CAB Passport can bring other benefits
I live with my partner and our wee boy, who is due to start school in August. Neither of us qualified for help though the government schemes for selfemployed or employed people and so we find ourselves on benefits and Universal Credit for the first time.We’re grateful to have something, but are finding it hard to manage. We have been told that Universal Credit is a“passport benefit” and we might get other help. What does that actually mean?
A passport benefit is a benefit which, if you are getting, will automatically mean you qualify for other support.
There are many more people getting Universal Credit at the moment, and there is additional support out there.
Given what you have said about your circumstances you should think about contacting Social Security Scotland for a School Age Payment.
This is a one off payment of £250 which you can apply for from June 1. Your child needs to have been born between March 2015 and February
2016, inclusive, and payment will be made even if they aren’t taking up a school place this year.
The other thing you really ought to be claiming just now is Council Tax Reduction. Although Universal Credit doesn’t guarantee entitlement to this, your circumstances mean you are extremely likely to receive additional help with your council tax.
We have been concerned to find that not as many people have been claiming this as should since Universal Credit was rolled out in Renfrewshire.
You may also be entitled to free dental treatment, or glasses and contact lenses if you show your Universal Credit award.
I’ve been off work since the end of March when the government advised those in non-essential work to stay at home. Now that Boris Johnson has announced people should start going back to work my boss wants me in. I’m concerned about spread of the virus in my workplace because I live with my mother who is shielding.
While Boris Johnson has issued new guidance for our neighbours the Scottish Government’s position has not changed.
If you work in one of the sectors currently advised to shut down, for instance in a bar or restaurant, you should not be asked to return to work.
Other non-essential sectors have also been advised to close if it is not clear how safe working practices can be applied. Travel to and from work is permitted but only if you cannot work from home. Your boss should be considering whether you need to be physically present before asking you to return and should only ask you to return if appropriate safety measures are possible in the work place.
It remains the case that you can ask your employer to furlough you if you live with someone who is shielding but the furlough scheme is voluntary.
To protect your family member, you may need to ask to take leave. The employer has a moral duty of “trust and confidence” so you might argue that it is breach of contract to ask you to attend work and you could ask for paid leave.
This is a complex area and your employer may be reluctant to agree. You do also have the options of asking for unpaid time off or annual leave.
As a final resort you could refuse to return to work because it would expose you or others to danger.
If they have taken measures towards safe working, your employer may disagree, and it could be reasonable of them to ask you to consider instead whether you can shield from the person within your household as per Scottish Government guidance – essentially meaning that you would need to avoid all contact.