Should I work or self-isolate?
Q. I was wondering if you could help me navigate a tricky situation that I am in currently.
My colleague tested positive for coronavirus last weekend, I got a test on Monday which produced a negative result.
I have been told that track and trace should contact me about having to self-isolate. However, I have not received this message and without it my manager is still having me work instead of self-isolating.
Am I okay to work since I got a negative test or should I be self-isolating as I have not received any contact from track and trace?
A. On the government website it states that if a work colleague tests positive for Covid19 you will be contacted by the track and trace department who will give you further instructions and you will then have to isolate.
Only if you experience Covid19 symptoms will you book a test and have to isolate until you get your result. If you do not hear from track and trace then you do not need to self-isolate.
Q. HMRC contacted me by telephone to tell me that I owe the government tax from the year 2019- 2020. They asked for my address and bank details to take a £2000 payment.
I am wondering why I have not had a letter explaining this in more detail as I believe that my tax is all up to date.
A. An HMRC adviser would never contact you by telephone, you would receive by post either a P800 or a simple assessment tax calculation giving a summary on what is owed to you or due by you.
This may be a scam and you can report this via our Citizens Advice website. If you feel threatened or are in immediate danger you can call the police on 101.
Q. I am currently on Personal Independence Payment (PIP), but my condition has worsened and think I should be entitled to enhanced rate and not standard, do I apply again or how do I let the DWP know?
A. You need to tell the DWP as soon as possible if your condition changes because this can affect your PIP.
Report a change as soon as possible – this is called a supersession or reassessment. You can call or write to the DWP to tell them about the change, but you must write to them if you’ve changed your name.
Once the change is reported, the DWP will write and let you know how it affects your PIP.
You’ll need to include these details when you report a change: Your full name; Your date of birth; Your national insurance number;
The date the change happened or will happen; The thing that has changed. Someone else can call the PIP helpine on your behalf but you need to be with them so that you can give permission for them to speak for you.
Telephone number to contact is 0800 121 4433.
The contact address to use is on your original decision letter.
It is a good idea to keep a written record of the fact that you’ve reported the change to the DWP. For example, in case the DWP disagrees that a change has been reported.
If you report the change by phone, you can ask the DWP to send you a written record of the call.
If you write to report the change, keep a copy of the letter.
If the DWP wants to assess you again they will send you a new claim form to complete. You should fill in the form and send it back by the date given on the front page.
Q. I am looking for help to have a food parcel delivered. I am on a low income and struggling with money and I have had to self-isolate due to my daughter having been diagnosed with Covid-19. We do not have anyone that can help us with this.
A. Your local authority area might have foodbank referral schemes in place. Many foodbanks are now open to physically pick up food that has been pre-packed. You can contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau for details.
In addition to this there is a national helpline that can offer advice and help with food and other essentials and can be contacted on 0800 111 4000. They will also help with delivering NHS prescriptions.
Q. I would like to apply for divorce and would like to know how to go about this. I have been separated from my husband for five years.
A. The criteria for a DIY divorce is that: You have lived apart for at least one year and your spouse has agreed to a divorce or you and your spouse have lived apart for two years, then there is no consent required; there are no children under the age of 16; you and your spouse are not seeking financial or property provision; there are no medical conditions that prevent any spouse from understanding the procedures and there is no religious impediment to the remarriage of either spouse.
A solicitor isn’t required in the DIY procedure.
In the DIY divorce process, you will need:
A form for simplified procedure for obtaining a divorce in Scotland.
There are three types of form: one for one-year cases, one for two-year cases and one for cases based on the issue of an interim gender recognition certificate.
Different forms are used in sheriff courts and in the Court of Session, so the client will need to ensure they get the correct form for the court they wish to apply to.
The Court of Session forms can be obtained from the Court of Session or from the Scottish courts and tribunals service website. Also:
Their marriage certificate or a certified copy of it. A photocopy will not be accepted. The court will return the marriage certificate once the application has been processed.
Their interim gender recognition certificate or certified copy of it, if applicable.
The application can either be sent to the Court of Session in Edinburgh or more commonly the local sheriff court where you or your spouse reside.
If these are in different areas it would be the sheriff court in the applicant’s area that the form would be filed.
Q. I had a holiday booked for
April 2020 privately through a hotel in Paris worth a lot of money. Due to Covid-19 I was unable to go and I was offered a credit note that lasts until October 2021 but I did not accept this and asked for a full refund instead. They have not replied to me.
I paid for the holiday by credit card. Is there anything I can do to get my money back as my personal circumstances have changed and I need the money now?
A. If you used a credit card then you should apply for a section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
Every bank has details on their website regarding how to apply for a section 75 and it can usually be done by either telephone or online form.
The bank will investigate your claim and if successful you will be financially reimbursed through the original payment. Please be aware there are time limits on applying for a section 75. This will be in your banks terms and conditions.