Shielding paused nationally from 1 April 2021

The Government paused shielding nationally from 1 April 2021.

Below is a list of useful information and advice on what to do if you have been shielding.

Work and Finance

• Statutory Sick Pay and Employment and Support Allowance for shielding ended on 1 April 2021.
• Employers should be able to tell you what measures and steps they have put in place to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 if you are asked to return to work.
• Furlough under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) has been extended to 30^th September, so you can request to be placed on furlough or the self-employment support scheme.

Access to Healthcare, Medicine and Vaccines

• You should have been offered your first vaccine dose. If not, contact your GP to book your first dose of the vaccine.  
• It is safe to receive healthcare through the NHS, so you should go to appointments as usual. 
• The NHS Volunteer Responders programme is available to collect and deliver shopping, medication and essential supplies.  Call 0808 196 3646 between 8am and 8pm, 7 days a week to self-refer or visit www.nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk for further information.
• Social care support can continue to take place with safety measures in line with social distancing guidelines.

Supermarkets

• Priority access to supermarket delivery slots will remain in place until 21^st June. 
• If you are yet to register for a shielding support, please do so online by 31^st March through the following link: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-shielding-support  If you need more support after 31^st March, please contact your local council or use the following link: http://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support 

Socialising

• You can continue to form or maintain existing support bubbles and childcare bubbles.

Helpful Resources

General Guidance

• General Guidance and Support around Coronavirus  https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus 
• Advice for people who are at higher risk from Coronavirus  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk/advice-for-people-at-high-risk/ 
• Guidance on Shielding and Protecting CEVs from Covid19  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19 
• Find out what support you can get if you are affected by Coronavirus. https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support 

Financial Support

• COVID-19 Work and Financial Support. https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/worker-support 
• What to do if you are already receiving benefits?  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-what-to-do-if-youre-already-getting-benefits 
• What do you if you were employed but have lost your job?  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-what-to-do-if-you-were-employed-and-have-lost-your-job 
• What to do if you are employed but cannot work?  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-what-to-do-if-youre-employed-and-cannot-work 
• Check if you can claim wage costs through Coronavirus wage retention scheme (Furlough)  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme 
• Guidance for Self-Employed individuals who are getting less work or no work due to Covid-19  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-what-to-do-if-youre-self-employed-and-getting-less-work-or-no-work 
• Check if you are eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) fourth grant.  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-employment-income-support-scheme-grant-extension 
• Defer Self-Assessment Payments due to Covid 19  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/defer-your-self-assessment-payment-on-account-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19 
• Claiming Financial Support under the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme-claiming-financial-support/claiming-financial-support-under-the-test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme 

Employment Rights and Workplace Safety

• Guidance on work absences due to coronavirus (COVID- 19) including unfair dismissal. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/if-you-need-to-self-isolate-or-cannot-attend-work-due-to-coronavirus
• Redundancy: Your Rights  https://www.gov.uk/redundancy-your-rights?priority-taxon=774cee22-d896-44c1-a611-e3109cce8eae
• Dismissal: Your Rights  https://www.gov.uk/dismissal/reasons-you-can-be-dismissed
• Coronavirus: advice for employers and employees (ACAS)  https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus
• Guidance on how to work safely and make a workplace Covid secure – Safer Working workplace-specific guides  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance on making workplaces Covid secure https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/

Other household support

• Registering for Support if you are clinically extremely vulnerable to the Coronavirus (LA support and priority access to supermarket deliveries). https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-shielding-support 
• Get Local Authority Coronavirus help with living costs, food, essentials and support for your business  https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-local-help 
• Help and Support if your business is affected by Coronavirus  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-and-support-if-your-business-is-affected-by-coronavirus-covid-19 
• Claim for support through the Covid Winter Grant Scheme  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-winter-grant-scheme/covid-winter-grant-scheme-guidance-for-local-councils 
• Mortgage and payment holidays for credit products. https://www.fca.org.uk/coronavirus-support 
• COVID 19: Guidance for Local Authorities, tenants and landlords  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities  

 

You can download this information as a word document here: Shielding Guidance Information Sheet 1 April 2021