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Are You Classed as a Key Worker?

By: Emma Eilbeck BA (hons) - Updated: 30 Oct 2023 | comments*Discuss
 
Key Worker Mortgage Scheme Government

Key workers are not just nurses and firefighters, there is a whole host of other professions that are classed as key workers. A key worker is essentially anyone that works in the public sector and the government wants to make it easier for these type of people to be able to rent or buy a property.

Who Is Eligible

The government has produced quite a lengthy list of professions that qualify as key workers.

Most jobs within the NHS will be classed as key workers, the government defines them as “clinical NHS staff”, which means doctors and dentists do not qualify, mainly because they are already on a substantial wage and should be able to afford to buy and rent their own property.

Teachers and nursery nurses in primary schools and sixth form colleges also class as key workers. The line becomes a bit more blurry concerning headmasters and headmistresses, so you would need to check with your local authority if this applies to you.

Most police officers, community support officers and a number of civilian staff are also classed as key workers. Again, it depends on your rank and pay as to whether you are classed as a key worker, so you should check with your local authority,

Prison officers and some of the lower ranking prison staff are classed as key workers, along with probation service staff.

Professions such as social workers, educational psychologists, and therapists who are employed by local authorities such as the NHS are also seen as key workers and can apply for the scheme.

Local authority planners, along with firefighters and other staff below principal level in the fire and rescue service qualify. If you are on your way to becoming a senior level figure within the forces then you should check that you still qualify as a key worker.

Certain posts within the Ministry of Defence also fall under the scheme, along with Connexions personal advisors which are employed by a local authority.

And finally, qualified environmental health officers/practitioners who work in local authority a government agency or any other public sector agencies also qualify, some highway agency traffic officer staff are also suitable to apply for the scheme.

There are a few grey areas when it comes to who can and cannot apply for a key worker scheme, so if you think you are borderline or are not sure if you fall into the key worker category check with your local authority as to what its boundaries are.

Your Location

Unfortunately just because you are classed as a key worker it does not necessarily mean you will be able to apply for the scheme. Not all areas have a key worker scheme available.

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire all have key worker schemes available, along with Hampshire, Surrey, Hertfordshire, Kent, Sussex and Essex.

Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk and Suffolk can also offer such schemes.

Quite a lot of places in the North of England are excluded, this is mainly because there is a lot more affordable housing in the North of England, so a lesser need for it.

There are key worker schemes available in the North of England, but they will normally be on a lesser scale.

The government is quite broad in its description of what a key worker is, so if you fall into one of the above categories there is a good chance you will qualify for the scheme, but you should double check with your local authority.

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I am a nursery nurse Please do I qualify for a key persons right to apply for housing
Nick - 30-Oct-23 @ 11:00 PM
I would like to know if a dental nurse falls under this. Whenever official sites list key workers they always talk about dentists earning too much after forget about dental nurses. We don't even see a quarter of their income? We were asked to volunteer during this Covid pandemic, but we're always dismissed.
Lily - 20-Jul-20 @ 2:43 AM
i work at student accommodation at reception, sales and services. I have a laptop to work from home. which we do 2 days a week, we have to come the office 3 days a week, but head office are all at home, including managers. As of today head office says we need to be in full time in the office, all of us. there are 4 of us, also we are expected to have to go clean the students rooms. but that's not my job and lock down remains. I can work from home just like them, am I a key worker? is this correct? I don't understand the difference between us and HO
suzi - 1-May-20 @ 2:11 PM
I amthe cleaner for our Tesco and community centre. And I'm still cleaning every day. I have three children... Why am I not a key worker???
Christina - 20-Apr-20 @ 8:52 AM
I work cleaning apartment communal areas am I classed as a key worker?
Rachel - 31-Mar-20 @ 6:09 PM
I work in pharmaceiticals packing tablets am I key worker
wit - 31-Mar-20 @ 8:56 AM
I am a housekeeping in a care home am I a key worker and should I be in work
Caz - 30-Mar-20 @ 6:05 PM
My partner is a cleaner in a school should she be working
Gonzo - 29-Mar-20 @ 7:33 PM
I work as a sales rep for a well known Crisp company am I a key worker want us filling shelves although this isn’t our normal all day job we are dcared
Marny - 27-Mar-20 @ 3:12 PM
I am a kitchen domestic in a care home. Am i classed as a key worker? Someone has said you need an employers letter stating this if you get stopped by police
Doris - 27-Mar-20 @ 11:08 AM
I work in the North East has a security officer, is that a key worker role or not.? Tony
Tony - 24-Mar-20 @ 9:06 PM
I would like to know if security officers are key workers.?
Tony - 24-Mar-20 @ 9:05 PM
I work in a call centre 100 staff plus (not including management) dealing with distribution of newspapers, dealing with newsagents am I a keyworker? My employer says I am?
ym - 24-Mar-20 @ 6:19 PM
am I a keyworker in a home I do the laundry for 31 service users .should I be staying at home or going into work
tina - 24-Mar-20 @ 6:08 PM
I work for a security distribution company as a delivery driver/storeman , am I classed as a key worker
Archie - 23-Mar-20 @ 9:30 PM
Hello, I work for a TV channel as IT support. Am I a key worker?
Karen - 23-Mar-20 @ 9:14 PM
I work for the council as a street cleaner I am I the entitled to stay at home
bobsey - 23-Mar-20 @ 8:51 PM
I work in Supplier Quality for a manufacturing company that produces printers, which are used in the medical and food industries. I have been told I am a key worker. The term "key worker" seems to have been re-defined. I hope I'm entitled to cheaper housing once all this has blown over, but I highly DOUBT IT!!!
Si - 23-Mar-20 @ 8:53 AM
I’m a fire safety engineer. Servicing and repairing fire alarms etc am I key worker
Mally - 21-Mar-20 @ 6:29 PM
What about council workers, who are on the front line dealing with the household waste that if they all stayed at home would build to such an existent we would be looking at major health issues on top of the covid 19 ?????
JJ - 20-Mar-20 @ 7:34 PM
Are the cleaners of these key workers establishments also entitled if it wasnt for us the virus would be spreading faster. What about us
A team - 20-Mar-20 @ 5:59 PM
Is housing manager a key worker please advise
Fatima - 20-Mar-20 @ 5:39 PM
I'm a kitchen assistant in a school am I classed as a key worker, if had conflicting information
Tups - 20-Mar-20 @ 4:55 PM
I am an optometrist does this qualify me to be a key worker ?
Meera - 20-Mar-20 @ 3:37 PM
I work in the kitchen at a NHS hospital. I have a child at school. Am I a key worker?
sherpa - 20-Mar-20 @ 1:20 PM
I am a wellbeing and activities Co Ordinator in a Care Home, am I a key worker?
CareWellbeing - 20-Mar-20 @ 12:24 PM
My husband is a hgv fitter /mechanic dose he qualify
Sue - 20-Mar-20 @ 11:14 AM
We make and supply evidence kits for the police. Are we key workers?
Nipper - 20-Mar-20 @ 10:24 AM
Am a cleaner for tescos I've work there for 4 yes I pay my rent every month I have a 10year old boy we're do I standin this situation
Toodles - 20-Mar-20 @ 8:05 AM
I am a medical secretary, am i a key worker?
irene - 19-Mar-20 @ 10:40 PM
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