Working with employers, we’re helping members’ families make claims under the coronavirus life assurance schemes
The RCN has been advocating on behalf of members from the very start of the pandemic.
When discussions with health departments took place around the necessary changes to terms and conditions of service during the COVID-19 crisis, the RCN, alongside other unions and professional bodies, expressed concern that the existing NHS life assurance benefits, that are part of the NHS pension scheme, were inadequate for this unprecedented situation.
The RCN was concerned that many health and social care workers would not be covered by existing arrangements, and that this was a particular concern as the health care workforce expanded to support the pandemic response.
The RCN was concerned that many health and social care workers would not be covered by existing arrangements
This included students, those not in the pension scheme, agency staff, social care staff not in a public sector scheme, retired returners who had been in receipt of their NHS pension for more than five years and active scheme members with fewer than two years’ service.
All four UK governments now have life assurance schemes for health and social care staff who die as a result of COVID-19 exposure in the course of their work. Each scheme has its own eligibility criteria and scheme rules, but all seek to provide financial support to the families of publicly funded health and social care staff who die as a result of exposure to COVID-19 in their workplace.
Ministers in all countries also have discretionary powers to award benefit where a strong connection to the provision of health and social care services is apparent, as well as exposure in a relevant workplace, even if a person does not meet the exact scheme criteria. This includes nursing students on unpaid placements.
Providing support
Mark Farmer, RCN Operational Manager in the London region, who alongside other staff across the UK, is helping local bereaved families, explains how the schemes work.
“We’re supporting families and our role is to ensure the employer starts the process because in all the schemes, applications should be initiated by the employer,“ he says.
“But we can talk to employers to ensure they have systems in place to identify possible cases and that they are aware of the need for them to forward applications.”
Mark says it’s important for employers to be aware of the scheme and to contact family members proactively.
“They need to be writing to family members and sending them details and any paperwork necessary but sadly that’s not uniformly happening. They have the guidance and they need to follow it. Some families have told us they are convinced their loved ones caught COVID-19 at work due to inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Some families have told us they are convinced their loved ones caught COVID-19 at work due to inadequate PPE
We can help by referring them to RCN Law for personal injury and inquest assistance.”
The RCN can support bereaved families of members with legal representation at inquests investigating the death and with personal injury claims if the death may have been caused by negligence, such as inadequate PPE. The RCN Welfare Service and the Lamplight Support Service may also be a source of support for bereaved families.
According to RCN analysis, more than 950 health and care workers in the UK have died as a result of COVID-19 but the true number is likely much higher.
Mark adds: “Some trusts have lost many members of staff and surviving staff will need proper recovery programmes. They need to invest in talking therapies and other ways to process their grief.”
If you are the family member of a member who has died and you need support with these issues, get in touch.
Further information
- The NHS Pension Scheme offers life assurance benefits to its members who die – of any cause – in service or in retirement. Find out more about the schemes in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
