Local Authorities in Scotland to pro-actively contact all those required to self-isolate, to establish whether a Self-Isolation Support Grant is needed

Cabinet Secretary for Social Security also confirms that the grant will be targeted at people who are in receipt of universal credit or legacy benefits, with some discretion to make awards to others in financial hardship

Local Authorities in Scotland are to pro-actively contact all those required to self-isolate, in order to establish whether a Self-Isolation Support Grant is needed.

Following the Scottish Government’s announcement yesterday that it is to introduce its own £500 grant for people required to self-isolate - delivered through the existing Scottish Welfare Fund and administered by local authorities - Cabinet Secretary for Social Security Shirley-Anne Somerville has provided further details of eligibility conditions for the grant, in a letter to the Scottish Social Security Committee, including that -

‘In order to be eligible for the grant, people must have been told to self-isolate through our Test and Protect Programme. People who can work from home should continue to do so, and we would expect employers to continue to pay people while they are working. This grant is for those who will face financial hardship due to a loss of income due to needing to self-isolate. It will be targeted at people who are in receipt of universal credit or legacy benefits, with some discretion to make awards to others in financial hardship.’

In addition, in relation to the apporach that is to be adopted for identifying potential recipients of the grant, Ms Somerville says that -

‘… local authorities [will] provide pro-active offers of support to people who are asked to self-isolate through telephone contact to establish whether any support is required for each household. While we expect that this will allow local authorities to seek information about eligibility for financial support, and encourage or support an application for it, we would also want local authorities to process applications they receive directly (e.g. if someone made an application immediately on being asked to self-isolate, before the follow-up contact).’

Ms Somerville’s letter to the Scottish Social Security Committee is available from parliament.uk