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Covid-19 advice and support

For information, advice and support for residents: including how our services are affected and community schemes; and businesses – such as grants you might be entitled to or making premises Covid-safe

See our Covid-19 information pages

Test and Trace Support Payment

If you have been told by NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate and you cannot do your work at home, you may be able to claim a £500 support payment.

You need to make a claim within 28 days of your first day of self-isolation.

The Test and Trace Support payment scheme will close on 31 March 2021.

About the support payment

The government has made a Test and Trace support payment of £500 available to help those on low incomes who cannot work from home, allowing people to self-isolate when required without a negative impact on their finances.

 Read the Stay at home guidance on GOV.UK for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

Who can claim

To receive the Test and Trace Support Payment, you must meet all the following criteria:

  • Have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or 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
  • Be employed or self-employed
  • Be unable to work from home and will lose income as a result
  • Be currently receiving one or more 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

Please note: If you are on a low income and unable to work from home, but do not receive one of the qualifying benefits listed above, you could be considered for a discretionary payment.

Eligibility for the discretionary payment

To receive the discretionary payment, you must meet all the following criteria:

  • Have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app
  • Be employed or self-employed
  • Be losing income because you are unable to work from home (and be able to evidence this)
  • Have household capital (savings) of less than £3,000
  • Have household gross earnings of less than The Minimum Income Standards earnings level which are currently:
    • £37,400 for a family
    • £26,000 for a couple with no children
    • £19,200 for a single person

How to apply

There is one application form to apply for a payment, available on Norfolk County Council’s website.

You can make an application on behalf of someone who has been asked to self-isolate, but the payment will be made to them.

Apply now

You will need to provide:

  • A notification from NHS Test and Trace asking you to self-isolate (including the unique 8-character account ID) – you can also tick the box to say that you are awaiting the reference on the form
  • Proof that you receive one of the benefits listed above
  • A bank statement, and/or
  • Proof of employment – like a recent payslip. Self-employed applicants should provide evidence of self-assessment returns, trading income and being unable to work from home.

Statement

To validate your bank account details, we need to share relevant information you've given us with TransUnion. This will be used to ensure your support payment is paid to the correct bank account and to help prevent fraudulent use of support payments.

This is not a credit check and won't impact your credit rating.

For more information on how TransUnion may use your data, please visit www.transunion.co.uk/legal-information/privacy-centre