CAB: Cash help for isolating families is not enough

The new self-isolation support grant may prove too little, too late for Renfrewshire families worst affected by the pandemic, anti-poverty campaigners have warned.

The £500 grant aims to support those for whom a 14-day quarantine would result in an unbearable hardship.

Opening for applications on October 12, the scheme is designed to ensure people asked to self-isolate by public health officials do not face financial ruin for“doing the right thing”.

It will be available to all those who are in receipt of Universal Credit or legacy benefits.

However, local authorities, which will be administering the payments through the

Scottish Welfare Fund, are being given some discretion to make awards to others in financial hardship.

A spokesman for Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) said the scheme would, in some cases, simply not be enough for families who were facing financial crisis before the pandemic struck.

He said:“Renfrewshire CAB welcomes this scheme and recognises that it may prove vital to helping many of those who self-isolate to avoid hardship.

“For others, already struggling on low incomes and in insecure employment, it may prove too little and we hope that the Scottish Welfare Fund recognises the need to self-isolate as a new driver of applications for crisis grants alongside the self-isolation support grant.

“Details of eligibility and evidence required to support a claim for the grant are unclear and we anticipate supporting the community on these points and with appeals if Scottish Welfare Fund applications are declined.”

The broad criteria for the scheme was revealed by Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville last week.

She said:“Self-isolation can be tough, but it is essential to protect people and reduce the spread of coronavirus.

“To ensure people do not experience financial hardship as a result of doing the right thing, we are introducing this new £500 grant for people on low incomes who have been told to self-isolate.

“We want to do everything we can to support people throughout this challenging time and these payments will help ensure people do not have to make a choice between self-isolating and supporting themselves financially.

“I am glad that the scheme has the support of local authorities and that we have a means of delivering it from next month.”

The Scottish Welfare Fund was established in April 2013 to provide crisis grants to people facing an emergency or disaster and community care grants to help people establish or maintain a home.