COVID-19: Financial support during self-isolation

From 28 September 2020, if you receive a positive Covid-19 test result or are notified by the NHS to self-isolate because of close contact with someone who has Covid-19, you may be eligible for a £500 lump sum. Payments will only be made for people with a positive diagnosis and a valid unique 8-digit reference number from 28 September onwards (not before). The scheme is due to end on 31 January 2021.

The Test and Trace Support Payment is only for Redbridge residents that were working immediately before being instructed to sel-isolate for 10 days and cannot work from home during this period.

If you were not working prior to being instructed to self-isolate, further information about financial help during the pandemic can be found at http://www.redbridge.gov.uk/coronavirus-information-hub/coronavirus-benefits-support/

Who is not eligible?
You will not be eligible for the scheme if you:
- Were not working immediately before being instructed to self-isolate.
- You receive a student grant or loan for your living costs.
- Continue to receive full wages while you self-isolate.
- Are receiving furlough payments.
- Can work from home during a period of self-isolation.
- Are quarantining after travelling abroad (unless you test positive during the 14-day quarantine period).
- Have not received a notification from NHS Test and Trace telling you to self-isolate.
- Have not responded to messages from NHS Test and Trace.
If you are not eligible for a Test and Trace Support Payment and are experiencing financial hardship, please visit https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/coronavirus-information-hub/coronavirus-benefits-support/ for information on other help you may be entitled to.

Test and Trace Process
A notification from the Test and Trace App is not adequate. You must have had either a test or email sent to you by NHS Test and Trace containing an 8-digit unique identifier, either inviting you to create an account if you test positive, reminding you to do this, or giving advice on self-isolation. It is important that you provide accurate details to NHS Test and Trace either over the phone or by updating your own details online through the link in the text o email. This will enable you to check your personal details such as name, date of birth and postcode.

Everyone who has completed the Test and Trace questionnaire will receive a message (sent either via a text message or email or post for people with no access to mobile phone or email) containing the unique 8-character Account ID.

If you meet the payment eligibility criteria, we will need to validate your unique 8-digit reference number before the payment can be processed.

Eligibility for payments (main scheme)
Eligibility for a £500 Test and Trace Support Payment is restricted to people who meet all of the following criteria:
1. Have been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, either because they have tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive.
2. Are employed or self-employed;
3. Are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result; and
4. Are currently receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income -based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and or Pension Credit.
Please note that if you are entitled to one of these benefits and are not working, you will not be entitled to a Test and Trace Support Payment.

Eligibility for payments (discretionary scheme)
A discretionary payment of £500 can be made to individuals who meet all the following criteria:
1. Have been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, either because they have tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive. A notification from the Test and Trace app is not adequate at present. You must have either a test or email sent to you by NHS Test and Trace containing an 8-digit unique identifier either inviting you to create an account if you test positive, reminding you to do this, or giving advice on self-isolation; and
2. Are employed or self-employed; and
3. Are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result.
4. Are not currently receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit; and
5. are on low incomes and will face financial hardship as a result of not being able to work while they are self-isolating.
Additional criteria for a discretionary payment
- You have applied for a benefit listed in the main scheme or have been refused and have made an appeal against the decision
- You have capital less than £6,000
How to apply
Before you start to complete the online form, please make sure that you have:
- Reviewed and completed all of your NHS Test and Trace details such as date of birth and post code
- Received a notification with a unique 8-digit reference number
- Read and meet the eligibility criteria
- Have all the appropriate evidence ready to upload
To complete the form, you must be prepared to provide:
- Your notification from NHS Test and Trace asking you to self-isolate (a Unique 8-digit ID number)
- Your bank statement (showing the account details where the payment will be made), this will need to show your current address
- Your proof of employment and confirmation from your employer that you cannot work from home
- If you are self-employed, evidence of trading income from the 2-month period prior to the date your self-isolation started.
Providing Evidence
Evidence that cannot be provided at the time of the application must be sent by email to testandtracesupportpayments@redbridge.gov.uk within 5 working days. Please quote your National Insurance Number in the subject field of your email.
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 fraud may be subject to claw back, as may any grants paid in error.

You may only claim from one council. The Government is supporting Local Councils to make the necessary checks to ensure payments can be verified and have been made correctly.

Data Sharing
The information you submit here will be processed by Redbridge Council. We need your consent so that we can access your records in the NHS Test and Trace system to confirm that you are eligible for the Self-Isolation Payment Scheme.

You can find more information on this via the NHS Test and Trace and Redbridge privacy notices
- https://contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk/help/privacy-notice
- https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/about-the-council/privacy-notices/
We will carry out checks with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), for verification purposes, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), for tax and national insurance purposes, and with your employer. We will not share your data with other organisations or individuals outside of the Council for any other purpose.

