Coronavirus Test and Trace Support Payments

The government has set up a test and trace support payment scheme of £500 (GOV.UK) to support eligible low paid workers whose earnings are affected by staying at home and isolating for 14 days. If you have started to self-isolate anytime from 28 September you can apply for help now.
 

How to apply

You can apply using our online form.

Apply for a payment
 

Applications must be made within 14 days of a self-isolation period ending.

Use this form to apply for a payment if you meet the eligibility criteria. You can also use the form to apply for a discretionary payment.
 

Eligibility

If you have been told by the NHS to self-isolate, either because you have tested positive for COVID-19 or you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive, you may be eligible to apply for a Test and Trace Support Payment.

Who is eligible

To be eligible to apply for our scheme you must be a local resident and meet all the following criteria:

• you must have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace on or after the 28th September, either because you have tested positive for COVID-19 or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
• the NHS Test and Trace will give you your own unique reference number, which you will need to provide to us
• you must be employed or self-employed
• you must be unable to work from home and will lose income as a result of having to stay at home and self-isolate
• you must be 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

Read our policy for the  Test and Trace Support Payment scheme [291.58KB].

Who is not eligible?

You will not be eligible for the scheme if you:

• are quarantining after travelling abroad (unless you test positive during the 14-day quarantine period)
• continue to receive full wages while you self-isolate
• can work from home during a period of self-isolation
• are no longer required to self-isolate i.e. your period of self-isolation ends before the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme launched on 28 September 2020
• have not received a notification from NHS Test and Trace telling you to self-isolate
• are quarantining and receiving furlough payments
   

Discretionary payments

We have been given some additional funds so that we can support people who do not meet the government's eligibility criteria. If you are not currently in receipt of 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 may be able to apply for a discretionary payment. You will need to meet the following criteria:

• have no more than £6,000 in capital (capital will be defined in the same ways as in welfare benefits generally)

and either

1. be in receipt of Local Council Tax Support administered by the council

or

2. immediately prior to self-isolation, be:

• employed or self-employed for at least 16 hours per week or more on average; and
• earning a maximum gross wage / salary of £342.72 per month (if under 25 years old) or £409.89 (if 25 years old or more).

Read our policy for the  Test and Trace Support Payment discretionary scheme [322.44KB].
 

Find out more

You can find more information about the scheme on our frequently asked questions page.
 

What happens next

When we have received your application we'll decide whether we can offer you a support payment.

We aim to notify you of a decision as soon as possible, please do not contact us again. If we require further information we will contact you.