About this application
From 28 September 2020 the Government has introduced a new national Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme.
If you have been told on or after 28 September 2020 by NHS Test and Trace to stay at home and self-isolate, either because you have tested positive for coronavirus Covid-19 or you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, and you meet the eligibility criteria you may be entitled to a £500 support payment. This is to support people on low incomes who are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result.
For further information visit:
Gov.uk: Claiming financial support under the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme
You can also access additional support and advice by visiting:
www.durham.gov.uk/covid19help
Exemptions from self-isolation
You are not required to self-isolate if you are notified you have had close contact with someone with Covid-19 and any of the following apply:
-you are fully vaccinated
-you are below the age of 18 years and 6 months
-you have taken part in or are currently part of an approved Covid-19 vaccine trial
-you are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons
Eligibility
Standard Scheme - Test and Trace Support Payment
Adults told to self-isolate
Adults who are required to self-isolate may be eligible for a Standard Scheme £500 payment if they meet the following criteria:
- have been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS Covid-19 app because you have tested positive for coronavirus;
or
- have been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS Covid-19 app because you have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive, and you are not exempt from self-isolation;
and
- where relevant, you have responded and fully engaged with NHS Test and Trace; and
- are employed or self-employed; and
- are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result of self-isolating; and
- are currently receiving, or are the partner in the same household as someone who is receiving, at least one of these qualifying benefits; Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit
Parents and guardians of young people told to self-isolate
A parent or guardian of a young person who is required to self-isolate may be eligible for a Standard Scheme £500 payment if they meet the following criteria (even if they are exempt from self-isolation):
- they are the parent or guardian of a young person in the same household who is self-isolating and need to take time off work to care for them;
- they are unable to work from home and will lose income;
- the young person has tested positive for coronavirus and is aged 15 or under, or aged 25 or under with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan;
- the parent or guardian should be added as a close contact of the child by NHS Test and Trace and will therefore be given their own account reference number. This account reference number should be used to claim under our adult scheme by selecting 'I am isolating' on the application form.
or
- has been identified as a close contact of someone with coronavirus (by NHS Test and Trace, their education or care setting or the NHS Covid-19 app), is aged 18-25, is not fully vaccinated and has an EHC Plan;
- the young person normally attends an education or care setting;
-self-isolating because there was an outbreak at their education or childcare setting, and they have been sent home by their local public health team.
The parent or guardian should apply under our parent and guardian scheme by selecting 'my child is isolating' on the application form.
and
- where relevant, you have responded and fully engaged with NHS Test and Trace; and
- are employed or self-employed; and
- are unable to work from home and will lose income; and
- are currently receiving or are the partner in the same household as someone who is receiving, at least one of these qualifying benefits; Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit.
You have 42 days from the first date of self-isolation to make an application for a Test and Trace Support Payment
Discretionary Scheme - Test and Trace Support Payment
People who do not meet the qualifying criteria for the Standard Scheme because they are not in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits, may be eligible for a Discretionary Scheme Test and Trace Support Payment.
Adults told to self-isolate
Adults who are required to self-isolate may be eligible for a Discretionary £500 payment if they meet the following criteria:
- have been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS Covid-19 app because you have tested positive for coronavirus;
or
- have been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS Covid-19 app because you have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive, and you are not exempt from self-isolation;
and
- where relevant, you have responded and fully engaged with NHS Test and Trace; and
- are employed or self-employed; and
- are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result; and
- your normal annual gross earnings (before deductions) are less than £27,971 per year; and
- you have less than £6000 savings.
Parents and Guardians of Young People told to self-isolate
A parent or guardian of a young person who is required to self-isolate may be eligible for a Discretionary Scheme £500 payment if they meet the following criteria (even if they are exempt from self-isolation):
- they are the parent or guardian of a young person in the same household who is self-isolating and need to take time off work to care for them;
- they are unable to work from home and will lose income;
- the young person has tested positive for coronavirus and is aged 15 or under, or aged 25 or under with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan;
- the parent or guardian should be added as a close contact of the child by NHS Test and Trace and will therefore be given their own account reference number. This account reference number should be used to claim under our adult scheme by selecting 'I am isolating' on the application form.
or
- has been identified as a close contact of someone with coronavirus (by NHS Test and Trace, their education or care setting or the NHS Covid-19 app), is aged 18-25, is not fully vaccinated and has an EHC Plan;
- the young person normally attends an education or care setting;
-self-isolating because there was an outbreak at their education or childcare setting, and they have been sent home by their local public health team.
- the parent or guardian should apply under our parent and guardian scheme by selecting 'my child is isolating' on the application form.
and
- where relevant, you have responded and fully engaged with NHS Test and Trace; and
- are employed or self-employed; and
- are unable to work from home and will lose income; and
- your normal annual gross earnings (before deductions) are less than £27,971 per year; and
- you have less than £6000 savings.
You will need to provide supporting evidence and documents when you apply.
Who is not eligible?
You will not be eligible for either a Standard or Discretionary Test and Trace Support Payment if you:
- have not received a notification from NHS Test and Trace telling you to self-isolate on or after 28 September 2020, which is the date the Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme was launched.
- you continue to receive full wages while you self-isolate.
- you can work from home during a period of self-isolation.
- are quarantining after travelling abroad (unless you test positive during the quarantine period)
- your isolation start date was more than 42 days ago, which is the timescale set by NHS Test and Trace to claim a Support payment
- you are exempt from self-isolation if you are notified you have had close contact with someone with Covid-19 and any of the following apply:
- you are fully vaccinated
- you are below the age of 18 years and 6 months
- you have taken part in or are currently part on an approved
Covid-19 vaccine trial
- you are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons
Making your application
Click on the start button to begin the application: