People on low-incomes who have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test & Trace, or if you’re the parent or guardian of a child who has been told to self-isolate, you can now apply to North Lincolnshire Council for £500.
If you’re 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 currently.
From 11 November, all staff working in a care home needs to demonstrate that they are fully vaccinated unless they are exempt.
This means that staff who are not fully vaccinated who either test positive for COVID-19 or are identified as a contact will not qualify for a Test and Trace Support Payment, as they will not face a loss of income.
From 16 August, if you have been fully vaccinated for longer than 14 days or you are under the age of 18 years and six months, then you will not be eligible to apply unless you have tested positive for COVID-19 or meet the further criteria under the ‘Parent and Guardian’ scheme below.
If between the 30 November 2021 and 13 December 2021, you had been fully vaccinated but were identified as a close contact of a suspected or confirmed case of someone with the Omicron variant you may be eligible for a Test and Trace Support Payment.
From 11 January, to be eligible for a Test and Trace support payment, you will still need a positive PCR test following a positive Lateral Flow Test.
Please be aware that due to the increased volume of applications we are receiving, it may take up to 14 days before you are contacted about your application.
To be eligible for the Test and Trace Support Payment, you must meet all the following criteria:
Close contacts of someone suspected or confirmed to have the Omicron variant were required to self-isolate regardless of exemptions from self-isolation between 30 November 2021 and 13 December 2021. These individuals may therefore be eligible for the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme provided they meet the rest of the eligibility criteria. As per the usual rules, applicants have 42 days (until 24 January 2022) to apply for the payment.
If you are currently not receiving a benefit but meet the other criteria, are on a low income and will face financial hardship because of having to self-isolate, please complete the form and we will consider your application for payment from our discretionary fund. Please note in relation to the discretionary fund you must have a weekly salary/wage of no more than £442.30 before deductions or a monthly salary/wage of no more than £1916.66 before deductions and be responsible for at least one of the following household bills:
you can make a claim with us for the £500 support payment within 42 days from the first day of isolation, but you must have contacted the NHS Test & Trace and got your 8-digit Test and Trace ID within your self-isolation period.
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.
If you are not legally required to self-isolate but you are the parent or guardian of a child who has been told to self-isolate, you are eligible for a £500 Test and Trace Support Payment of discretionary payment if all the following apply:
You can apply for the NHS Test & Trace Support Payment via the NHS Covid-19 app.
Here’s a few things you need to know:
You will be able to get the 8-digit NHS Test & Trace ID by following the instructions on the app. Once you have this, you will then be able to complete the application form for the £500 support payment.
You need to be on version 4.0 (or higher) of the app to pick up the new features. To find out what version you are on, go to the NHS Covid- 19 app, click on the ‘About this App’ button and scroll down until you see ‘Software Information. If you are not on the latest version, you can update it by going to your app store, search for the NHS Covid-19 app and select update.
If you have been notified by the Covid-19 app that you have to self-isolate, you must engage with the main NHS Test & Trace service whilst you are still in your isolation period. You can still make a claim with us for the £500 support payment. It must be made within 42 days from the first day of isolation but you must have contacted the NHS Test & Trace and got your 8-digit Test and Trace ID within your self-isolation period.
For the application, you will need to provide the following:
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.
What this video, it shows you what you will need to do:
Please note – The Test and Trace payment is taxable if you are a taxpayer but it is not subject to National Insurance Contributions. HMRC will automatically collect tax from your pay through your tax code, or self-employed recipients should report the payment on their 20/21 Self Assessment tax return.
Test and Trace ID number: We cannot make a support payment unless you have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace, been told to self-isolate and have been given a valid Test and Trace ID. All ID numbers are verified via the NHS Test and Trace eligibility checker. When you are contacted by NHS Test and Trace you must ask them for this information or we will not be able to verify that you are self-isolating and you will not receive payment. From 10 December, users who are identified as contacts through the NHS COVID-19 app will be able to apply for the Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme (TTPS) through the app.
Close contacts of someone suspected or confirmed to have the Omicron variant were required to self-isolate – regardless of exemptions from self-isolation – between 30 November 2021 and 13 December 2021. The parent or guardian of these contacts may therefore be eligible for the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme – provided they meet the rest of the eligibility criteria. As per the usual rules, applicants have 42 days (until 24 January 2022) to apply for the payment.
If you have a problem completing the application then call 01724 297000
You must submit supporting evidence to confirm your eligibility:
If your application is successful, you will be paid by BACS directly into your bank account. If you are overdrawn, you can use the first right of appropriation on money being paid into your account. You should contact your bank about how you do this.