NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme

The NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme has provided cover for eligible NHS and social care staff performing frontline work during the peak of the pandemic and will close on 31 March 2022. There is an additional 12-month period, until 31 March 2023, for claims to be submitted in respect of deaths that occurred on or before 31 March 2022. Employers have an active role in the process of submitting a claim for a deceased member of staff.

The key actions for employers are detailed below, along with further information about the scheme.

Employer responsibilities 

Employers have the responsibility of communicating the scheme to those that may be affected, and to oversee the completion of the benefit claim form when a member of staff has died due to working on COVID-19.

Further information about key actions for employers is available below. We have also produced a helpful flowchart (pdf) that takes you through the claims process and the actions employers need to take.

Actions for employers – making a claim

Employers have a key role in the process of submitting a claim for a deceased member of staff. The scheme provides cover for deaths up to 31 March 2022, however claims can still be submitted until 31 March 2023.

The process of making a claim is outlined below:

1. The employer completes preliminary eligibility checks.

2. If there may be eligibility for a claim, the employer contacts bereaved families to start the application process.

3. A benefits claim form is downloaded from the NHS BSA website by the claimant and completed by the claimant’s legal representative.

4. The claimant sends the claim form and any supporting documentation to the employer.

5. The employer certifies that the staff member was eligible for the scheme and that the death was a qualifying case. The full eligibility and qualifying criteria is available on the BSA website. 

If there is any ambiguity surrounding eligibility, the employer should still process the claim form and include detailed information about the service that the individual was providing on their last working day. The Secretary of State has ultimate responsibility for deciding whether a case meets the eligibility criteria.

6. The employer ensures that the claim form is fully completed and that the supporting documents are correct.

7. The employer sends the claim form and certified photocopies of the required supporting documents to NHS BSA*

The NHS BSA will process the application and will certify the eligibility of the claim. If eligible, a Grant of Probate will be requested from the claimant. The lump sum payment will be made within 30 days of NHSBSA receiving the Grant of Probate.

Further detailed information about this process, along with FAQs are available on the NHS BSA’s website. Access this handy flowchart which takes you through the process.

*Where the deceased’s employer has been commissioned by the NHS or local authority to provide publicly funded social care and healthcare services, the claim form must be certified by the commissioning organisation.