Boris Johnson has quietly corrected a a false claim he made about the level of support people could recieve during a Tier 3 lockdown.
On Wednesday, the gaffe-prone PM said "whatever happens", government schemes will mean "nobody gets less than 93% of their current income" if their bar or pub is shut.
But it quickly emerged that that was untrue, because while many workers can get this sum, not all of them can.
The Tory leader said the 93% could be reached by taking the Job Support Scheme, which pays 67% of wages, and topping it up with Universal Credit.
Today appearing at a Downing Street press conference where he was quizzed about the Government's response he didn't repeat the error - although he has yet to correct the record in the House of Commons.
Mr Johnson said: “The Job Support Scheme, combined with Universal Credit, means that those on low incomes who are affected by business closures will receive at least 80% of their wages.”
In reality, Universal Credit is not paid to anyone who has £16,000 or more of savings, or if their partner has more than £16,000 of savings.
It is also paid on the basis of household income, so if a husband has their income cut to 67% and a wife is on 100%, the husband may not be able to top up to 93%.
What's more, some people will get less than 67% of their wage under the Job Support Scheme, because it is capped at £2,100 a month.
The Job Support Scheme is only open to workers whose businesses are forced to shut completely by government, not those that can stay open but are hit by restrictions.
And the Job Support Scheme is also not open to the self-employed. They must wait until January for a three-month grant worth just 20% of their average profits, up to £1,875.
Self-employed people who are making no money can claim Universal Credit - but under current plans, a cap on their benefits called the Minimum Income Floor is due to be re-imposed from November 12.
All this means not everyone can combine the JSS with Universal Credit to the full extent "whatever happens".
Questioned about the Prime Minister’s claims on Wednesday, his Press Secretary admitted the 93% figure only applied to the lowest-paid workers.
The Press Secretary said: “The Prime Minister was referring to how Universal Credit interacts with the Job Support Scheme.
“And what that means is that Universal Credit replaces a significant proportion of the income lost. I think the figure the chancellor used on Monday was 88% but that can be higher.”
Asked to clarify that meant less than 93% for some workers, the Press Secretary said: “In terms of what the PM, said I think he was referring to how UC interacts with the JSS to top up lost earnings.”
He also admitted: “There is a cap on the amount that can be received through the Job Support Scheme.
“I think it’s the lowest-paid workers where that figure applies, just to be clear.
“Those figures I’ve given you, that is for the lowest-paid workers.”
