pay that themselves. It is cheaper for them to furlough you.

unforeseen

However from the company point of view they can pull people off furlough and back into work with little notice. They cannot do that for you. 
Although the rules to say people who are shielding can be put on furlough, from the employer POV they are not manpower that can be used if needed

BeeTee23

Wondering if you could help. 
I am a teacher who is on a fixed term contract to leave on the 15th May. I have had no luck with anywhere job wise (would have been doing supply without covid) and now have been told I am not eligible to rehire and furlough.
After reading through the guidance I thought I was perfectly intitled to support.
Any advice?  

musicdiddy

I am one of the people in the high risk category of catching Covid-19 and have been told by my doctor in no uncertain terms to stay at home.However I work in a care home and my employer has said that I will get paid SSP only if I self-isolate and I just wondered if I have any options to top up my income as I cannot exist on £95.85 per week.
Thanks

sharpe106

Look to see if are eligible for any other benefits.