Covid-19 – Mar 20 Summary

Many important Government measures have been announced and implemented with respect to the Covid-19 pandemic. Those that impact almshouse charities have been included in the Almshouse Association Coronavirus News pages

  • Support for individuals and businesses: The government has announced a number of measures designed to support individuals and businesses through the Coronavirus Pandemic. Full information can be found here. Notable measures include:
    • Increasing the standard allowance for Universal Credit for 12 months by ÂŁ1,000 and will increase working tax credit basic element by the same amount. For the self-employed, the Government will suspend the minimum income floor for anyone affected by Covid-19. Self-employed people will be able to access Universal Credit at a rate equivalent to Statutory Sick Pay for employees.
    • The Government has increased housing benefit and universal credit so that the local housing allowance covers at least 30% of market rents in an area.
    • The Government has announced that the self-employed will receive up to ÂŁ2,500 per month in grants for at least 3 months. This will be calculated by 80% of their average monthly trading profit over the last three years.
    • Employers will be able to reclaim expenditure for any employee who has claimed SSP as a result of COVID-19.
  • The Regulator of Social Housing is running a blog on the Coronavirus Pandemic. This is is maintained and updated with the latest information for registered providers of social housing. A letter was also sent to all registered providers detailing the expectations of registered providers at this time. Any registered providers who did not receive or need to replace the letter can find it here.

Housing – March 20 Summary

  • Risk of non-compliance before new Rent Standard:  The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has published an addendum to its Sector Risk Profile 2019 that identifies the areas that are most likely to increase the risk of non-compliance with rent and data quality requirements.
  • The Regulator of Social Housing has warned registered providers and local authorities about a range of circumstances which make non-compliance with rent requirements more likely to happen, in advance of the new Rent Standard coming into force on 1 April 2020.

Charities and Charity Law – March 20 Summary

  • Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016 review: DCMS has published a review of the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016, which aimed to:
    • Provide new and strengthened powers for the Charity Commission
    • Extend the criteria for automatic disqualification from charity trusteeship and apply disqualification to senior management positions
    • Strengthen the transparency and accountability of charity fundraising
    • Give charity trustees an explicit legal power to make social investments.

The review recommends that the legislation be renewed.

Previous Policy and Governance Updates:
Click here for Policy and Governance – Feb 2020 Summary
Click here for Policy and Governance –Jan 2020 Summary
Click here for Policy and Governance 2019 Summary

Posted 1 April 2020