There are two schemes – the “Main” and “Discretionary” schemes.

The “Main” Scheme is set by Central Government and applicants must meet the criteria below:

• have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app because you have tested positive for COVID-19;

or

• have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app because you have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive, and are not fully vaccinated, and are not exempt from isolation

and

• have responded to messages and calls from NHS Test and Trace and have provided any legally required information, such as details of their close contacts;
• are employed or self-employed;
• are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result of self-isolating;

and

• are currently receiving, or are the partner in the same household as someone 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

Parents and Guardians

A parent or guardian of a young person who is required to self-isolate may be eligible for a ‘main’ payment if they live in England and meet the following criteria (even if they are exempt from isolation):

• they are the parent or guardian of a young person in the same household who is self-isolating and need to take time off work to care for them;
• they are unable to work from home and will lose income;

The young person is:

• aged 15 or under and has been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace because they have tested positive for COVID-19;

or

• aged 25 or under with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan and been told to stay at home and self- isolate by NHS Test because they have tested positive for COVID-19;

or

• aged 25 or under with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan and been told to stay at home and self- isolate by NHS Test because they are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 and they are not exempt from self-isolation;
• Trace because they have tested positive for COVID-19;

and

• The young person normally attends an education or care setting; and
• The parent or guardian meets all the other criteria for a main scheme payment

The “Discretionary” Scheme is set locally and are for applicants that would be entitled to a main scheme payment but do not receive a qualifying benefit and are on a low income as defined by the Local Authority, and will face hardship as a result of self-isolating.

You can view the full South Somerset District Council Test and Trace Discretionary Payment Scheme policy here.

I started isolating on 22nd February 2022 but did not get my PCR test notification until 24th February, will I still qualify?

No. If you test positive you will receive the notification after the scheme has ended and you will not be under a legal duty to isolate.

Can I claim if I have only had a Lateral Flow Test?

To be considered an assisted LFD test, the test must be taken under the supervision of a trained operator who processes the test, reads, and reports the result. You MUST advise of this in your application. The following definitions may help you when making your application following an assisted LFD test:

• a trained operator is someone who has received specialised education and training with regard to administering medical devices.
• supervision means that the trained operator is in the same location as the person using the test. They may conduct all or some of the steps required to obtain a result.
• examples of assisted LFD tests include those conducted under the supervision of a trained test site operative, care home staff member, a nurse or a doctor.

In all other cases, you will need a follow-up PCR test.

My Lateral Flow Test was positive on 22nd February however, my PCR test was after 24th February, am I still eligible for a payment?

Work has been undertaken by the Department for Health and Social Care so that anyone who has registered a self-reported LFD test on or before 23rd February 2022 will be eligible for the payment if they take a confirmatory PCR test within 10 days (and meet the other criteria).

Can I claim if I'm self-isolating after returning to the UK?

The following groups of people remain ineligible as they are required to quarantine on entry to the UK (and therefore cannot work):

• international arrivals from a red list country
• international arrivals from a non-red list country who are not fully vaccinated and are over 18

International arrivals from a non-red list country who are fully vaccinated and over 18 will be required to take a PCR test before the end of day two. If they test positive, they may be eligible for TTSP – and their contacts may be eligible too. If the day two PCR test is negative, the person will not be eligible for TTSP.

Can more than one person in a household claim?

People in the same household can make an individual application if they meet qualifying criteria.

Can I claim more than once? 

You can claim more than once, if you are told to self-isolate multiple times, as long as your isolation periods do not overlap. Only one payment can be made for overlapping isolation periods.

Are fully vaccinated adults still eligible for the scheme?

As of 16 August 2021, fully vaccinated adults are no longer required to self-isolate if identified as a contact by NHS Test and Trace. This means they are no longer eligible for the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme.

Fully vaccinated adults who test positive are still required to self-isolate. They are still eligible for the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme.

Can I apply on behalf of someone else? 

Applicants can claim on behalf of someone else (eg a son on behalf of a parent) but the payment will only be made into the bank account in the name for whom the application was made (eg in the parent's name).

Who is not eligible? 

You will not be eligible for the scheme if you:

• Are quarantining after travelling abroad (see above)
• Continue to receive full wages while you self-isolate
• Can work from home during a period of self-isolation
• Have not received a notification from NHS Test and Trace telling you to self-isolate
• If you do not engage with Test and Trace during your period of isolation

All applications must be made within 42 days of the first day of isolation. 

The scheme is due to run until March 2022

IMPORTANT- People who receive positive lateral flow results for Covid-19 MUST take a confirmatory PCR test to be eligible for a payment.

Please ensure you have your NHS test and trace account ID, which starts with a “Z”. This should have been sent to you by text or email with instructions to log in and complete your contact information. You MUST complete this and engage with NHS test and trace within your isolation period. We must have the NHS Test and Trace account ID to be able to verify the isolation period and we will not be able to process your application without this information.

I am claiming as I have been told to isolate. 

I am claiming as I provide care for a child that has been told to isolate.

Retrospective claims will be allowed for a period of 42 days from the date of isolation.