The Self-isolation support scheme is designed to help working people on a low income who cannot work from home and will lose earnings when told to self-isolate by the NHS Wales Test,Trace, Protect service (TTP).
Cardiff Council will be responsible for carrying out the relevant checks and making the fixed £500 or £750 payment to those eligible and living in Cardiff. This payment will not affect other benefits.
To get the payment you or your child must have been formally told to self-isolate by NHS Wales TTP.
Eligible individuals can make a claim up to 21 days after their isolation period has ended.
Standard Award Eligibility
You can apply for a standard payment if you are employed or self-employed, cannot work from home and will lose earnings as a result of self-isolating.
To be eligible, you must also be in receipt of a qualifying benefit:
-
Universal Credit,
-
Working Tax Credit,
-
Income-based Employment and Support Allowance,
-
Income-based Job Seekers Allowance,
-
Income Support,
-
Housing Benefit or
-
Pension Credits
You must not be a young person for whom a parent or guardian is receiving child benefit.
You will need to provide proof of your eligibility and income.
Discretionary Award
If you meet all of the eligibility criteria but do not currently receive one of the qualifying benefits you may still qualify for a discretionary £500 or £750 payment.
To be eligible for a discretionary payment Cardiff Council will have to prove that you are on a low income and have suffered financial hardship as a result of your loss of income whilst self-isolating.
Your application will automatically be considered for a discretionary payment if you do not qualify for a standard award.
You will need to provide proof of your eligibility and income.
Payment amounts
Applicants told to self-isolate for a period starting before the 28th January 2022 will be considered for a £750 payment.
Applicants told to self-isolate for a period starting on or after the 28th January 2022 will be considered for a £500 payment.
Parent or carer eligibility
Eligibility is now extended to include parents and carers who meet the following criteria:
Tax implications of self-isolation payments
Self-isolation payments are taxable. If you are employed, you will 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 are self-employed you must report the payment on your Self-Assessment tax return.
NHS Covid-19 app users
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.
If you have been told to self-isolate by the NHS Covid-19 App you will still need to register with the NHS Wales Test, Trace and Protect service to confirm if you need to isolate before applying. If this is not done we will not be able to consider your application for a payment.
To find out how to register and apply through the NHS Covid-19 app please
visit the Covid app support website.
External link opens in a new window
Apply Now
Covid-19 Self-isolation support scheme privacy noticeExternal link opens in a new window
Help to apply and further information