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.
From 8 March 2021, the scheme has been expanded so parents or guardians who are not legally required to self-isolate can apply for a Test and Trace Support Payment if they need to take time off work to care for a child or young person who is self-isolating.
For further information please follow the link below:
New package to support and enforce self-isolation (GOV.UK website)
Additional Support and Advice
You can also access additional support and advice by visiting:
www.durham.gov.uk/covid19help
Please note that we are currently dealing with an extremely high number of Test and Trace Support Payment applications which has resulted in longer processing times. We are working through the applications as quickly as we can and will contact you with a decision as soon as possible.
Eligibility
Test and Trace Support Payment - Standard Scheme
Eligibility for a £500 Standard Test and Trace Support Payment is restricted to people who:
- have been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, either because you have tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive or have been identified as a contact through the NHS Covid-19 app; or
- are a parent or guardian who needs to take time off work to care for a child aged 15 or under (or 25 or under with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC) who 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 coronavirus; and
- where relevant, you have 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
- are currently receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit or is the partner of someone who is receiving one of the above benefits and is living in the same household as them.
Test and Trace Support Payment - Discretionary Scheme
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 Test and Trace Support Payment.
Eligibility for a £500 Discretionary Test and Trace Support Payment is restricted to people who:
- have been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, either because you have tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive or have been identified as a contact through the NHS Covid-19 app; or
- are a parent or guardian who needs to take time off work to care for a child aged 15 or under (or 25 or under with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC) who 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 coronavirus; and
- where relevant, have 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.
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 child has been advised to isolate before 08 March 2021 from an education or childcare setting.
- 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
Making your application
Click on the start button to begin the application: