Carer and furlough

Champsx6

Hi, my wife works Part time for a supermarket, she also cares for Her mother who has dementia and her sister who is mentally disabled. Since the lock down she has not been able to work because the day centre her sister attends has closed. My wife’s employer has told her the only thing they can do is allow her to take two weeks holiday and any other time off will be unpaid. Can anyone advise on this please! is this correct, surely as a Carer the company should furlough her?

Undervalued

Champsx6 said:

Hi, my wife works Part time for a supermarket, she also cares for Her mother who has dementia and her sister who is mentally disabled. Since the lock down she has not been able to work because the day centre her sister attends has closed. My wife’s employer has told her the only thing they can do is allow her to take two weeks holiday and any other time off will be unpaid. Can anyone advise on this please! is this correct, surely as a Carer the company should furlough her?

No.

The furlough scheme is primarily to protect businesses who are unable to trade at the moment. It is not an extension of the benefits system for individuals. It is totally up to businesses, if eligible, whether to use the scheme or not.

The supermarket is actually doing more than they are obliged to. They have allowed her to take paid holiday (they could have said no, not at the moment). Her legal right to "carers" leave is only short periods of unpaid leave, which normally means time to arrange care, not time to do it yourself for more than a day or two. So if they are allowing longer unpaid leave that is more than they are obliged to offer. 

Mrsn

As above.... the employer actually in this instance has been quiet fair considering the situation.

I appreciate that won’t be what you wanted to hear but it is correct.

whizzywoo

Champsx6 said:

Hi, my wife works Part time for a supermarket, she also cares for Her mother who has dementia and her sister who is mentally disabled. Since the lock down she has not been able to work because the day centre her sister attends has closed. My wife’s employer has told her the only thing they can do is allow her to take two weeks holiday and any other time off will be unpaid. Can anyone advise on this please! is this correct, surely as a Carer the company should furlough her?

Does your wife already claim Carer's Allowance?  She may be able to do this whilst not earning anything from her job.  You can only claim Carer's Allowance if you earn less than £128 per week.

Also the person being cared for must be receiving either Attendance Allowance or the Daily Living Component of PIP.
She must be caring at least 35 hours per week for the person.  This cannot be split between 2 people being cared for.

Also if she claims Carer's Allowance it may reduce the benefits being claimed by the cared for person.  ie they may lose their SDP allowance if receiving it.