Shielding Carer

unforeseen

There is some ambiguity in that. I think the wording says that people shielding can be put on furlough independently of the effect Coronavirus is having on a business. Your employer appears to take that line. Others disagree. 

calcotti

Discussion of the SSP rules here too https://www.makeuk.org/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19-faqs/entitlement-to-pay

unforeseen

And that seems to bear out my assertion that shielded people can be furloughed if they cannot work from home
And as for the effect on business

The Government guidance for employers states that the Scheme is designed to help all UK businesses who cannot maintain their current workforce because their operations have been severely affected by coronavirus (COVID-19). There is no guidance around how this will be assessed, so employers will need to apply their own judgement/discretion about whether the scheme is intended for them. However, the Government guidance does expressly state that different businesses will face different impacts from coronavirus.

which leaves it totally open to the employer stating that the loss of shielded impact will affect their business. Who would be able to argue the point. 

Obviously it still boils down to the employers decision and how supportive they want to be with their employees

Becles

calcotti said:

Becles said: It was explained to me as SSP is paid if you have C19 or live with someone who does, because someone is genuinely sick.

That's my reading.

Becles said: I was told no SSP for shielding as I'm not actually sick. Therefore I was given a SSP1 form and told to claim ESA which is £73 instead of £94 a week.

Interesting. What box did your employer tick as the reason they couldn't pay SSP? If you are not sick or treated as sick you can't claim ESA either.

I've not got the actual form yet. They just rang me and told it's coming in the post. They just wanted me to know I can't be furloughed and they can't pay SSP, so I'm on unpaid leave. They told me I could claim ESA.

At the moment I'm claiming £37 child tax credit and £20 child benefit. I was told I can't claim UC as I get tax credit, so I was hoping to get the ESA. I've already rang up and he took details over the phone but said I'd have to wait for a decision to be made on it.