Scottish Government announces extension of Self-Isolation Support Grant to new groups

Changes, that include extending entitlement to parents whose children are required to self-isolate, will come into effect from 7 December 2020

The Scottish Government has announced the extension of its Self-Isolation Support Grant to new groups.

The change will mean that the grant - which provides £500 for low-income workers who have been told to self-isolate and who would face financial hardship as a result - will also be available from 7 December 2020 to parents whose children are required to self-isolate, and people who have not yet claimed universal credit but are eligible.

NB - currently, parents or carers of children under 16 who are asked to self-isolate, but who are not required to self-isolate themselves, are not eligible for the grant, and those entitled because of low income need to be in receipt of universal credit or other benefits.

Announcing the changes, Scottish Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said - 

'We introduced this grant at unprecedented speed, and I am grateful for the work of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and councils to ensure it is up and running.

While self-isolation can be difficult for everyone, we know there are particular financial barriers to complying faced by some people. 

We always said we would review this grant to make sure it worked for people who face hardship as a result of self-isolation. That is why we are making changes for some people who are not currently eligible. 

We are extending it to parents of children aged under 16 who need to take time off work because their child is told to self-isolate, and also to people who are eligible for universal credit, but have not claimed it – providing they fulfil all of the other criteria for the grant.

Supporting people to self-isolate is critical to controlling the spread of the virus.  These are important changes, and I am grateful to councils for their continued work to support those who can claim this grant.'

For more information, see More people can claim Self-Isolation Support Grant from gov.scot