Self-isolation payments – are you eligible?

People are being encouraged to get a coronavirus test if they have any symptoms – and financial help could be available if you test positive and need to self-isolate.

Please get a test if you have any of the symptoms for coronavirus. You can check these here:

https://theshuttle.org.uk/director-of-public-healths-call-on-testing/

Help for people who have been told to stay at home and self-isolate after a positive test is open only for people who are eligible – please see the criteria below.

This support payment is £500 for the two weeks you will have to isolate at home. It is designed for people on lower incomes

People eligible for the scheme are:

• People who have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace either because;
• they’ve tested positive for coronavirus or
• they have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive; AND
• they are employed or self-employed; AND
• they are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result; AND
• they are currently receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit.

Evidences will be required from claimants and as the payments are taxable, the information for all eligible claims will be passed to HMRC.

The payments are for those on lower incomes who cannot work from home and have lost income as a result. Self-isolation is a legal duty for all those who test positive for COVID-19 or are identified by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact.

You can find out more and apply for a grant at: https://www.blackburn.gov.uk/coronavirus/support-residents

It is illegal to refuse to self-isolate if you are told to. Failure to comply is an offence carrying a fine of at least £1,000 and up to £10,000 for multiple breaches.

Councillor Vicky McGurk, Executive Member for Finance at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:

Self-isolation support is there for people on lower incomes who have tested positive or who are a close contact of someone who has, but you must meet the criteria to claim this. We have received quite a lot of requests that do not fit this and have had to turn people down.

Please check closely to see if you can make a claim. We know it is incredibly hard when you have to isolate and it can affect people’s work, but we have to make sure people do meet the measure set by the Government as we have to stay within these.”