Self-isolation support payments

Please note: We are currently experiencing a large increase in applications. Please allow 14 days from submission before contacting us.

If you have been contacted by NHS Wales Test, Trace, protect service (TTP) and been told to self-isolate, you may be entitled to financial support. 

If you meet ALL of the eligibility criteria, you are entitled to an Isolation Payment of £750:

• You have been told to self-isolate by:
  o NHS Wales, Test, Trace, Protect service (TTP) on or after 7 August 2021 as a positive case. From this date, only contact cases who are not fully vaccinated will be eligible. Please note: for the period prior to 7 August 2021 the payment will be capped at £500 as per the previous policy position and all contact cases will be eligible regardless of vaccination status
  o Your child has been asked to self-isolate by TTP as a result of a positive case
  o You have received notification from the NHS Covid-19 App because you have been in close contact with a positive case and are then advised by TTP to self-isolate because you are not fully vaccinated. This needs to be evidenced on the TTP system.
• You are employed or self-employed
• You cannot work from home and will lose income as a result
• You or your partner are currently receiving at least one of the following benefits: Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit
• The application is made up to 21 days after the period of self-isolation ended. Applications after this point are not accepted

If you have been advised to self-isolate via the NHS Covid-19 App then you must register your details with Test, Trace, Protect (TTP) within your 10-day isolation period. Further information on how to register with TTP can be found on the NHS website.

Discretionary payment

You may be eligible for a £750 discretionary payment if you meet all of the other eligibility criteria above, but:

• You or your partner Do Not currently receive Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit
• You will face financial hardship as a result of not being able to work while you are self-isolating, for example if your income is below £500 per week or you receive basic Statutory Sick Pay.

If you have the NHS Covid-19 app installed on your phone and are informed to self-isolate, as you may have been in contact with someone who tests positive for Covid 19, you may now also qualify for support. Please note this only applies if you are not fully vaccinated.

How to apply

Please ensure that you have the information below available before starting your application:

• National Insurance Number
• Confirmation of the date given by NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect service (TTP)
• Your most recent Bank Statement, wage slip or proof of self-employment

Please note: Self-isolation payments are taxable. If you’re employed, you’ll pay tax on the payment if you go over your tax-free personal allowance. Your tax code will change to collect the tax. You will not pay National Insurance contributions on the payment. If you’re self-employed you must report the payment on your Self-Assessment tax return.

Applications from members of the same household

People in the same household can each make an individual application to receive the payment, if they each meet the eligibility criteria.

In cases where a child is required to isolate, only one payment can be made to a household for that period. 

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How many times can a person apply for a £750 payment?

• Six. Three awards per individual and a further three if you are a parent/carer claiming because your child has been instructed to self-isolate.

In every case, no payment can be made unless you have been told to self-isolate by TTP and we are required to check that this has happened.

If two periods of self-isolation overlap, only one payment can be made.

For example: If you claim for a period of self-isolation lasting from November 1 to November 14, and then claim again for a second period of self-isolation beginning on November 10, you would only be allowed to claim once, because the two periods overlap. You would only be allowed to claim for a second period of self-isolation if it began after the first period had ended on 14 November.

More detailed information about the scheme can be found on the Welsh Government website.

Information for Care Workers

Care workers who are required to stay off work due to actual or suspected Covid-19 may be able to apply to the Welsh Government’s Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) Enhancement scheme. That was launched on 1 November 2020 and will run until 31 March 2021. Guidance on that scheme is available on Welsh Government’s website. 

Please note: Care workers will not be able to apply for the isolation payment and sick pay schemes for the same period of isolation and will need to choose which payment to claim. Cross checks will be made by the Council to ensure duplicate payments for the same period of isolation are not made.