UK Government to pay low income earners to isolate

THE UK Government are set to launch a scheme offering low-income earners in England £500 in exchange for agreeing to self-isolate.

The scheme will begin in October around the same time that English residents face fines of up to £10,000 fines for breaking quarantine. Therefore it should definitely make life easier for those low-income earners who are not financially able to isolate for a two week period.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that the idea is to protect those that may be most vulnerable as Covid cases grow and point towards a second wave.

Many British residents won’t be eligible for such schemes and will wait in hope for others to be announced through local government support

So who is actually eligible for the £500 isolation payment?

There are certain criteria you must meet, these are –

You must be receiving Universal Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit or Working Tax Credit.

Those claiming must be employed or self-employed,

Also, not able to work from their home and will lose money as a result

Have been asked to self-quarantine by NHS Test and Trace – whether it be for 10 days as you have tested positive, or for two weeks because  of a positive test or close contact to a positive case.

For those who have symptoms but have not tested positive, although you should isolate the government have made clear you will not qualify.

Payments will be available to those low-income earners who self-isolate from September 28, although the system itself will not be running until a later date. However, it has been said that payments will be backdated.

Those who wish to apply should do so by calling their local council or applying online.

At this point in time, the scheme is only available in England, NOT in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

We hope you enjoyed this article “UK Government to pay low-income earners to isolate”.

You may also wish to read Boris Johnson Expresses Financial Worries

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