Coronavirus Legal Help for Individuals

Can I create a will at home? 

You do not need a lawyer to make a legally binding will. Provided that you are over 18 and of sound mind, you can create a will as long as it is in writing and signed by you in the presence of two witnesses (in England and Wales) or one witness (in Scotland). You can make a Living will or a Last Will and testament with Rocket Lawyer. 

In England and Wales, your witnesses must be over 18, they must not be an executor or beneficiary of your will,  and they must not be related to you or to anyone mentioned in your Will as a beneficiary, either by marriage or civil partnership. In Scotland, your witnesses must be over 16 and have credible information of the testator’s identity at the time of signing. They must also not be blind or illiterate. For more information read Executing a will.

How do I store a will?

You can store your will with: 

• your solicitor

• a will writing service provider 

• the Probate Service

• banks

• at a secure location of your choice

For more information read Storing your will.

Can I use a power of attorney to manage my affairs during the pandemic?

A power of attorney deed can grant another person the ability to deal with your affairs (eg paying your bills) on your behalf if necessary. These powers can only be set up when you have mental capacity.

In England and Wales, there are two types of powers of attorney: the general power of attorney (POA) and the lasting power of attorney (LPA). A POA is normally used for one-off events and for short periods of time, while the person granting the POA is mentally capable of making their own decisions, while a LPA is meant to last indefinitely and designed for situations where you’ve lost the mental capacity to make decisions. For more information read Lasting powers of attorney and General powers of attorney. Make a POA or speak to a lawyer to create a LPA.

In Scotland, a Continuing Power of Attorney (CPA) is a power of attorney related to your financial/ property affairs while a Welfare Power of Attorney (WPA) authorises the attorney to make welfare decisions for you. For more information read Power of attorney in Scotland.

Are self-employed individuals entitled to sick pay?

Generally, employees are entitled to sick pay while self-employed individuals are not. This is because sick pay is paid by an employer. However, assistance for self-employed individuals affected by Covid-19 was available through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. Note that this Scheme closed on 1 October 2021.

What if I’m self-employed and require urgent financial assistance?

The Government has made it easier for individuals affected by Covid-19 to access benefits. Those individuals on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) who are suffering from Covid-19 or are required to self-isolate, will be able to claim the allowance from day one, instead of having to wait for seven days.

Further, the minimum income floor has been temporarily removed from Universal Credit for self-employed individuals who have to self-isolate as a result of coronavirus. The minimum income floor is an assumed level of income, which takes into account how much an individual would normally be expected to earn in a month, when calculating their entitlement to Universal Credit. Not having this minimum income floor in place, means that self-employed individuals will be able to claim for time they spend off work due to sickness.

Self-employed individuals in need of financial assistance will be able to apply for Universal Credit over the phone, without the need of attending a jobcentre. 

Self-employed individuals who do not have enough money to live on while they wait for their first Universal Credit payment, can ask for an advance payment. This can be done online or through their Jobcentre Plus work coach. To apply, individuals will need to:

• explain why they need an advance

• verify their identity (either when they apply online or during their first phone appointment with their work coach)

• provide bank account details for the advance

For more guidance visit the government website.

I’m struggling to meet my Self-Assessment payments on account. Is help available?

If you’re due to pay a self-assessment payment on account by 31 July 2020 but won't be able to make the payment by that date due to Covid-19, then you may defer payment until January 2021. As of 24 September, this period has been extended by the Government. Those due to pay up to £30,000 in tax by 31 January 2021 will be able to use HMRC's 'Time to Pay' service to pay over an additional 12 months, meaning they won't need to pay in full until January 2022.

To defer these payments, you don't need to make an application.

During the deferral period, you can set up a budget payment plan to help you pay the deferred payment on account when it comes due. You can set up a payment plan by either setting one up online (via the GOV.UK website) or calling the Payment Support Service on 0300 200 3835 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm).

Do I have to go to work during the pandemic?

From 20 September 2022, people in England were no longer asked to work from home and employers were able to start planning a safe return to the workplace. It is recommended that employers have a gradual return to the workplace (ie employees working in the office 2 days a week and working from home for the remaining 3 days per week).

Your employers should take the necessary steps to ensure that the workplace follows the safety guidelines. Some steps that they may consider in order to reduce unnecessary contact include:

• using screen or barriers to separate staff

• grouping employees in fixed teams to reduce the number of people each worker has contact with 

• increasing the frequency of surface cleaning

From 14 December 2021, anyone who is double-vaccinated and comes into contact with a person with Coronavirus (regardless of variant) should take daily lateral flow tests for 7 days, rather than immediately self-isolating. Anyone who tests positive will need to self-isolate and take a PCR test to verify the results if they have Covid-symptoms. From 11 January 2022, anyone who tests positive on a lateral flow test in England, but is asymptomatic, will not need to take a PCR test to verify the results.

