The Government has announced the new Test and Trace Support payment for people on a low income who must self-isolate for 10 days, and cannot work from home during this period.
From 28 September, if you receive a positive COVID-19 test result, or are told by the NHS to self-isolate because of close contact with someone who has Covid-19, you may be eligible for a £500 lump sum from either of the following schemes:
To be eligible for the new Test and Trace Support Payment, you must:
To be eligible for the new Discretionary Scheme, you must:
You will not be eligible for either scheme if:
Individuals who qualify and who meet the criteria will be entitled to a £500 lump sum payable into their bank account. These payments will be subject to income tax but not National Insurance contributions. Central Government are to advise local authorities on the process for this.
Government guidance states the payments will only be eligible for positive diagnosis from 28 September onwards (not before) until the scheme ends on 31 January 2021. Eligible people will be able to claim for each period of self-isolation.
If your nominated bank account is overdrawn and this payment would be used to cover the overdraft you can write to your bank and request for the first right of appropriation over the payment. This will protect the money from being used to pay back the overdraft and only pay the items you have requested in your letter.
Find out more about first right of appropriation of funds (pdf, 90 KB).
If you have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace since 28 September you will qualify for a backdated payment if you have been told to self-isolate, and you fit into the above eligibility criteria.
To apply, you must upload the following proof with your application:
If you do not provide this information with your application, it will be considered incomplete and no assessment will be made.
If you still require a self-isolation payment you will have to submit a new form that includes all the proof listed above.
The Council is unable to make a payment without your 8-character Account ID. Your Account ID is issued by NHS Test and Trace. The Council has no role in the administration of this and does not allocate Account ID references.
If you are unable to locate your Account ID please contact NHS 119 for further help.
You can help someone else fill out an application or fill out an application on their behalf.
However, you cannot receive payments on behalf of someone else. Payments will only be made to the person who has been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace.
This application is for one person only, and any further applications within the same household must be made by each individual.
To apply, call us on 020 8871 6555.
You can speak to someone who will be able to assist you with completing the form over the telephone.
General information regarding the scheme is available on the GOV.UK website.
Updated: 18 January 2021