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28 September, 2020 Open access

Local authorities in England to have discretion to award self-isolation payments to those who do not receive qualifying benefits

Department of Health and Social Care also advises that it is engaging with devolved administrations to explore opportunities for a UK-wide scheme

As the new legal duty to self-isolate comes into force, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has said that local authorities in England will have discretion to award the £500 lump sum self-isolation payment to those who do not receive qualifying benefits.

Confirming that from today people in England will be required by law to self-isolate if they test positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) or are contacted by NHS Test and Trace, the DHSC restates that, for those unable to work from home, a £500 Test and Trace Support Payment will be awarded by local authorities if they receive qualifying benefits - universal credit, working tax credit, income-related employment and support allowance, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income support, housing benefit and/or pension credit.

However, the DHSC adds that local councils -

‘... will also have discretion to make payments to those who don’t receive the qualifying benefits, but are on a low income and could suffer financial hardship as a result of not being able to work.’

In addition, while also highlighting that the payment is initially only available in England, the Department says that - 

'... we are engaging with devolved administrations to explore opportunities for a UK-wide scheme delivered through local authorities, seeking as much alignment as possible.'

NB - the DHSC has also issued a briefing to local authorities that provides further details of how the Test and Trace Support Payment will operate, available from the Local Government Association website.

For more information, see New legal duty to self-isolate comes into force today from gov.uk