We can no longer accept applications for the Test and Trace Isolation Support scheme.
To support residents whose earnings are affected by staying at home and isolating for 10 days, the Government has set up the Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme where eligible residents can apply to their Local Authority for a one off payment of £500.
From 30 November 2021, you’re not exempt from self-isolating if you’ve been told by NHS Test and Trace that you’re a close contact of someone who has been identified as a suspected or confirmed case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
If you are self isolating
You may be eligible if you have been told by the NHS to self-isolate, either because you have tested positive for COVID-19 or you have been a close contact of someone who has been identified as a suspected or confirmed case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
To be eligible for the scheme you must be a Manchester resident and meet all of the following criteria:
- You must have responded to messages from NHS Test and Trace and have provided legally required information, such as details of your close contacts.
- You must have tested positive after a PCR test or an assisted rapid lateral flow test. If you’ve tested positive on a lateral flow test done at home, you must also take a PCR test to confirm you are positive.
- You must be employed or self-employed.
- You must be unable to work from home and will lose income as a result of having to stay at home and self-isolate or caring for a child or young person who has been told to self-isolate.
- You must be receiving one of the following benefits - Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit.
- If you are self isolating:
- You must have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace either because you have tested positive for COVID-19, or have recently been in close contact with someone who has been identified as a suspected or confirmed case of the Omicron variant of COVID19 between 30 November and 13 December 2021.
- You must have been told to self-isolate on or after 28 September 2020.
- If you have to take time off to look after a child or young person who has to self-isolate (Only one parent or guardian can apply per household for the period of self-isolation.)
- The child must be 15 or under (or 25 or under with an Education, Health and Care Plan – (EHC)) and normally attends an education or childcare setting.
- The child or young person has been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace because they have tested positive for COVID-19. Parents and guardians will still be eligible, regardless of whether they have been fully vaccinated. (as they may need to stay at home and look after their child).
- A young person under 25 who has been identified as a close contact and they have an Education, and Health Care Plan, their parents or guardians may be eligible if they need to stay at home to look after them.
- The parent or guardian of a child who has been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace because they are a close contact of someone who has been identified as a suspected or confirmed case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 between 30 November and 13 December 2021.
- The parent or guardian of a child who has been sent home because an outbreak has been identified at their education and childcare setting by local health teams. If an outbreak is identified, local public health teams can take additional measures to reduce transmission, which includes asking classes to self-isolate. In this instance, parents or guardians may have to care for their child at home, and so they may still be eligible.
- There is no other responsible adult at home who could care for the child who is self-isolating.
Discretionary payments
If you are not receiving one of these benefits you may still be entitled under a special discretionary scheme. You can apply for the discretionary scheme using the same online form. Find out if you are eligible.
Late applications
You must apply for a payment within 42 days of the start of your or your child/young person’s self-isolation; for example, if you or your child are told to self-isolate from 8 March, you must apply by 19 April.
Who is not eligible
You will not be eligible for the scheme if you:
- Have not received a notification from NHS Test and Trace telling you to self-isolate.
- Have only tested positive on a lateral flow test done at home and have not confirmed the result with a PCR test or an assisted rapid lateral flow test.
- Are quarantining after travelling abroad (unless you test positive during the 10-day quarantine period).
- Are unable to work because a child under your care cannot attend school due to an outbreak of COVID-19 before 8 March 2021
- Continue to receive full wages during your period of self-isolation.
- Can work from home during the period of your self-isolation.
- Have not responded to messages from NHS Test and Trace and have not provided legally required information, such as details of your close contacts.
- From the 16 August 2021 people who are fully vaccinated and are identified as contacts will no longer be required to self-isolate unless they are a close contact of someone who has been identified as a suspected or confirmed case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 between 30 November and 13 December 2021. This means that fully vaccinated contacts are ineligible for the Test and Trace Support Payment from 16 August 2021. (Unless they test positive, at which point they would become eligible).
- From 16 August 2021 anyone under the age of 18 who is a contact will also be exempt from self-isolation (see exceptions above). This will mean that most parents and guardians will not be eligible for the Test an