Sick Pay
Sick Pay

Thank you for contacting me about Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), especially in light of the ongoing impact of COVID-19.

Many constituents have contacted me in the past few weeks to voice their justifiable disgust towards a Government that is refusing to support people through this crisis.

I strongly believe SSP should be higher and it should be available to everyone. I am aware that a survey of more than 2000 workers in England and Wales, conducted in November last year, found 20% of workers who could not work while isolating did not receive sick pay or wages.

It is unacceptable that SSP is not currently available to everyone, such as those earning below £120 a week or the self-employed. This means millions of people are not eligible for SSP and it is important to acknowledge that some of those on low pay will have been hit hardest by the pandemic.

I believe anyone who needs support in order to self-isolate should get it. Therefore, while the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the Government should also expand eligibility for the £500 Test and Trace Support Payment to anyone without access to workplace sick pay. This will help keep the virus under control when the current restrictions are lifted, avoid the devastating economic damage of another lockdown and help the vaccine programme succeed.

More widely, it is clear that more has to be done to ensure the social security system is able to support low-income families struggling with the additional costs of lockdown. We need a renewed national effort to fight the inequality, poverty and insecurity that should have no place in this country at any time.

This failure of the Government comes at the same time as our nation faces a Cost of Living Crisis. People across the country are feeling the real world impacts of rising prices. Whether it’s at the petrol pump or the supermarket, or when we get our energy bills, we’re all noticing it. In Sheffield the cost to households from April onwards when the energy price cap is lifted could reach a staggering £146 million.

Instead of supporting those in need, the tories are choosing to give companies loans, loading costs onto taxpayers with a buy now, pay later scheme. We are being forced to pay the price for this Tory created chaos.

Please visit my website where I set out in full Labour’s plan to tackle this crises: https://www.louisehaigh.org.uk/policy/2022/02/08/rising-energy-bills-cost-of-living/https://www.louisehaigh.org.uk/policy/2022/02/08/rising-energy-bills-cost-of-living/

Unfortunately because of parliamentary convention, I am restricted from signing any EDMs due to my position as Shadow Secretary of State for Transport. However, I can assure you that I will bear your views in mind moving forward.

Sheffield is now paying the price for a Government that is staggeringly out of touch. I can assure you that I will be holding this Government to account for its failures and pressuring them to enact the necessary policy changes to reduce the fallout from this crisis.

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