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In response to the Coronavirus the Government has announced that individuals losing income after being asked to self-isolate by the NHS Test and Trace scheme may be eligible for a lump sum payment of £500.
 

Please note: We are currently receiving a very high volume of applications for Test and Trace Support Payments. All applications are processed in date order.

You can help us to process your application quicker by making sure to include all the supporting evidence asked for when completing your online application. Not giving us all of the correct information causes delays. Failure to provide the supporting evidence asked for will result in your application being rejected.
 

Help that is available

From 28/09/2020, low-income residents can receive a lump sum payment of £500 if:

a) self-isolating after testing positive

b) have been identified as a positive contact for COVID-19 and have been asked to self-isolate by the NHS

Please note an application can be made at any time up to 28 days after the first day of self-isolation.  The Council will not accept any applications after this point. 

Your eligibility

To be eligible for the Test and Trace Support Payment, an individual must:

  • have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace either because a) they've tested positive for coronavirus or b) have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
  • be employed or self-employed
  • be unable to work from home and will lose income as a result
  • be 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.
  • Have engaged with Test and Trace to complete the contact tracing journey, the link to do this will be on the text or email received from Test and Trace

Versions of the scheme you may be eligible for

The Standard Scheme

Under the standard scheme you must be receiving a qualifying benefit to be eligible for the Test and Trace Support Payment. For full details of the Standard Scheme see:

The Discretionary Scheme

The Test and Trace Payment Discretionary scheme is open to those that cannot apply under the standard scheme, those that are in employment or self-employed. For full details of the Discretionary Scheme see:

Apply for a Test and Trace Support Payment

Important: evidence that must be included with your application

The government has set out that the following supporting evidence must be supplied with the application for the Test and Trace Support Payment. The evidence needed can be attached to your online application and we will accept: scanned images, photo images, screenshots etc.

  • the unique eight-digit ID number provided by NHS Test and Trace asking that you self-isolate (this will include your Unique ID number)
  • recent proof that you are receiving one of the qualifying benefits (If applicable)
  • a recent bank statement (which shows the full name on the account, the full account number and sort code)
  • recent proof of employment (most recent payslip), or, if you are self-employed, evidence of self-assessment returns, trading income and proof that your business delivers services which cannot be undertaken without social contact.

Please help us to process your application quicker by making sure you have included all the supporting evidence asked for when completing your online application. Not giving us all of the correct information causes delays.

Failure to provide the supporting evidence will result in your application being rejected.

How to upload evidence at a later date, if you were unable to include it with your original application

If you were unable to supply any or all of the supporting evidence at the time of submitting your original application, that evidence can be  be sent to us at a later date using the following online form. We will accept: electronic documents (.pdf, .doc, .docx or similar), scanned images, photo images, screenshots etc.

Financial support for parents and guardians of someone who has been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace

Since 8 March 2021; Parents and guardians may be entitled to a Test and Trace Support Payment or a discretionary payment if they are a parent or guardian who is not legally required to self-isolate, but who needs to take time off work to look after a child or young person who is self-isolating.

Parents and guardians will qualify for this financial support if they match all of the following criteria...

  • you are the parent or guardian of a child or young person in your household who is self-isolating, and you need to take time off work to care for them;
  • the child or young person is aged 15 or under, or aged 25 or under with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan, normally attends an education or childcare setting, and has been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or by their education or childcare setting;
  • you are unable to work from home and will lose income because you have to care for the child or young person while they are self-isolating;
  • you meet all the other eligibility criteria for a Test and Trace Support Payment or discretionary payment ( See eligibility criteria above )

Important: additional evidence that parents and guardians must  include with their application

Parents and guardians will need to provide the following evidence as part of your application:

  • A Contact Tracing and Advisory Service (CTAS) ID Number for the child (if available)
  • A letter from the child's school or childcare setting which includes the child's name and dates of isolation
  • If the child is over 15, then evidence of the child's Education, Health and Care plan
  • A recent bank statement (which shows the full name on the account, the full account number and sort code).

Applications for a Test and Trace Support Payment from parents and guardians

Parents and guardians can submit aTest and Trace Support Payment online here...

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