Cash advice
There’s a pandemic around the world and the government is ordering everyone to stay home, avoiding unnecessary travel and social contact. With the situation escalating, here’s how to…
1 REFUNDING HOLIDAY EXPENSES
Travel insurance will cover many ‘out of pocket’ expenses –if, say, you’ve booked parts of your holiday independently, like car hire or local tours. Some insurers have announced they are either restricting new customers from taking out travel insurance or you will not be covered for any disruption associated with Coronavirus. Some companies have even temporarily suspended all travel insurance sales.
2 GETTING YOUR MONEY BACK FOR FLIGHTS
If you booked an Easter flight, the Association of British Insurers says you should contact your airline, travel agent or tour operator, to re-organise your trip or get a refund. Just note, some airlines said they will be taking a while to answer queries due to high call volumes. So be patient and keep trying to get through.
3 WHAT IS THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT TRAVEL ADVICE?
Holiday companies and travel insurers follow the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). If the FCO advise against travel to certain areas, that’s when refunds and insurance claims kick in. If you travel against FCO advice, you can invalidate your insurance – so it may not pay out if you later need medical assistance. As the public has been told to stay at home, all non-essential trips should be cancelled.
4 CAN I WORK FROM HOME WHILE SELF-ISOLATING?
As the government has advised everyone against leaving their homes and making social contact, anyone who can work from home must do so. If you need to self-isolate, and can work from home, the government has said you must now do this. Only essential, or ‘ key’, workers are permitted to travel.
5 WILL I GET PAID IF I SELF-ISOLATE?
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said staff who are ‘self-isolating’ should be able to take time off as ‘sick leave,’ Depending on company policy, that can mean full pay or Statutory Sick Pay. SSP now kicks in from day one of self-isolation and is worth up to £94.25 a week. For a sick note, go to 111.nhs.uk/isolation-note.