Full Answer
Are you eligible for a £500 discretionary payment?
If you are eligible for either the Test and Trace Support Payment or a discretionary payment, you’ll receive the £500 payment in addition to any benefits and Statutory Sick Pay that you receive ...
What is the discretionary support payment scheme (DSPs)?
A discretionary payment of £500 can be made to individuals who: have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app because they have tested positive for COVID-19 have been...
What is the discretionary payment?
20/12/2021 · If you’re not on one of these benefits, you might still be able to apply for a £500 discretionary payment if all the following apply: You meet all the other criteria listed above;
What is the £500 Test and trace support payment?
04/01/2022 · If you are not on one of these benefits, you might still be eligible for a £500 discretionary payment if all these apply: you meet all the other criteria listed above you’re on a low income
Who can apply
You may be eligible for a £500 payment to support you during self-isolation if you live in England and you: have been told to stay at home and self...
Other support
Find out more about: other COVID-19 support available getting help from your local council If you are eligible for either the Test and Trace Suppor...
How to apply
In England, the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme is run by local councils.If you think you meet the eligibility criteria for either the Test a...
Tax and the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme
Test and Trace Support Payments are taxable. If you’re employed, you’ll pay tax on the payment if you go over your tax-free personal allowance. You...
What is discretionary payment?
are employed or self-employed; and. are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result. are experiencing financial hardship, proof of income, expenditure and capital will be required. In addition, the discretionary payment is for people: who are not currently receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, ...
Can you self isolate NHS?
Some people could be asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace more than once. You can claim more than once if you are told to self-isolate multiple times, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria for each individual claim and the periods of self-isolation do not overlap.
What is proof of employment?
proof of employment 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. evidence that the you have claimed one of the qualifying benefits (as listed above) but not yet had a decision.
What is self isolation in Wales?
In Wales, the payment is called the Self-isolation support payment. You can now apply for a payment. Local authorities are administering the payment. In Northern Ireland, a Discretionary Support self-isolation grant might be available in similar circumstances.
When is the NHS testing and trace payment due?
What is the NHS Test and Trace Support Payment? There is a legal duty in England to self-isolate in place from 28 September 2020 if you test positive for coronavirus or are contacted by NHS Test and Trace, with fines for breaches. You can read more about it on GOV.UK. In response to concerns that people were struggling to self-isolate due ...
Can you claim isolation payments through the app?
When the scheme was first introduced, the answer to this question was no. However, the Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock announced that from 10 December, people instructed to isolate by the app are eligible and can claim the payment directly through the app.
When will the NHS start testing and trace?
A pilot scheme, called NHS Test and Trace Self-Isolation Payment, was announced in August 2020, under which payments of up to £182 were made to people who tested positive for COVID-19 and their contacts in Blackburn with Darwen, Pendle, and Oldham. The £500 Test and Trace Support Payment is available across England and replaced ...
Can you get a payment code from an anonymous app?
Because the app itself is entirely anonymous you will not get a payment code automatically from the app itself and there are a couple of additional steps you will need to follow to claim the payment following notification to self-isolate via the app.
What is a bank statement?
a bank statement; and. proof of employment, 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. Each local authority’s processes and requirements may differ slightly.
When does the self-isolation scheme apply?
The scheme applies to people notified to self-isolate on or after 28 September, not before that date. The devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have implemented their own schemes.
Why is there a new top up payment?
A new top-up payment has also been introduced for people working in social care, to raise statutory sick pay to the level of their normal wages if they have to take time off because of coronavirus or because they have been in close contact with someone who has coronavirus.
What is self isolation payment?
The new self-isolation payment scheme has been designed to encourage people to stay-at-home by removing any financial barriers to self-isolating.
When will self isolation payments be backdated?
People will be able to apply for the self-isolation payment via their local authority website from today (Monday November 16) and payments will be backdated to October 23.
Who said self isolation is a difficult decision?
First Minister Mark Drakeford said: The self-isolation scheme will help anyone who faces the choice of staying at home and not being able being able to feed their family or going to work and potentially spreading coronavirus. This is a difficult decision which no one should have to make.
Who Can Apply?
- People who have been told by NHS test and trace to self-isolateare required by law to do so. To help support and enforce this requirement, the government is providing funding for a test and trace self-isolation payment scheme for people on low incomes who are unable to work while they are self-isolating because they cannot work from home. If you have you been told to self-is…
Evidence of Loss of Income
- If you are submitting a claim please ensure you have provided evidence that you have lost income as a result of having to isolate. Many applications we receive we are having to turn down as income has not actually reduced, if your earnings do not reduce as a results of having to self isolate and you have claimed incorrectly you will be asked to pay the money back. NHS Test an…
Discretionary Payments
- The government have also provided a limited amount of additional funding to allow a discretionary payment will be available for people who don't meet all the criteria but need financial support during isolation periods. You may be eligible for a £500 discretionary payment even if you are not receiving any of the benefits or support payments listed above. To qualify for …
Students
- Students do not normally qualify for a test and trace payment if they are in fulltime education, receive a student loan and or a maintenance grant, or have a part-time job to help you supplement your income. This is because you are unlikely to be in receipt of a qualifying benefit. Students that have a dependent child or are in receipt of a disability benefit or will suffer financial hardship whi…
Contractual Sick Pay
- Most employers pay Contractual Sick Pay (CSP) to employees who are isolating. Please check with your employer first before applying as we will require evidence that you have not received CSP and that your income has reduced as a result of having to isolate.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long will this scheme continue?
This scheme will be closing on 31 March 2022. - Can I help someone else make an application, or make an application on their behalf?
You can help someone else fill in an application or fill in 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.