Claiming Financial Support Under Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme

!!! Applies to England only !!!

The £500 Test and Trace Support Payment is for people on low incomes who must self-isolate due to coronavirus (COVID-19). You may be eligible if you are employed or self-employed, cannot work from home, and will lose income as a result. You can only apply if you have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, notified to self-isolate by the NHS COVID-19 app, or you are the parent or guardian of a child who has been told to self-isolate.

If you have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, you are legally required to do so. If you’ve been notified by the NHS COVID-19 app to self-isolate and you apply for the Test and Trace Support Payment, you will be legally required to self-isolate.

Who can Apply?

You might be able to get a payment of £500 to support you during self-isolation if you live in England and meet all the following criteria:

  • You have been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app, either because you have tested positive for COVID-19 or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive You have responded to messages from NHS Test and Trace and have provided any legally required information, such as details of your close recent contacts
  • You are employed or self-employed
  • You are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result of self-isolating
  • You are currently receiving or are the partner of someone in the same household

Who is receiving, at least one of the following benefits:

  • Universal Credit
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Income Support
  • Housing Benefit
  • Pension Credit

If you are not on one of these benefits, you might still be able to apply for a £500 discretionary payment if all the following apply:

  • You meet all the other criteria listed above
  • You are on a low income
  • You will face financial hardship as a result of self-isolating

Your council will tell you what counts as low income and financial hardship, and whether you are eligible.

In England, the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme is run by local councils.

If you think you meet the eligibility criteria for either the Test and Trace Support Payment or a discretionary payment, you can apply through your local council. You can claim up to 42 days after the first day of your self-isolation period.

Apply Through Your Council

Search for your local council to apply on their website. They will tell you what evidence you need to apply.

Click here to find your Local Council

Who is not eligible?

You will not be eligible for either scheme if you:

  • Are aged under 16
  • Are quarantining after travelling abroad (unless you test positive during the 14-day quarantine period).
  • Continue to receive full wages while you or your child or dependent self-isolate.
  • Can work from home during a period of self-isolation.
  • Are making an application 42 days or more after the start of the self-isolation period or the date your child or dependent was first requested to stay home.

If you or the person you are caring for are self-isolating, but have not been asked to by NHS Test and Trace or their education or care setting:

  • We will be unable to verify your exposure if the person you have had close contact with lives outside the borough of Lambeth and has not had a positive test or been named as a close contact to NHS Test and Trace.
  • If you do not have COVID-19 symptoms, and you were advised to self-isolate by someone in your household with COVID-19 symptoms but who has not got a positive test, you need to go to one of the test centers and have a positive test result in order to be eligible for this payment, or your household member needs to order a home test by phoning the NHS on 119.