NHS Test and Trace Self-Isolation Support Payment

From 28 September 2020 it was made illegal for any UK resident to leave their homes if:

• they have tested positive for COVID-19, or
• they have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace and told to self-isolate

For some people, this may mean they are unable to go to work and so will lose pay. To help them the Government has introduced a support payment to help out while they self-isolate.

• What are self-isolation payments?
• Who can claim
  • Parents and Guardians
• Discretionary payments
• Who cannot claim
• Completing your application
• How to find your NHS Test and Trace ID
• What you need to give us
• How to apply
• Appeals
• Help and support for residents
• Can I apply more than once?
• Fraud
• Penalties for failing to self-isolate
• What you can do if you are overdrawn and get benefits or grant payments

What are Self-Isolation Payments?

Anyone who has been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace who may be entitled to make a claim, will be given a unique number for them to apply for this payment:

• £500 if you have tested positive for coronavirus and been told by NHS Track and Trace to self-isolate
• £500 if you have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus by NHS Track and Trace and been told to self-isolate

Back to top

Who can claim

To be considered for the payment you must:

• live in the London Borough of Haringey, and
• have been notified to self-isolate on or after 28 September 2020, and
• have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, or from 10 December 2020 via the NHS COVID-19 App, either because you’ve tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, and
• have responded to the NHS Test and Trace messages you received (via a combination of email, text, letter or phone call) and provided your contact details, and if you have tested positive, the details of your contacts (we cannot award you an isolation payment if you have failed to do this or if the details you have given to NHS Test and Trace do not match your application and proofs), and
• be employed or self-employed, and
• be unable to work from home and will lose income as a result, and
• be currently receiving (or are the partner of someone in the same household who is currently receiving) either Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit, and
• make a claim within 42 days of the first day of your self-isolation

You must meet all of the above criteria to be eligible for a payment.

Parents and Guardians of a self-isolating person

From 8 March 2021 parents or guardians may qualify for a self-isolation payment where they live in the same household and are responsible for:

• a person aged 15 or under who attends an education or childcare setting, or
• a person aged 25 or under who has additional support requirements and also attends an education or childcare setting

To be considered for a payment:

• the person you are responsible for began self-isolating on 8 March 2021 or later (you are not eligible if the isolation began before 8 March 2021), and
• you live in the London Borough of Haringey, and
• you are the parent or guardian of the self-isolating person and live in the same household as them, and
• you need to take time off work to care for them while they self-isolate (this is limited to one parent or guardian per household for the period the person is self-isolating), and
• you are employed or self-employed, and
• you are cannot work from home while undertaking caring responsibilities and will lose income as a result, and
• you are currently receiving (or are the partner of someone in the same household who is currently receiving) either Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit, and
• the person has been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or their education or childcare setting because they have been identified as a recent contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, and
• you make a claim within 42 days of the first day the person you are responsible began self-isolation

You must meet all of the above criteria to be eligible for a payment.

If you have difficulties completing the application form for the person you are responsible for, email Isolation.payments@haringey.gov.uk.

Back to top

Discretionary payments

If you work and do not get benefits but you fit all other criteria for the main scheme, you may eligible under the Discretionary Scheme.

If you do not qualify for a £500 discretionary payment once your circumstances have been assessed, we will automatically consider you for a local support payment of up to £500 to help you isolate.  

To apply for this discretionary payment to help you isolate, email connectedcommunities@haringey.gov.uk or call 020 8489 4431.

Back to top

Who cannot claim

You cannot claim if you:

• have not been contacted by NHS Test and Trace telling you to self-isolate
• are quarantining after travelling abroad
• continue to receive full wages while you self-isolate
• can work from home during the period of self-isolation
• are no longer required to self-isolate i.e. your period of self-isolation ended before the scheme launched on Monday 28 September
• do not get one of the prescribed benefits

Back to top

Completing your application

You need the following information to complete your application:

• your unique ID number as provided by the NHS Test and Trace
• your National Insurance number or National Asylum Support Service (NASS) number
• your full name
• your date or birth
• a contact telephone number and email address
• your current full address and postcode
• details of benefits you receive
• details of your employment including your employer’s name address and contact number
• details of the bank account you want the support payment paid into

This application is for one person only and any further applications within the same household must be made by each individual.

You will receive this payment via BACS transfer into your bank account (this cannot be paid into a third-party account). The support payment is for £500 and is subject to Income Tax but not National Insurance. You will not be taxed at the point of payment, however you will be contacted by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) at a later date regarding the Income Tax.

If you require additional support to help you isolate, email connectedcommunities@haringey.gov.uk or call 020 8489 4431.

Back to top

How to find your NHS Test and Trace Account ID

The NHS Test and Trace Account ID can be found in text messages and emails that are sent to people who are asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace. A list of messages that contain the ID include:

• an initial invitation message asking the individual to create an account on the Contact Tracing and Advice Service (CTAS) if they test positive for COVID-19 or they are identified as a contact
• a reminder message to create an account (where applicable)
• advice providing guidance on self-isolation, health, well-being and legal duties

For more information see: Obtaining an NHS Test and Trace Account ID (PDF, 56KB).

Back to top

What you need to give us

You need to give us the following with your application:

• proof you are working (for example, your latest wage slip, a bank statement showing your latest wages or proof of your self-employed status such as HMRC Tax self-assessment letters, business bank account statements or business rates bill)
• your most recent bank statement for the account you want the payment made to - the statement should include your name, address and account details

Back to top

How to Apply

Apply for an NHS Test and Trace Self-Isolation Support Payment online:

Apply now

If you require help and support completing your application email connectedcommunities@haringey.gov.uk or call 020 8489 4431.

An appointment will be made for an officer to complete the form with you by phone.

What happens next?

When we receive your application we will carry out checks with relevant council departments, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the NHS Test and Trace Service to confirm your self-isolation status.

If you are awarded a payment we will notify HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for tax purposes.

We aim to process your application and make a decision within 5 working days. We will notify you by email of the outcome of your application.

If you are awarded a payment it should reach your bank account within 3 working days of our email to you.

Back to top

Appeals

There are no appeal rights to an Independent Tribunal but you can ask us to look at your case again within 14 days of our decision if you are not happy with the outcome of your application.

Requests for a review of our decision need to be made in writing, state the reasons why you are asking for a review of the decision and be signed and dated.

Requests should be sent to isolation.payments@haringey.gov.uk. You will be notified of the outcome in writing within 28 days of the decision being looked at again.

Back to top

Help and Support for Residents

Information about the help and support available to our residents is on our COVID-19 Help and support page.

Back to top

Can I apply more than once?

You can only claim a self-isolation support payment more than once if you have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace again for a different period. You will be eligible as long as you meet the eligibility criteria for each individual claim and your periods of self-isolation do not overlap.

Back to top

Fraud

You may face prosecution if you have manipulated or falsified your position in order to obtain these payments, including failure to self-isolate which puts others at risk. Any payment made as a result of proven fraud may be subject to recovery action.

Haringey Council along with Government assistance will be making the necessary checks to ensure payments can be verified and have been made correctly.

Back to top

Penalties for failing to self-isolate

As well as new support measures, from 28 September, you could also be fined if you do not stay at home and self-isolate following a positive test result for COVID-19, or if you are contacted by NHS Test and Trace and instructed to self-isolate because you are a contact of someone who has had a positive test result.

More information about the legal duty to self isolate is available on GOV.UK (external link).

Back to top