MERA and salary support to continue into February

Extension to cost between £5 to 7 million

Two of the government's headline financial support schemes will continue to run to help those who can't return to work during lockdown.

The claim period for the £200 a week MERA benefit has been extended by two weeks until the 14 February.

It's as Treasury recognises some will not be able to return to work straightaway.

Outdoor trades and construction services were permitted to continue on Saturday (23 Jan), and willl be paid MERA to Sunday 31 January.

The Salary Support Scheme has also been extended to run through February to help businesses pay wages.

This, combined with the additonal MERA claim period, is set to cost government between £5 and £7 million.

The circuitbreaker is set to be lifted at the start of next month if there's no evidence of community spread in the coming week. 

Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan says the extra support is intended to help those individuals and businesses that can't return to work straight away.