To think that most people wont self isolate for weeks for SSP as it doesn't pay enough to live on?

[KittyRainbow]

Just that really.

Statutory sick pay is approx £95 a week. So around £400 over a full month.

Less than you would earn in a month on minimum wage. Not enough to pay childcare, mortgages, electricity, gas... food?

I am not sure how the government thinks this is going to work? Potentially 1/5 of workers off at once.... a huge number of them unable to pay their bills?

I just don't see how people with very mild symptoms can be compelled to stay home, if staying home will put their ability to afford to live in jeopardy? Realistically with the incubation period a family of four could have to self isolate for over a month??

AIBU to wonder how this is going to work?

Yeah.

Just imagine how it is for those who are disabled and on a permanently low income with zero physical or financial help now or in the future

YANBU, however it's the least worst option. The people hit with the rougher end of the spectrum of systems will be off for weeks anyway, and if it can be contained to fewer people then even better.
A mass outbreak will leave lots of people struggling, as well as businesses struggling with missing employees, along with having to pay out SSP on top of cover.

So idealistically it does make sense. However I do think that realistically it's never going to work. Those with mild symptoms will go to work anyway (either cause they dont think it's that bad or they need the money), those with mild symptoms will assume it's a cold and go on as usual, and those at death's door who take pride in soldiering on will continue as usual too.
Meanwhile I'm sure there will be a fair few people self-quarantining for sniffles.

Coronavirus: PM announces changes to sick pay to tackle outbreak news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-pm-announces-changes-to-sick-pay-to-tackle-outbreak-11949402

It's obvious the government is aware of this.

Isolation is 2 weeks

A lot of people with mild symptoms won't get tested - I wouldn't even think of getting tested if I had some sort of mild cold

I would assume the vast majority of people will go to work - I would 🤷‍♀️

Well yes, the government have said that people will get SSP from day 1 instead of day 4....

Which doesn't change the fact that SSP isn't enough to live on.

I think they've also said that people who don't earn enough for SSP or who are self employed can apply for universal credit. Because we all know how effective that is!

How exactly does "self isolation" work anyway ? In the real world.

DS shares a house with two friends (all early 20s). Assuming one of them had to "self isolate" what happens to his two house mates ?

That's before you add in SSP and that malarkey.

Our company have just announced we'll be paid if advised to self isolate by nhs which surprised me as they're a bare legal minimum company when it comes to sick pay/holidays etc, huge relief for me as a lone parent, single income household though. Hopefully the vast majority of employers will do the same, obviously more difficult for small companies though.

Interesting that you mention mortgages and not rents. I understand that some people with mortgages are struggling to make ends meet and would not easily cope with an unexpected drop income. But for the most part they are better off and better able to manage than people who are renting.

It is possible to claim Universal Credit while you're on SPP (if eligible, of course) and for people who rent it would include help with that - not help with mortgage payments though.

We've moved this into our coronavirus topic!

My ds is self employed in the building trade. He can in no way afford a single day off.
He just about gets by on a full weeks wages

He only took 1 day off for his dads funeral recently because he was so concerned about losing money.

Is this the first time you've been bothered by ssp not being enough to live on?

YANBU

I think if people have symptoms, but they are mild, they will not get tested to confirm so they still go in to work. A lot of people will probably end up doing that anyway, as some people have been tested positive without fever, so may be unaware that it isn't just a cold they are carrying around with them.

I can work from home, but OH would only get SSP and it would be extremely tight for us. Some families only have one working parent and 400 quid a month is not really enough to survive on.

"Is this the first time you've been bothered by ssp not being enough to live on?"

Sad isn't it how most people only care about something if it affects them directly or someone they know

"As for UC, you can't apply unless you can access the internet at home"

It is actually possible to claim over the phone but of course they discourage people from doing it.

And there are organisations like citizens advice that can help people to apply online but obviously that wouldn't work in self isolation

Is this the first time you've been bothered by ssp not being enough to live on?

Well honestly yes. Because this is the first time I've ever been 'threatened' with an enforced 2 weeks of work. Two weeks that presumably my husband and kids would have to take too, because one family member staying at home whilst everyone else goes about their merry way isn't isolation.

We are both only entitles to SSP. Even if we only took the bare minimum 2 weeks isolation our wages between us for those two weeks would be less than £400.

Our nursery fees would be £700.... those don't go away because you have to stay home. And that's just one payment.

So you can see where things might start to go tits up.

And it's not going to be just the odd family that's affected. How do you suppose universal credit will be affected if there are suddenly tens of thousands of new claims in a month?

How will small businesses cope if 1/5 of their workforce aren't there and they have to pay cover and SSP. How will nurseries and child minders cope if they don't get paid because the parents literally don't have the money to pay them.

These things are very rarely just about the people directly affected because thousands and thousands of people not being able to pay their bills one month will have a serious knock on effect on the economy. It's just not something that can happen in isolation.

Then there are key meters. Which need to be topped up.

This is my situation too. And biggest concern with regards to this disease.

Both dh and I work and only can get ssp too. We would be unable to pay our rent (let alone other living costs) within a month of both of us being out of work. And we have childcare fees too which we can’t just cancel or reduce on a whim.

This is a huge flaw in the idea of quarantining people with insecure employment and high costs of living.

We will do absolutely everything we can to continue going to work as much as possible (hopefully taking on more shifts if this situation worsens) as this is the only way we can secure the health and safety of our family by ensuring we remain housed! How would we manage our health if we have to juggle homelessness and financial stress?

And when is this likely to end, it can’t keep going like this forever so at what point would the threat of restrictions on our working lives be lifted?

HeIenaDove Sat 07-Mar-20 02:51:59
www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/south-bay/san-jose-mayor-calls-for-action-to-protect-renters-amid-coronavirus/2249433/?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_BAYBrand

SAN JOSE
San Jose Mayor Calls for Action to Protect Renters Amid Coronavirus

Four new cases of coronavirus were reported in Santa Clara County Friday, bringing the total to 24 and prompting the mayor to call for action to protect renters.

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo introduced an ordinance that would prohibit evictions of tenants, if that tenant can’t pay the rent because he or she is not working or under employed due to coronavirus.

He said the Valley’s Association of Landlords is on board with the plan and there may be some help for smaller landlords who themselves can’t afford to lose a month’s rent

The moratorium lasts for 30 days but can be extended.

“There are tough times that we are going to have to endure in the weeks ahead and the months ahead, and we’re going to get through this,” Liccardo said. “But were going to get through this together.”

The mayor, like the public health department, is recommending that all public events be cancelled.

All functions at the fairgrounds are cancelled as well as a teacher’s conference scheduled for Saturday in San Jose.

However, a big Native American Heritage Festival scheduled for next week in San Jose is still on while organizers monitor the situation

It’s two weeks. Yes, for some people it will be an issue.

However, I don’t see the average person ever kicking up a fuss that Carer’s Allowance is £66.15 a week, and significantly longer term than two weeks. In fact, I see the majority of people voting in a party who are happy to screw over the poor and are ideologically opposed to employment rights.