We will provide information to HMRC about any payments we make because Self-Isolation Payments are subject to Tax and National Insurance Contributions. If you are self-employed, you will need to declare the payment on your self-assessment tax return.

Your rights under the Data Protection Act 2018 allow you to object to any automated-decision making used in this process. If you do, there may be a significant delay in the processing of your application.

We never sell your data to third parties or use it for marketing purposes without your consent. All information is processed in accordance with the Council’s data protection policy.

If you wish to request any changes to the way your data is used for the purposes of processing this application, including the withdrawal of consent , you can exercise your rights under GDPR in writing to the Council’s Data Protection Officer.

If you do withdraw your consent, we will not be able to continue payments to you. Your consent is necessary to establish your eligibility and to authorise any payments made.

In submitting an application you must confirm that you have read, understood and consented to your data being processed in this way for the purposes of assessing your eligibility for a Test and Trace Support Payment.

If you have any questions please email us at testandtracesupportpayments@redbridge.gov.uk or visit our frequently asked questions page.

COVID-19
Have you tested positive for COVID-19?*
- Yes
- No

Contact with someone
Have you been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and received notification from NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate?*
- Yes
- No

NHS self-isolation Account ID (contact)
Please note that to be eligible for the payment the claim must be made no later than 14 days after the period of self-isolation ended.
Is the person who has tested positive a member of your household?*
- Yes
- No
Please enter the Account ID you received from NHS Test and Trace*
Help: This Account ID will have been issued to you by the NHS by email, text or phone
Please upload a copy of your NHS Test and Trace notification
Help: This is the text or email you received from the NHS advising you that you needed to self-isolate for up to 14 days because you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. You can send this later to testandtracesupportpayments@redbridge.gov.uk but please be aware that we will not process your application until we have received this.
Please enter the date your self-isolation period started*
Help: Please enter the date using the DD/MM/YYYY format. Your period of self-isolation must have started on 28/09/2020 or a later date.

NHS self-isolation Account ID
Please note that to be eligible for the payment the claim must be made no later than 14 days after the period of self-isolation ended.
Please enter your COVID-19 Account ID*
Help: This Account ID will have been issued to you by the NHS by email, text or phone. It is the Account ID you were given if you have tested positive so that you can log into the NHS Test and Trace website to record details such as your contacts to help the Government manage the spread of coronavirus.
Please upload a copy of your NHS Test and Trace Notification
Please enter the date your self-isolation period started*
Help: This is the date you tested positive for COVID-19 or the date you first developed symptoms Please enter the date using the DD/MM/YYYY format.

Employment status
Are you?*
- Employed
- Self-employed
- Not working
Help: If you are both employed and self-employed, please select the main option that will result in you losing most income as a result of self-isolating e.g. where you have no entitlement to statutory sick pay if self-employed or where your full wages will not be covered by your employer if you self-isolate.

Job role
What is your job role?*
Help: e.g. Administrative Assistant/ Sales Advisor If you have more than one job, please provide the details of one that you will lose most income from as a result of self-isolating.
Employers name*
Employers address*
Address Line 1 Address Line 2 City County Postcode
Their contact telephone number*
Are you able to work from home?*
- Yes
- No
Will you have a reduction in earned income?*
- Yes
- No
Please upload a copy of your most recent pay slip (no more than two months old)
Help: This should be your most recent pay slip. You can send this later to testandtracesupportpayments@redbridge.gov.uk but please be aware that we will not process your application until we have proof of your earnings.

Self-employed
What is your job role?*
Help: e.g. Electrician/Taxi Driver/Hairdresser
Name of Business/ Limited Company*
Business address*
Address Line 1 Address Line 2 City County Postcode
Are you able to work from home?*
- Yes
- No
Will you have a reduction in earned income?*
- Yes
- No
Please provide proof of your self-employed status
Help: This can be a copy of your most recent accounts, evidence of self-assessment returns or a recent bank statement for your business account (no more than two months old). You can send this later to testandtracesupportpayments@reddbridge.gov.uk but please be aware that we will not process your application until we have received this.

Sick pay
Please indicate if you are entitled to any of the following*
- Full Sick pay*
- Statutory Sick pay
- No Sick pay
Help: *Full Sick pay i.e. your full wage is covered by your employer during your period of self-isolation.

