COVID 19 info and resources

This page contains advice and links of what to do if you have been affected by the Coronavirus.

This website contains lots of information on what to do if Coronavirus has affected you financially:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/health/coronavirus-what-it-means-for-you/

If you’ve got less money because of coronavirus

You can check what help you can get if you can't pay your bills or are worried about being evicted. This includes things like your rent, mortgage, energy bills, council tax or court fines.

Getting benefits

You might be able to claim benefits or get more money if you’re already getting benefits. This includes any statutory sick pay (SSP) your employer might give you.

Check what benefits you can get.

If you’re already getting benefits, check if the government has made any changes to your benefits.

If you have no money for food

You might be able get help from a food bank. You’ll need to be referred to a food bank. If you have a referral, you’re still allowed to travel to a food bank - either for yourself or someone who’s vulnerable. 

Find out more about getting referred to a food bank.

Going to work 

The government has said you should only go to work if it’s ‘not reasonably possible’ for you to work from home.

If your employer tells you not to work because of coronavirus

If your place of work has shut down or there’s no work for you because of coronavirus, you can carry on getting paid. 

Your employer might use the government Coronavirus Job Retention scheme to pay you while there’s no work to do.

Find out how the scheme works.

If you’re off sick with coronavirus

If you’re employed and get coronavirus, you’ll get statutory sick pay (SSP) from the first day you're ill if you’re usually entitled to it.

You might get contractual sick pay as well as SSP. It’s worth checking your contract - your employer might have their own sickness policy.

You’ll need to get an ‘isolation note’ online if you’re sick for more than 7 days. This will prove to your employer you need to stay off work. You don’t need a note if you’re sick for less than 7 days.

You can get an ‘isolation note’ online to prove to your employer you need to stay off work. 

You can:

get an isolation note on the NHS website

get an isolation note on the NHS app

If you’re worried about going to work because of coronavirus

If you’re worried about having to go to work, there are things your employer should be doing to make sure you’re safe.

If you decide not to work, there might be ways to keep getting paid.

If you’re worried about working and you’re pregnant or disabled, there might be other things your employer has to do. 

Check what to do if you’re worried about working.

Useful Links

Citizens advice Birmingham

Advice with lots of things including housing, benefits and debt

http://www.bcabs.org.uk/

Call 03444 77 1010 Monday-Friday 9:30-16:30

Emergency Community Support Hub:

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/50233/support_for_residents_during_the_coronavirus_covid-19/2130/coronavirus_-_get_emergency_help_from_the_council

Trussell Trust Food Bank

https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/sparkhill/

Housing

Council Housing advice

https://www.homeless.org.uk/homeless-england/service/birmingham-city-council-housing-department

Legal advice available for free from Shelter

https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help/local_services/birmingham_sifa_fireside

Legal Aid: 0344 515 1800

Legal advice: 0344 515 1800 

Finances

Local welfare provision

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/downloads/file/1135/local_welfare_provision_policy

Applying for finances for a short-term crisis from Birmingham City Council:

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/LWP

Cash in a crisis from Shelter

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/money_problems_and_energy_costs/cash_in_a_crisis

Turn 2 Us

Turn2us is a national charity that helps people in financial hardship to gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services

Helpline:

0800 802 2000 Monday-Friday 8-18:30, Saturday 9:00-13:00

Benefits checker.

Use this tool to check that you are receiving the correct financial support.

https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/AboutYou

Grants for White Goods (E.g. Fridge, Freezer, Washing Machine)

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/About-Us/Our-Campaigns/Living-Without-Campaign/Where-to-get-help

Mental Health

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health (NHS) https://www.bsmhft.nhs.uk/service-user-and-carer/emergency/

Domestic Violence

In an emergency always ring 999.

Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid

https://bswaid.org/?gclid=CjwKCAjwkPX0BRBKEiwA7THxiJ0BYH8T7-wmIzlEYKjQ_V1pqB-_izuRdjrONlPQQhmnlPLx1-5mthoC7ysQAvD_BwE

Bharosa is a domestic abuse service for ethnic minority women

Email: bharosa@birmingham.gov.uk

Phone: 0121 303 0368

Birmingham City Council are working in partnership with Sodexo to distribute digital supermarket eVouchers via an online redemption platform for  parents to select their local supermarket including Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons and many more participating stores

HOW IT ALL WORKS FOR PARENTS: Guidance from BCC/Sodexo

Parents receive their digital eVoucher cheque which will have their cheque number (CHX - 8 digit no ) and Validation code

Parents go to www.vouchershopexchange.co.uk and enter their cheque number and validation code

Parents then choose which supermarket eVoucher they would like, you must spend your full cheque value at once.

Parents then complete the form with their email address and submit the order.

The eVoucher is sent instantly to the parent’s email address, they then spend it instore either by presenting their mobile or printed version. 

All supermarkets have exclusions including alcohol, tobacco, lottery tickets and fuel - funds must be spent on essential supplies for children free school meal purposes 

Dear Parents/Carers,                                                                          20^th March 2020

As per the latest government guidance, we will still be providing education on site for children of parents or carers categorised as ‘key-workers’ and for vulnerable children. The government have provided further guidance on exactly which professions fall into this category, our understanding is that these following groups can send their children to school, and schools will endeavour to provide a service for them: •Anyone working in education or childcare • Anyone working in the NHS • Anyone working in social care  • Other ‘critical workers’: policemen and delivery drivers •Anyone working in local government •Anyone involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery •Anyone working for public safety and national security •Anyone working in transport  •Anyone working in utilities, communication and financial services

There will also be onsite education for vulnerable children. These children are:

 • Those with a social worker • Those with Education, Health and Care Plans (a legal document which describes a child’s special educational needs and the support they require)

Certifying if two members of your household are ‘key-workers’: We are working on the assumption that if one member of your household is not a key-worker, they will be working from home and therefore are able to provide childcare. If you are a single parent keyworker, you will of course be able to send your child to school. 

For now, in the name of trying to proceed as efficiently as possible, we just need you to do the following to confirm that you are a key-worker and that your child can therefore come to school on Monday. 

Please complete these steps with the upmost urgency to ensure your child can attend school on Monday. The deadline for the school to receive this email with these vital pieces of information is Friday 20th March by 2pm. 1. Your full name / the full name of both parents who are keyworkers 2. The profession(s) you work in 

3. Your child’s full name and class. 4. Proof of your working status from your employer. Please send these three key pieces of vital information to enquiry email: enquiry@englishmartyrs.bham.sch.uk.  We therefore request only to receive an email if both adults in the household, or if the only adult providing care in the home, work(s) in these jobs. Please note that you will be asked to provide proof of you working status from your employer. Thank you. 

Yours faithfully,

Mrs.Harper