Has the guidance changed or is this the Mandela effect!

[hellogoodbyehello]

I recall, at the start of lockdown, the message was to stay home unless you were a key worker. Key workers (myself and DD) were given a letter by our employers to say we were authorised to travel to work, in case we were stopped by the police. If you weren't a key worker, and couldn't work from home, you could be furloughed. This is why so many offices and shops etc were closed.

DH says no, everyone has always been allowed to go to work, you were just encouraged to work from home if possible.

If that's the case, why were DD and I given letters to prove that we were allowed to go to work?

Please settle our argument!

"DH says no, everyone has always been allowed to go to work, you were just encouraged to work from home if possible."
Your husband is correct. Anyone could go out to work if they couldnt work from home. Key worker status was only necessary for you to get childcare.

"If that's the case, why were DD and I given letters to prove that we were allowed to go to work?"
You didnt need them. Some employers chose to provide them, lots didnt. If you got stopped by police all you had to do is say you were going to work. Period.