Anyone who is not double-vaccinated and has been in contact with someone who has Coronavirus is required to self-isolate for 10 days.

Anyone who is self-isolating may be entitled to a payment of £500 from their local authority under the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme. The parent or guardian of a child who has been told to self-isolate may also be entitled to this payment. 

In England, anyone infected with Coronavirus can stop self-isolating after 5 full days if they test negative twice and don't have a high temperature. This means that you will be able to end quarantine by providing negative lateral flow results on day 5 and day 6 of the self-isolation period. For more information, see the government’s guidance.

If you are double-vaccinated and someone in your household tests positive for Coronavirus, and you do not feel comfortable going into work, speak to your employer about this. You and your employer may be able to come to an agreement. Similarly, where your workplace is open but you don’t wish to go into the office, you should speak to your employer about the possibility of working remotely and make a Flexible working request. Employers should listen to employees who are worried about going to work and should take steps to protect everyone.

If you’re concerned that your employer isn’t taking all practical steps to promote social distancing, you should report to the local authority or the Health and Safety Executive. 

Please note that where you refuse to come to work without a valid reason, and do not wish to, or can't, take paid or unpaid leave, then your employer may take disciplinary action against you.

I’m at risk of contracting the virus or living with vulnerable individuals, do I have to go back to work?

Previous advice, that millions of clinically extremely vulnerable people (eg individuals on immunosuppressant drugs) should shield, has ended.

Where you’re considered as a clinically vulnerable individual, you may continue to work from home, but if your job cannot be done remotely, your employer can ask you to return to the workplace. However, employers still have a responsibility to keep you safe, so you should raise any specific concerns you have about going back. Note that if you are disabled, your employer has an extra responsibility to make and pay for ‘reasonable adjustments’.

If you’re living with someone that’s clinically extremely vulnerable, you should notify your employer as they may take that into consideration when asking you to return to work.

What is the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme?

The Test and Trace Support Payment is for people on low incomes who have to self-isolate because they have tested positive for Covid-19 or have been notified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 and they are not exempt from self-isolation. Under the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme, you can receive a one-off payment of £500.

You may be eligible under the scheme if you live in England, have Coronavirus/have to self-isolate because a close contact has Coronavirus and:

• have responded to NHS Test and Trace messages, providing any legally required information (eg details of close recent contacts), and

• are either employed or self-employed, and

• are unable to work from home and will lose income due to self-isolating, and

• are currently receiving (or are the partner of someone in the same household receiving) at least one of the following:

  • Universal Credit

  • Working Tax Credit

  • income-based Employment and Support Allowance

  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

  • Income Support

  • Housing Benefit

  • Pension Credit

Note that if you aren’t receiving one of the benefits above, you may still be eligible for a £500 discretionary payment if you: 

• meet all other criteria above, and

• are on a low income, and

• will face financial hardship as a result of self-isolating (speak to your local council about what counts as low income and financial hardship, and whether you are eligible)

You may also be eligible under the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme if you are the parent/guardian of a young person in the same household who is self-isolating and need to take time off work to care for them and:

• you are unable to work from home and will lose income

• the young person is:

  • aged 15 or under and has been told by NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate because they have tested positive for Coronavirus, or

  • aged 25 or under with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan and been told by NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate because they have tested positive for Coronavirus, or

  • aged 25 and under, has an EHC Plan and has been told by NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate because they are the close contact of someone with Covid-19 and they are not exempt from self-isolation

• you meet all other criteria for a Test and Trace Support Payment (or  discretionary payment)

For more information, see the government’s guidance.

I’m struggling to pay my rent. Can my landlord evict me?

Since 1 October 2021, the eviction notice periods in England have returned to the pre-Covid 2 month notice periods. However, in Wales, extended eviction notice periods continue to apply. Until at least 24 March 2022, landlords in Wales will typically need to give 6 months’ notice.

Tenants will need to continue paying their rent. If you are struggling to pay your rent, speak to your landlord and make them aware of the difficulties you are facing. Your landlord may agree to give you more time to pay your rent, or a rent reduction. Any agreement with your landlord should be put in writing. 

If a tenant falls into rent arrears tenants and landlords can agree a Rent repayment plan, based on the tenants’ individual circumstances.

Will the government help me pay my rent?

