Welsh Government extends Self-Isolation Support Scheme to June 2021 and widens eligibility criteria

Eligibility rules amended to include people with income of less than £500 per week and those on statutory sick pay who have been asked to self-isolate

The Welsh Government has extended its Self-Isolation Support Scheme to June 2021 and widened the eligibility criteria.

Setting out the changes to the scheme - that are expected to result in an additional 170,000 people being entitled to the £500 Self-Isolation Support Payment - the Welsh Government says -

‘The scheme, which has been extended until June 2021, will now be open to applications from people with a personal income of less than £500 per week and those on Basic Statutory Sick Pay who have been asked to self-isolate by Test, Trace, Protect service, the NHS Covid-19 App or by their child’s education setting.’

Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James said today -

‘Self-isolation is key if we are to stop the spread of coronavirus and with more community testing programmes planned in the coming months it is vital we enhance the scheme to help more people self-isolate and receive the financial support they need.

I want to reiterate my thanks to every local authority in Wales for their continued support in delivering this scheme. Feedback from our local authorities is that the scheme is working well with nearly 8,500 payments made. However we know that a lack of income is still being reported as a barrier for people self-isolating.

The Welsh Government is committed to protecting people’s health and wellbeing and we will continue to help the people of Wales during this difficult time by ensuring those in most need of support receive it.’

For more information, see Eligibility criteria for the Self-Isolation Support Payment widened from gov.wales