Welsh Government announces extension of Self-Isolation Support Scheme to people who have been notified of exposure to Covid-19 by NHS contact tracing app

Scheme extended to app users from today, with applications to local authorities to open from Friday 5 February 2021

The Welsh Government has announced the extension of its Self-Isolation Support Scheme to people who have been notified of exposure to Covid-19 by the NHS contact tracing app.

Confirming the extension of the scheme - which was previously available to those who have been asked to self-isolate by Test, Trace, Protect, or parents whose child has been asked to self-isolate by their education setting - the Welsh Government says that, from today, those asked to self-isolate by the NHS Covid-19 app will be eligible for a payment if -

• they are employed or self-employed;
• they are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result; and
• they or their partner are currently receiving, universal credit, working tax credit, income-based employment and support allowance, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income support, housing benefit or pension credit; or
• they have their application accepted under the discretionary element of Self-Isolation Support Scheme.

The Welsh Government also advises, until a digital solution is found that will enable people to apply for a payment directly from the app, people who are asked to self-isolate can apply for the payment from their local authority, adding that -

'Local authorities will be able to accept and process applications for payments from Friday 5 February and applicants will be able to apply up to three weeks from their last date of isolation.'

For more information, see Users of the NHS Covid-19 App now eligible to apply for £500 self-isolation payment from gov.wales