If you are on a low income, and are asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, you may be entitled to a one-off payment of £500 from the Government's Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme.
You could also claim if you are the parent or guardian of a child or young person that has been told to self-isolate.
Find out:
Who is eligible?
You may be able to claim a Test and Trace Support Payment from us if you are a Chesterfield Borough Council resident* and you meet ALL of the following criteria:
- you have been notified to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, (or via the NHS COVID-19 app and you have subsequently registered with NHS Test and Trace) and you have an 8 character NHS Test and Trace Account ID number OR you are the parent or guardian of a child or young person that has been told to self-isolate - see more below
- you (or your child) comply with the NHS test and Trace notification to self-isolate
- you are employed or self-employed
- you are not able to work from home, AND you will lose income as a result of having to stay at home
- you are receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, or Pension Credit
If you are not in receipt of one of the above benefits you may be entitled under our discretionary scheme if you:
- are in receipt of Council Tax Support
- have been in receipt of Council Tax Support or one of the qualifying benefits in the last two months
- made a claim for Council Tax Support or a qualifying benefit before to being asked to self-isolate, but not yet been notified of your award
- will suffer exceptional hardship as a direct result of having to stay at home
All claims must be made within 42 days of your self-isolation period starting.
Have you been told to self-isolate by your employer?
Most people who test positive for COVID-19, or are a contact of someone who has had a positive test, will be notified to self-isolate by the NHS Test and Trace service or via the COVID-19 app.
If your employer has asked you to self-isolate (because a colleague has tested positive for COVID-19), they can register you directly with the Contact Tracing Advisory Service (CTAS) by calling 020 3743 6715.
You will then be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and will receive the 8 character code you need to apply for a Test and Trace Support Payment.
If you have been notified to isolate via the COVID-19 app
(from 10 December 2020 onwards)
You will need to register with the Contact Tracing Advisory Service (CTAS) to get your NHS Test and Trace Account ID number - this is because the app is anonymous. There is a link in the app, and you must register while you are in your self-isolation period. You cannot request your Account ID after you’ve finished self-isolating. Find out how to register here.
Parents and guardians of children or young people that have been told to self-isolate
You may be able to claim if:
- you are the parent or guardian of a child or young person in the same household, 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 child or young person’s self-isolation period)
- the child or young person:
- is aged 15 or under (or 25 or under with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC) and normally attends an education or childcare setting
- has been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or by their education or childcare setting because they have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19
You also need to meet all of the other eligibility criteria above.
You will need to provide details of the education or care setting that they usually attend, we will check with them that the information you have provided is correct. You can only claim as a parent/guardian if the child or young person was told to self-isolate on or after 8 March 2021.
Who is not eligible
You will not be eligible for the scheme if you:
- don’t have an 8 character NHS Test and Trace Account ID number OR the child/young person you are caring for does not have proof that they have to self-isolate
- are not employed or self employed
- are quarantining after travelling abroad (unless you test positive during the 10-day quarantine period)
- are self-isolating because you or another member of your household have symptoms of COVID-19
- continue to receive full wages during your period of self-isolation (for example your employer pays you as normal, or you take holiday entitlement instead of unpaid leave)
- can work from home during your period of self-isolation
You can not claim if your self-isolation period began more than 42 days ago.
Information you will need
To apply you will need:
- your National Insurance Number
- your most recent bank statement (showing your name and bank details) for the account you ask us to make the payment to
- if you are employed:
- proof of employment such as your most recent wage slip or bank statement showing the wages being paid into your account
- the name and address of your employer
- if you are self-employed:
- proof of your self-employment, such as your most recent set of accounts or evidence of self-assessment tax returns
- your 8 character NHS Test and Trace Account ID number - this can be found on the text message or email you were sent by NHS Test and Trace - you can't submit the form without this number (find out how to get this if your were notified to self-isolate by the COVID-19 app)
If you are claiming because of exceptional hardship, you will need to give details of weekly/monthly income, expenditure and savings for you and your partner. You will also need to explain why the loss of income due to staying at home is causing you exceptional hardship.
Parents and guardians
Instead of your own NHS Test and Trace Account ID number you will need ONE of the following to show that the child or young person has been told to self-isolate:
- their 8 character NHS Test and Trace Account ID number
- a communication from the child or young person’s education or childcare setting confirming that they have to self-isolate
- a screenshot of the young person’s NHS COVID-19 App notification telling them to self-isolate AND evidence that they have an Education, Health and Care Plan (if they are 16 or over)
How to apply
You can make an application online using the form below, and we will ask you to create an account before you claim your payment. Get help if you can't apply online.
We can't process your claim until we have received all the information and evidence we ask for to support your application. Evidence can be uploaded when you apply - we accept electronic copies, scanned images or clear photos of your documents.
You must agree to self-isolate for the required period, if you don't you will be required to pay the funds back and your details may be provided to the police.
You must apply within 42 days of your self-isolation period starting.
We will check that your income will reduce because of self-isolating. If you don't know whether your income will be reduced please check with your employer before claiming, as we want to avoid having to ask you to pay the money back.
Protecting your privacy - find out how we keep your information safe.
We may cross-check the details you provide in this application with our benefit and Council Tax records, and may use the information provided to update your Council Tax or benefit account.
What happens next?
We will check the information you have provided by carrying out checks with the NHS Test and Trace Service, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and with your employer.
If you are claiming because you are caring for a child or young person, we will check with their education or care setting that the information you have provided is correct.
If you are successful we aim to make your payment within three working days of receiving your completed application (this includes the evidence we have asked for). We will notify you by email whether your application has been successful or not.
If you have been awarded a payment we will pay it into the bank account your provided on your application. We will also notify HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for tax purposes.
* If you are not sure who to claim from, you can find your local council here.
