COVID-19 Self-isolation Payments

From 28 September 2020, you may be entitled to a Test and Trace Support Payment of £500 if you meet the criteria listed below.

This payment is designed to support people on low incomes, if you will lose income as a result of self-isolating, and to encourage you to get tested if you have symptoms. This is important to help stop the transmission of COVID-19 and avoid further economic and social restrictions. The scheme will last until 31st March 2022.

Eligibility Criteria - Mandatory Scheme

You may be eligible for a Test and Trace Support payment if you:

• Have been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, either because you have tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, and from the 16th August are not fully vaccinated;

and

• Have responded to message from NHS Test & Trace and have provided any legally required information, such as details of their close contacts;
• Are employed or self-employed, unable to work from home and will lose income as a result;
• Are currently receiving, or have recently applied for Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit

Eligibility Criteria - Discretionary Scheme

Changes made from the 1st April 2021, mean that if you satisfy all the criteria listed above apart from being entitled to one of the qualifying benefits, you may be able to get a discretionary payment but only if:

• You have an income of £500.00 or less per week (£26,000 gross per annum)
• You have no savings which could be used to alleviate the reduction of earnings caused by isolating

Applications in respect of a child

From 8 March 2021, A parent or guardian of a young person who is required to self-isolate may be eligible for a ‘main’ payment if they live in England and meet the following criteria (even if they are fully vaccinated):

• You are the parent or guardian of a young person in the same household who is selfisolating and need to take time off work to care for them;
• You are unable to work from home and will lose income;

The young person has:

• Tested positive for COVID-19 and is aged 15 or under, or aged 25 or under and has an Education, Health and Care Plan;

or

• Been identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19 (by NHS Test and Trace, their education or care setting or the NHS COVID-19 app), is aged 18-25, is not fully vaccinated and has an EHC Plan;
• The young person normally attends an education or care setting; and
• The parent or guardian meets all the other criteria for a 'main' payment.

Applications from members of the same household

People in the same household can each make an individual application to receive the payment, if they each meet the eligibility criteria.

Multiple claims

Someone can claim more than once (if they are told to self-isolate multiple times), as long as they meet the eligibility criteria for each individual claim and their periods of self-isolation do not overlap.

Applications made after someone's period of self-isolation has started

Eligible individuals can make a claim up to 42 days after their period of self-isolation started. Applications will not be accepted after this point.

Before you start

You will need the following information to complete this form:

• A copy of your latest bank statement (one issued within the last two months which must clearly show proof of earnings);
• Proof of employment or self-employment e.g. recent payslips, proof of employment, recent business bank statement (within the last two months), most recent set of accounts or evidence of self-assessment returns;
• Proof of your NHS Account ID for coronavirus COVID-19 or;
• Proof of the Account ID you have received from NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate
• Your National Insurance Number

Supporting evidence about the child or young person

If you are applying in respect of a child, you will require the following:

• The child’s eight-digit NHS Test and Trace ID number. This is for parents and guardians of children or young people who have received a notification directly from NHS Test and Trace telling them to self-isolate.
• A communication from the child or young person’s education or childcare setting confirming that they have to self-isolate. This is for parents and guardians of children or young people who have been told to self-isolate by their education or childcare setting because they have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive
• A screenshot of a young person’s NHS COVID-19 App notification telling them to self-isolate AND evidence that the young person has an Education, Health and Care Plan. This is for parents or guardians of young people aged 16-25 who have additional support needs and who have been notified to self-isolate by the NHS COVID-19 App

If you do meet the above criteria but you are not in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits, you may be eligible for a payment under the Discretionary scheme. Please ensure you have the above information before starting the application.