Self-isolation payments extended to parents and carers

THE Welsh Government’s £500 self-isolation payment scheme is being extended to include parents and carers of children who have been asked to self-isolate.

Bridgend county borough residents on low incomes who are unable to work because they have been told to self-isolate by the Test, Trace Protect service for up to 14 days are able to apply for financial support.

The scheme has now been expanded to support parents or carers who are losing income because they are unable to work while looking after children who cannot go to school or their normal childcare setting because of Covid-19.

The eligibility criteria for the payments is:

your child attends a school or childcare setting up to and including Year 8 (or up to age 25 if the learner has additional complex needs);

the child has been asked to self-isolate as a result of an outbreak in a school, childcare or further education setting and has received a formal notification from the school, childcare or further education setting;

parents or carers meet the criteria of the main scheme, namely they are employed or selfemployed; are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result; and

(the applicant or their partner) are currently receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax

Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, incomebased Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit.

In exceptional circumstances, discretionary payments of up to £500 will be available to other employed residents who are not getting any benefits but are self-isolating and at risk of financial hardship.

Residents can apply for the payments using a form on the Bridgend County Borough Council website, which will be available from Monday, 14 December.

If you can’t access the Self-isolation Support Payment form online, you can call 01656 643 643 for advice.