Coronavirus: Matt Hancock admits he couldn't live on statutory sick pay
The IndependentSign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The health secretary Matt Hancock has admitted he couldn’t live on the UK’s statutory sick pay amount of £94.25 a week. When asked directly if he could live on statutory sick pay, he replied: “No.” Statutory sick pay is less than a fifth of the weekly average earnings for British workers, which in December 2019 stood at £544 a week. Furthermore, many people are not eligible to receive statutory sick pay, such as part time workers who earn less than £118 a week – 70 per cent of whom are women. You know, statutory sick pay, £94 a week, Matt, I think you’d be the first person to say that you couldn’t live on that.” Question Time host Fiona Bruce then asked the health secretary directly if he could live on it.
History of this topic
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