Sickness Benefit in respect of Covid-19: Variations

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A decision made on 18 September 2020

Decision Reference: MD-S-2020-0055
Decision Summary Title :	DS - Variations to the Sickness Benefit in respect of Covid 19		Date of Decision Summary:	11 September 2020
Decision Summary Author:	Senior Policy Officer		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	NA
Written Report Title :	WR - Variations to the Sickness Benefit in respect of Covid 19		Date of Written Report:	11 September 2020
Written Report Author:	Senior Policy Officer		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Variations to the Sickness Benefit in respect of Covid 19
Decision(s): Covid 19 Sickness Benefit was introduced (effective from 12 February 2020) to allow people to claim the standard rate of benefit via an online form if they need to self-isolate in line with public health advice as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. This Ministerial Decision makes a variation to the scheme which provides the basis for the collection and retention of sensitive personal information (medical data) and clarifies the duration of income support special payments paid in respect of the scheme.
Reason(s) for Decision: 1) Public Health are seeking to maximise the numbers of people who opt to take the PCR test rather than self-isolation and, to support this policy, the Minister for Social Security has decided that Sickness Benefit will not be made available to people who refuse a test without a valid reason. Therefore, the on-line form will be amended to collect information from the claimant by which they can declare the valid medical reason under which they refused a PCR test and wish to claim 14 days of Sickness Benefit. 2) The Minister has delegated the power to make exceptional payments available to her, under Article 8(2) of the Income Support (Jersey) Law 2007, to Determining Officers appointed under that Law. A payment equivalent to of 21 days of STIA may be claimed by people who are entitled to Sickness Benefit but would not normally qualify for Short Term Incapacity Allowance (STIA)
Resource Implications: There are no additional manpower or resource implications to the variations being applied.
Action required: Senior Policy Officer to inform the Group Director of Customer and Local Services and Deputy Medical Officer of Health that the scheme has been varied and to request that the required changes to the online application form (in respect of medical data collection) be made.
Signature:		Position: Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):