Guidance

Test and Trace Support Payment scheme: claiming financial support

Who can claim the support and how to apply.

From:
UK Health Security Agency
Published
12 October 2020
Last updated
24 February 2022 — See all updates

This publication was withdrawn on

The Test and Trace Support Payment scheme has now closed. You can no longer make a claim.

Applies to England

Documents

Claiming financial support under the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme

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Details

The Test and Trace Support Payment scheme ended on 24 February 2022. If you were required to isolate before this date you can still submit an application up to 42 days after your first day of isolation.

If you’ve been contacted by NHS Test and Trace and told to self-isolate on or after 28 September 2020, you’re under a legal obligation to do so and could be eligible for a £500 Test and Trace Support Payment.

This guidance sets out who can claim support and explains how to apply.

Updates to this page

Published 12 October 2020
Last updated 24 February 2022 + show all updates

  1. Added notice that the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme ends on 24 February 2022.

  2. Removed information regarding self-isolation change for contacts of Omicron cases which ended on 13 December 2021.

  3. Updated to clarify Test and Trace Support Payment eligibility: a positive COVID-19 PCR test or an assisted rapid lateral flow test.

  4. Updated guidance to reflect changes to self-isolation exemptions.

  5. Updated guidance to reflect changes to self-isolation exemptions relating to Omicron variant.

  6. Updated to reflect the impact that exemption from self-isolation will have on eligibility for the Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme.

  7. Updated attachment 'Claiming financial support under the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme' to make eligibility criteria clearer.

  8. Updated to reflect that you can claim up to 42 days after the first day of your self-isolation period, and that the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme has been extended to parents and guardians who need to take time off work to care for a child who is self-isolating.

  9. Updated to delete the 'Background' section as its information was either out of date or is in the 'Eligibility' section.

  10. Updated 'eligibility' section: you can make a claim for the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme or a discretionary payment up to 28 days after the first day of your period of self-isolation.

  11. Updated guidance on eligibility for discretionary payments. Added link to look-up tool linking to individual local authority application pages. Added information about application deadline.

  12. Added information on how contacts identified through the COVID-19 app can now apply for the Test and Trace Support Payment. Updated the eligibility for the discretionary scheme to reference local authorities' ability to include additional eligibility criteria in their area. Added links to other financial and work-related COVID-19 support.

  13. Added a bullet point to the eligibility criteria: 'you’ve responded to messages received from NHS Test and Trace (via email, text, letter or phone call) in which you provided your contact details and where you’ve tested positive, and the details of your contacts'. Added 2 links to advice on NHS.UK.

  14. Added information on notifications through the NHS Test and Trace app and what you need to provide to your local authority when you apply for the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme.

  15. First published.

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