NHS Test and Trace Support Payment scheme

NHS Test and Trace Support Payment scheme

How to get a payment of £500 if you’re on a low income and lose income due to self-isolating

You must self-isolate if you:

You could be fined up to £10,000 if you don’t.

What the scheme is

The government set up a NHS Test and Trace Support Payment scheme to support low income workers whose earnings are affected by having to self-isolate for 14 days with a £500 grant.

Who can apply

To be eligible for a Test and Trace Support Payment you must:

  • have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace on or after 28 September 2020 because you have tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
  • be in low paid employment or self-employment
  • be unable to work from home and will lose income as a result

You must also be receiving at least one of the following:

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

People who live with you and need to self-isolate can apply too but they’ll need to fill in their own application. 

If you’re not eligible but would like to know more about other support available, you can:

  • see our Get help page
  • call We Are Bristol on 0800 694 0184, 8.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday

Discretionary payment

You may still be able to receive a payment of £500 under the scheme if you lose income because of self-isolation but do not receive one of the qualifying benefits or tax credits. This would be paid at our discretion.

Who cannot get a Test and Trace Support Payment

You cannot apply for a Test and Trace Support Payment if you:

  • have not been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace
  • do not lose income as a result of self-isolating
  • can work from home
  • are quarantining because you have returned from abroad, unless you have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) and have been asked to self-isolate
  • were asked to self-isolate before 28 September 2020

How to apply

You can apply if you’ve been asked to self-isolate on or after 28 September 2020. You’ll be able to make a backdated claim to this date for payment.
We’ll need:

  • proof of your employment or self-employment, such as your most recent payslip or tax returns
  • proof of loss of income due to self-isolation, such as a recent payslip showing reduction in income or trading accounts for the period of self-isolation
  • your unique eight digit reference number from the NHS Test and Trace notification asking you to self-isolate
  • your bank account details, which must be in your name

If you don’t have proof of loss of income due to self-isolation, complete your application and then email testandtrace@bristol.gov.uk when you have the required evidence. We won’t be able to make a payment until we receive it.

We're not able to accept applications from people told to self-isolate before 28 September 2020, even if the period of self-isolation continues after this date. You can only make a claim up to 14 days after your period of self-isolation ended.

If your application is unsuccessful, please note there is no formal appeal process and our decision will be final. No separate dispute resolution is in place with this scheme.

Apply for Test and Trace Support Payment

You must apply to the scheme within 14 days of self-isolation ending. 

You can apply more than once if you’re asked to self-isolate again but will need to:

  • fill in another application
  • show you qualify for each claim
  • make sure your periods of self-isolation do not overlap

Contact We are Bristol on 0800 694 0184 if you need help with the application process.

Payment

We’ll email you the result of your application as soon as possible.
 
If you’re eligible for support, we should make the payment within three working days of receiving your application and supporting evidence.

The payment will be made to your bank account.