If you are claiming benefits and in rented accommodation, the government has announced a financial support package to be delivered through the current benefits system (ie housing benefit and Universal Credit).

My tenants are unable to pay their rent due to COVID-19, what can I do?

From 1 October 2021, notice periods in England have reverted to the pre-Covid notice periods. This means that the amount of notice landlords need to give depends on the eviction procedure used (eg typically at least 2 months' notice will need to be given under a section 21 eviction procedure). For more information, read Repossessing property-section 21 notices and Repossessing property-section 8 notices.

Landlords in Wales will generally need to give their tenants a minimum of 6 months’ eviction notice under the Coronavirus Act 2020. Legislation is expected to stay in place until 24 March 2022. For more information, read Repossessing property in Wales.

You could consider a temporary rent reduction or making a Rent repayment plan if your tenants are temporarily unable to pay the rent.

I am a lodger, what rules apply to me?

Lodgers are not covered by the same rules as tenants are (for further information, read Taking in a lodger). This means you may be at risk of being evicted during the Covid-19 epidemic.

I’m self-employed and cannot pay my income tax bill because of Covid-19. What can I do?

If you are self-employed, have already filed a Self Assessment, and owe less than £10,000 in income tax, you may be able to pay your tax bill in instalments. You can do this by setting up a payment plan online. 

If you have missed a payment date or cannot set up a payment plan online, you should call HMRC’s Self Assessment helpline.

Can I still travel abroad?

If you are travelling abroad, you should check for all up-to-date travel guidance on the Government website. You should also contact your insurer and ensure that you are covered for your travel.

If you have a holiday booked, check the guidance provided by your airline, travel agent or other holiday provider. You may be able to get a refund or re-book your holiday for a different time.

Where you are cancelling your holiday because you are directly affected by Covid-19 or because you are following the Government’s guidance, you should contact your travel insurer to see if your cancellation will be covered.

I have a flight coming up to return to the UK, what should I be aware of?

You must follow Government advice when returning to the UK. Generally, this will involve taking Covid-19 tests and completing a passenger locator form. In some circumstances, you may have to take a pre-departure test, quarantine on arrival to the UK and take a Coronavirus test on or before day 2 after your arrival.

You should be mindful that different rules apply depending on which part of the UK you’re travelling to.

These rules apply to both residents and visitors travelling to the UK. If you refuse to provide contact details or to self-isolate, you may be fined or you may face further action. 

Those travelling from Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man aren’t subject to these requirements. To see if you may be exempted, read the Government’s guidance for travellers exempt from UK border rules.

For more information, read the Government’s guidance on Entering the UK.

Is it compulsory to wear face-covering in public?

From 10 December 2021 until 26 January 2022, face-coverings must be worn in most public indoor venues, including:

• shops and supermarkets

• post offices

• premises providing personal care and beauty treatments (barbers, hair salons, tattoo and piercing studios, nail salons and massage centres)

• public transport (aeroplanes, trains, trams, buses, coaches and ferries), taxis and private hire vehicles

• any car or small van during a professionally delivered driving lesson or test

• certain events and visitor attractions (eg cinemas and theatres)

​​Not that masks will not be needed in hospitality settings (eg pubs or restaurants) nor in venues where it is ‘not practical to wear them’ (eg where exercise or singing takes place).

Certain people may be exempt from wearing face coverings (eg due to health reasons). They do not need to show any written evidence of this, nor do they need to show an exemption card.

Anyone who fails to follow this rule is breaking the law and may be fined £200. The penalty can be repeatedly doubled for subsequent offences, up to a maximum of £6,400.

Do I need to prove my Covid-19 status for entry to certain venues?

From 15 December 2021 until 26 January 2022, certain businesses and events will have to check the Covid-19 status of workers and customers, using the NHS Covid Pass.

You will need to show your NHS Covid Pass to gain entrance to:

• nightclubs

• indoor unseated venues with more than 500 people

• unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people

• any venue with more than 10,000 people

To gain entrance, you will either need to show that you are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 (ie have received two doses of an approved vaccination, and 14 days have passed since the last dose) or have tested negative for Covid-19 in the last 48 hours (eg using a lateral flow test). 

How can I get an NHS Covid Pass?

You can get an NHS Covid Pass if you’re at least 18 years old, registered with a GP and meet one of the following:

• 14 days have passed since your second vaccination dose (or single Jansen dose)

• you have received a negative Covid-19 test result in the past 48 hours (using either a ​​PCR or lateral flow test)

• you have had a positive PCR test result in the past six months, and finished self-isolating (note that this pass lasts for 180 days)