MPS get to claim up to £10,000 extra towards cost of working from home during crisis

MPS are able to claim up to £10,000 extra in expenses for working from home during the coronavirus crisis.

MPS and their staff can get a portion of their bills repaid and money can be spent on equipment like office furniture and printers. This is on top of the £26,000 usually available for office costs.

MSPS are also working from home but are not receiving any extra allowances.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) says MPS and staff can claim if costs are “in addition to the normal costs of living in the home”.

It quotes a formula for claims: “A pro-rata amount can be calculated by working out the proportion of the house/flat being used as a home office (for example one room out of six rooms in a house = 1/6) and the number of hours per day when the room is used as an office (for example eight hours out of 24 = 1/3). In this example, 1/18 of the total household bill would be claimable.”

An SNP spokesman said

“This is a decision by and a matter for IPSA but every employer must consider what support they can provide for staff who are being made to work from home.”