Benefits
Are you or your partner who lives in the same household as you currently receiving any of the following benefits?
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Income based Job Seeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit
Are you or your partner in receipt of any of these benefits?*
- Yes
- No

Which benefits
Please tick which benefits you or your partner receive*
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Income based Job Seeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit
If your partner is in receipt of the benefit above please provide their details
Partner's first name
Partner's last name
Partner's National Insurance (NI) number
Partner's date of birth

NI number
Please enter your National Insurance (NI) number*
Please enter your date of birth*

Banking information
Account holders name*
Help: Please enter your details carefully and check them before moving on to the next page. This must be an account in your name as this will be the account into which any eligible self-isolation payment you are entitled to will be paid.
Account number*
Sort code*
Help: Sort codes must be entered without hyphens or spaces i.e. 112233
Name of Bank/Building Society*
Please upload a copy of your most recent bank statement (no more than two months old)
Help: If you are employed, this bank statement should also include proof of employment i.e. shows wages being paid in. You can send this later to testandtracesupportpayments@reddbridge.gov.uk but please be aware that we will not process your application until we have received this.

Is this form being completed by someone else
Is this form being completed on your behalf by someone else?*
- Yes
- No

Details of person completing the form - 3rd party application
Title*
Please state your title*
First name*
Last name*
Your relationship to claimant*
Reason(s) for you completing the form on their behalf*

Claimants details
Title*
Please state your title*
First name*
Middle name(s)
Last name*
Contact telephone number*
Contact email address*
Home address using postcode lookup*
Find addressSelected address
I am unable to find my Redbridge address using the postcode lookup
- Yes
Redbridge home address entered manually*
Address Line 1 Address Line 2 City County Postcode

Declaration
- I confirm that the information I have provided is true and accurate. I agree to self-isolate for the required period and understand that if I fail to do will be required to pay the funds back.
- I confirm that I have received notification from NHS Test and Trace and have either tested positive for COVID-19 or have been in contact with a positive case and advised to self-isolate.
- I understand that I may face prosecution if I have manipulated or falsified my position in order to obtain these payments, including failure to self-isolate which puts others at risk. Any payment made as a result of fraud may be subject to claw back, as may any grants paid in error. The Government is supporting Local Councils to make the necessary checks to ensure payments can be verified and have been made correctly.
Please tick the box to confirm you have read and understood the above declaration*
- I confirm
Data Sharing
The information you submit here will be processed by Redbridge Council. We need your consent so that we can access your records in the NHS Test and Trace system known as CTAS, to confirm that you are eligible for the Self-Isolation Payment Scheme.

You can find more information on this via the NHS Test and Trace Privacy Notice
- https://contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk/help/privacy-notice
We will carry out checks with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), for verification purposes, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), for tax and national insurance purposes, and with your employer. We will not share your data with other organisations or individuals outside of the Council for any other purpose.

We will provide information to HMRC about any payments we make because Self-Isolation Payments are subject to Tax and National Insurance Contributions. If you are self-employed, you will need to declare the payment on your self-assessment tax return.

Your rights under the Data Protection Act 2018 allow you to object to any automated-decision making used in this process. If you do, there may be a significant delay in the processing of your application.

We never sell your data to third parties or use it for marketing purposes without your consent. All information is processed in accordance with the Council’s data protection policy.

If you wish to request any changes to the way your data is used for the purposes of processing this application, including the withdrawal of consent , you can exercise your rights under GDPR in writing to the Council’s Data Protection Officer.

If you do withdraw your consent, we will not be able to continue payments to you. Your consent is necessary to establish your eligibility and to authorise any payments made.
I have read, understood and consent to my data being processed in this way for the purposes of assessing my eligibility for Test and Trace Support Payments*
- I consent

Confirmation of supplied details
Please check the details below before pressing the "submit" button.
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Sorry - you do not qualify
We are sorry but you do not qualify for the test and trace isolation payment.

If you are on a low income and would like some information about the help and support available to you, please visit Redbridge Council Benefits.

Independent organisations who can offer support with financial information and advice are:

Who is not eligible?

Test and Trace Process

Eligibility for payments (main scheme)

Eligibility for payments (discretionary scheme)

Additional criteria for a discretionary payment

How to apply

Providing Evidence

Fraud

Data Sharing

COVID-19

Contact with someone

NHS self-isolation Account ID (contact)

NHS self-isolation Account ID

Employment status

Job role

Self-employed

Sick pay

Benefits

Sorry – you do not qualify for a test and trace support payment but you may wish to apply for a discretionary payment of up to £500.

Which benefits

If your partner is in receipt of the benefit above please provide their details

NI number

Banking information

Is this form being completed by someone else

Details of person completing the form - 3rd party application

Claimants details

Declaration

Data Sharing

Confirmation of supplied details

Sorry - you do not qualify