Parents who are unable to work because their children are self-isolating may now be able to claim hardship payments worth £500 from the Government’s Test and Trace service,  This will be particularly helpful as schools re-open on  Monday 8th March – and with the prospect of children being sent home once again to self-isolate.

This specific £500 hardship payment is a consequence of the extension of the Government’s Coronavirus Support Payments scheme, which now includes parents whose children have to self-isolate. Parents who are unable to work (and meet specific criteria) will be able to claim hardship payments worth £500 from the Government’s Test and Trace Support Service.

The reviewed official Covid-19 Spring Response 2021 documents states, ‘The Government will also expand support for those self-isolating. While self-isolation is critically important to halting the spread of the disease, it is never easy for those affected. The Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme will continue into the Summer, and will be expanded to cover parents who are unable to work because they are caring for a child who is self-isolating, and the funding made available for local authorities as part of this to make discretionary support payments will be increased to £20 million per month. There will be more funding too to help local authorities ensure people self-isolating have access to practical support, such as food delivered or help with their caring responsibilities, and support for wellbeing.’

To support you during self-isolation, you could be eligible for a £500 Test and Trace Support Payment if you live in England and meet all the following criteria:

• you’ve been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app, either because you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
• you’ve responded to messages from NHS Test and Trace and have provided any legally required information
• you’re employed or self-employed
• you’re unable to work from home and will lose income as a result of self-isolating
• you’re currently receiving or are the partner of someone in the same household who is 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
  • Pension Credit

If you’re not on one of these benefits, you could be eligible for a £500 discretionary payment if all the following apply:

• you meet all the other criteria listed above
• you’re on a low income
• you will face financial hardship as a result of self-isolating

If you’re eligible for either the Test and Trace Support Payment or a discretionary payment, you will receive the £500 payment in addition to any benefits and Statutory Sick Pay that you currently receive.

For more details and information of how to apply go to:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme-claiming-financial-support/claiming-financial-support-under-the-test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme