AQW 24529/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 19/10/2021
Answered On Date: 22/10/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health (i) whether independent health and social care workers, who are not on the HSC payroll, will be given the opportunity to receive their £500 recognition payment in instalments, similarly to those workers who are on the HSC payroll; and (ii) whether their payments will also be topped up to offset tax and National Insurance contributions arising from the payment.

Answer:

Employers may consider phasing payments to staff if that is requested but we do not intend it to be a condition of this scheme for phased payments to be available. Phasing is therefore at the discretion of the employer but must only be done in response to a request from an employee.

The Department is making payment of up to £735 per individual which means if you qualify for the full award, and pay tax at 20% and National Insurance at 12% you should receive approximately £500 pay in your pay.

The net payment will depend on personal circumstances and for example, an employee who pays tax at the higher rate will receive a lessor net amount.