Coronavirus Update

Test and Trace Self Isolation Payments

The Test and Trace Support Payment or discretionary support payment of £500 is to support people on low incomes who are unable to work from home if they are told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, or are the parent or guardian of a child/young person who has been told to self-isolate by their school or nursery, and will lose income as a result.

Who Can Apply?

Eligibility for a £500 Test and Trace Support Payment is restricted to people who:

1. have been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, either because they have tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive;
2. are the parent or guardian and have caring responsibilities for a child or young person:

• aged 15 or under (or 25 or under with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC)) and normally attends an education or childcare setting.
• has been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or by their education or childcare setting because they have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 are employed or self-employed

3.   are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result; and

4.   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

5.   Claims must be made within 42 days after the first day of self-isolation.

These payments are designed to help ensure people who have tested positive for COVID- 19 and their close contacts self-isolate for the required period to stop the onward spread of the virus. They are also designed to encourage individuals who are eligible for this payment to get tested if they have symptoms. This is important to help stop the transmission of COVID-19 and avoid further economic and societal restrictions.

Payments made under the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme are subject to income tax, if you’re a taxpayer, but they are not subject to National Insurance contributions. If you’re employed, HMRC will automatically recover the tax from your pay with a change to your tax code.

Self-employed recipients will need to report the payment on their Self Assessment 2020/21 tax return.

In order to receive the payment you must agree to self-isolate for the required period and provide all the information relating to people that you have been in contact with and understand that if you refuse to do so the payment will not be made or you will be required to pay the funds back. For further information regarding the scheme please read our FAQ's

The scheme will last until the 30 September 2021.

If you are not claiming any of the benefits listed above, you may still be entitled to a payment from the Discretionary Scheme

 

Discretionary Scheme

The Test and Trace Payment scheme includes funding for residents who meet the first three criteria of the main scheme’s eligibility but who are not currently in receipt of any of the qualifying benefits.

You may make an application to the Discretionary Test and Trace Support Scheme if you:

1. 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;
2. Are employed or self-employed, and;
3. Are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result.

Applications for the Discretionary Scheme will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and we will work with you in order to maximise your entitlement to a support payment.

All other scheme criteria for the Discretionary Scheme will be the same as for the main scheme, as outlined on these pages and the scheme’s policy documents.

If you’re the parent or guardian of a child who’s been told to self-isolate

If you’re not legally required to self-isolate, but you are the parent or guardian of a child who has been told to self-isolate, you could be eligible for a £500 Test and Trace Support Payment or discretionary payment if all the following apply:

• you’re the parent or guardian of a child in your household who is self-isolating, and you need to take time off work to care for them
• your child 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’re unable to work from home and will lose income because you have to care for your child while they are self-isolating
• you meet all the other eligibility criteria for a Test and Trace Support Payment or discretionary payment

   

  In order to receive the payment you must agree to self-isolate for the required period and understand that if you refuse to do so the payment will not be made or you will be required to pay the funds back.

  For more information on how we will process the information gathered on this form please read our Privacy Notice 

  Please ensure that you have the below information available before starting the application:

• NI number
• an NHS Test and Trace Account ID, sometimes referred to as a CTAS number. If you test positive for COVID-19, or are told to self-isolate by contact tracers, you will be provided with an NHS Test and Trace Account ID
• Your most recent bank statement
• proof of self-employment or wage slips
• If you’re applying because you’re a parent or guardian who needs to care for a child who is self-isolating, you will also need to provide your child’s NHS Test and Trace Account ID or a communication from their education or childcare setting telling them to self-isolate.

If you have been pinged by the NHS COVID-19 app and told to self-isolate because you’ve been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you will need to follow some additional steps to request your NHS Test and Trace Account ID.

RBC Test and Trace Scheme full details.

Test & Trace Support Scheme Application Form