To ask the Minister for Communities what discussions she has had with her counterparts in Westminster regarding the TUC and Living Wage Foundation recommendation to increase statutory sick pay from £95.85 to £320 per week.

In March, my predecessor, Deirdre Hargey MLA, wrote to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions requesting that urgent consideration was given to increasing the rate of statutory sick pay to reflect the true cost of living through adopting the real living wage as the standard rate of Statutory Sick Pay. This would ensure that individuals are financially supported during this worldwide pandemic, removing a potential source of stress and worry and ensuring that all those who are ill or self-isolate do not continue working and potentially endangering the health of others and spreading the virus further.

Depending on their circumstances, people on low incomes and in receipt of Statutory Sick Pay may be able to get additional financial support through either Universal Credit or new-style ESA. I have also made available additional support to people who are on low incomes and are required to self-isolate, through the Discretionary Support Self-Isolation Grant. This payment is available to assist with short-term living expenses and it can be claimed by people who are temporarily unable to work due to COVID-19