Test and Trace Support Payment available if you’re required to self-isolate

Customers who've been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace could be eligible for a £500 payment.

If you're told to self-isolate on or after 28 September, you're under a legal duty to do so. If you also meet several criteria, you could be eligible for a payment of £500 from your local authority to help you through your self-isolation period.

The criteria you must meet in order to qualify for a payment are:

• You’ve been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, either because you’ve tested positive for Coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
• 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 at least one of the following:
  • Universal Credit
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Income Support
  • Housing Benefit
  • Pension Credit

If you don’t fulfil the above criteria for the Test and Trace Support Payment, you could be eligible for a £500 discretionary payment if you live in England and meet the following criteria:

• You’ve been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, either because you’ve tested positive for Coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
• 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 not 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
• You’re on a low income and will face financial hardship as a result of not being able to work while you are self-isolating.

If you’re eligible for either the Test and Trace Support Payment or discretionary payment, you’ll receive the £500 payment on top of any benefits and Statutory Sick Pay that you currently receive.

If you meet the above criteria, you should contact your local authority to find out how to apply.

To apply, you’ll need to provide all of the following:

• A notification from NHS Test and Trace telling you to self-isolate. When you test positive or are identified as a close contact by NHS Test and Trace, they’ll contact you via phone, email, letter or text message, and provide you with an eight-digit code. You’ll need to provide this code to your local authority
• Proof of receipt of one of the qualifying benefits (see eligibility, above)
• A bank statement
• Proof of employment or, if you’re self-employed, evidence of self-assessment returns, trading income and proof that your business delivers services that cannot be undertaken without social contact.

Click here to find out more about the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme.