Self-isolating lower income Atherstone residents will soon be able to claim £500 support

Atherstone residents on lower incomes who have to self-isolate due to coronavirus will soon be able to claim a one-off £500 support payment.

As of Monday (28 Sept) all UK residents now have to self-isolate if they test positive for Covid-19 or identified by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact of someone who has.

As this new legal duty may impact on ability to work and earn a living, the Government has introduced a support payment, which will run until 31 January next year.

North Warwickshire Borough Council is currently awaiting further guidance, but hopes to start making the Self Isolation Payments next week with residents able to apply online.

Any claims submitted this week will be dealt with as a priority.

Council Leader Cllr David Wright said: "It is so important for the safety of our communities that those people who receive a positive Covid-19 test self-isolate for 10 days.

"I appreciate that self-isolating can cause a financial impact for some people, especially those who are self employed and can't work from home, so we hope that this payment will help to bridge the gap for these people and support them whilst they do the right thing for North Warwickshire."

Residents who have received notification from NHS Test and Trace with a unique 8-digit identifier number will receive a £500 payment if they have tested positive for coronavirus and must self-isolate for 10 days or if a member of their household has tested positive and they are told to self-isolate for 14 days.

To be able to receive the payment the Government criteria requires that you:

• Have been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, either because they have tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
• Are employed or self-employed
• Are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result
• Are 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

The council will provide information on Discretionary Lump Sum payments available in exceptional circumstances in the near future, however it is still awaiting further clarification on this.