Coronavirus Update

Household Support Fund

More details of the Household Support Fund are awaited from Government.

Once available, further details will be published here.

5th October 2021

 

Test and Trace Self Isolation Payments

The Test and Trace Support Payment (TTSP) 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.

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.

Self Isolation Payment update - 16 August 2021

As of 16 August 2021, fully vaccinated adults are no longer required to self-isolate if identified as a contact by NHS Test and Trace, therefore fully vaccinated adults are no longer eligible for the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme, unless they have tested positive for Covid and meet the criteria set out below.

If you are a fully vaccinated adult who has tested positive you are still required to self-isolate, you are still eligible for the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme.

As of 16 August 2021, people under 18 are no longer required to self-isolate if identified as a contact by NHS Test and Trace. This means they can continue to leave home to attend school, college etc.

Where the child has tested positive then the parent/guardian can apply for the Parent and Child Test and Trace Payment

Some people aged 18 - 25 with EHC Plan (EHC) will still be required to self-isolate if they are not fully vaccinated. Their parents/guardians may retain eligibility for TTSP if they still need to take time off work to care for them while they self-isolate

 

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: 

               a) aged 15 or under (or 25 or under with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC)) and normally attends an education or childcare setting.

               b) 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

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

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

 

Tax and the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme

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 2021 to 2022 Self-Assessment tax return.

Test and Trace Support Application

If you have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace and have been told to self-isolate, you may be entitled to financial support. If you meet all the following eligibility criteria, you are entitled to a lump sum payment of £500

• You have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace.
• You are employed or self-employed.
• You cannot work from home and will lose income as a result.
• You are currently receiving at least one of the following benefits: Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit.

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 because they have tested positive for Covid, 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
• Only one parent or guardian can apply and this should be the parent or guardian in the household where the child normally resides. Your child must ordinarily attend an education or additional support education child care setting. 

 

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 due to testing positive for Covid, you will also need to provide your child’s NHS Test and Trace Account ID.

 

RBC Test and Trace Scheme full details.

Test & Trace Support Scheme Application Form