Overspend on test and trace payments
Sunderland City Council has made 347 awards and confirmed it had received 1,300 applications for support
Sunderland City Council says it has received 1,300 applications for support through the Test and Trace payment scheme and has called on the Government to stay true to its pledge to help local authorities cover the cost.
People asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace who are on a low income, unable to work from home and who will lose income as a result, may be entitled to a payment of £500 from their local authority under the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme.
In a Facebook post, Washington Central councillor Dianne Snowdon said that Sunderland City Council has so far had to go over their allotted payment funding.
When the scheme was launched on September 28, the council were given £148,000 of funding – which would cover 296 eligible applicants.
But Sunderland Council has said that 347 payments have been made up to date, totalling an estimated £173,500 – resulting in the council being over their allocation with the scheme not ending until January 31. The council also confirmed it had received 1,300 applications for support.
Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council, Cllr Paul Stewart, said the authority would continue to support residents and make payments to those who met the necessary criteria.
And he added that the council would “remind the Government about its pledges” to help meet those costs.
Between the launch of the scheme and December 1, Sunderland saw more than 7,000 positive Covid-19 cases.
Cllr Snowdon said: “In Sunderland we were given £148,000 of funding for the main scheme which runs until 31st January so enough for 296 eligible applicants.
“As of the 1st December, the city council have made 332 payments with a value of £166,000.
"So they are already over the allocation with another two months to go.
“More support is needed by Central Government, clearly they underestimated the demand and once again have left local authorities paying the costs.”
The test and trace payment scheme allows those who have been told to self-isolate by the NHS app to claim a one-off payment of £500 to cover a loss of earnings over the isolation period.
Local authorities can offer discretionary payments for those going through “financial hardship” who are employed or self-employed and do not claim any income support or credit – however councils can set additional criteria.
The additional criteria for Sunderland City Council are:
The person, or their partner if they have one, do not hold capital of £500 or more, and
Are receiving a low amount of income during their period of self-isolation, and
Are suffering from exceptional financial hardship.
Eligible residents in Sunder land are encouraged to apply for the payment by visiting: https://www. sunderland. gov.uk/ Testand Trace Support Payment
Cllr Stewart added: “The Government pledged earlier this year that it would assist in meeting the costs that are being incurred by councils across the country fighting covid. We are continuing to remind the Government about its pledges.”