The Council will provide more financial support to residents who lose income if they are instructed to self-isolate because they test positive for Covid-19, or come into contact with someone that has.
The Council’s Cabinet approved plans for the new £100,000 of local financial support today (25 January), which comes into effect immediately. It will run alongside the Government’s national self-isolation support payment scheme and will provide financial assistance to many people who fall outside the national scheme, with the intention that anyone who needs to self-isolate and who would otherwise lose income as a result is entitled to cash.
Crucially, it is hoped that the scheme will incentivise people worried about the financial consequences of not being able to work, to do the right thing.
Under the local scheme, a payment of £250 will be made if applicants meet the following criteria:
- 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.
- Started a period of self-isolation on or after the 25th January 2021.
- Have not been able to access the Government’s self-isolation support payments or discretionary payments.
- Are employed or self-employed; and
- Are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result.
Councillor Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: “If we are going to slow down transmission of the virus it is absolutely vital that people self-isolate if they are instructed to do so – but we are acutely aware that is easier said than done for some people, who face the horrible hobson’s choice of not being able to pay the bills and look after their family, or risk infecting work colleagues, friends, family and the wider community.
“We were seeing too many instances of people in genuine need being turned down for the national scheme because they did not meet the Government’s strict criteria. By broadening the criteria for the local payments, it will mean people will be able to afford to do the right thing – and there can be no excuses for those that don’t.
“The rollout of the vaccination across Rotherham is on-track and most welcome, but if we’re going to protect the NHS and save lives, we must continue with measures to reduce the spread of the virus. These payments, alongside other work to help businesses implement COVID secure workplaces and increasing local test and trace activity are part of our Contain strategy and will go a long way towards helping us to do that.”
The Council has allocated a total of £100,000 for the scheme, which will allow for an initial 400 claims to be paid.
Applications can be made via the Council’s website.
Applicants should follow the process already in place for the national scheme and any claims that do not meet the criteria will automatically be considered for the local scheme, subject to available funding. Applicants will need the unique NHS Test and Trace ID number they have been allocated for their application.
The scheme applies for isolation periods starting from 25th January and cannot be applied retrospectively to people who have previously self-isolated or are part way through self-isolation.