People in Wakefield to benefit from £1m in self-isolation payments by end of March

People in Wakefield will have benefitted from almost £1million in self-isolation payments by the end of March, Wakefield Council says. Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images

As part of the government's contact tracing scheme, introduced in September, those who test positive for Covd-19 or are identified as close contacts of someone who has tested positive are required to self-isolate.

The scheme aims to support and encourage people to self-isolate by awarding them a £500 lump sum payment, providing they meet certain criteria.

Since September, Wakefield Council has made 1,077 awards, providing £538K in financial support to people required to self-isolate.

Coun Michael Graham, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “We believe that in the fight against coronavirus it is essential that everyone who tests positive, follows the rules and self-isolates.

“We will continue to help, support and encourage those residents on a low income and who are suffering hardship to self-isolate by continuing to provide financial support until the end of March 2021.

"We expect to make a further 900 awards totalling £450K during this time.”

This will mean that from 28 September 2020 through to 31 March 2021, the Council will have awarded almost £1m in payments and helped approximately 2,000 people.

As part of its response to the Coronavirus, the Government announced in September of last year a new law for all those who test positive for COVID-19 or are identified by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact, requiring them to self-isolate.

The new legislation which was put in place on September 28 means that failure to comply is an offence carrying a fine of at least £1,000 and up to £10,000 for multiple breaches. The scheme was originally scheduled to run until the 31 January 2021 but has now been extended until the 31 March 2021.

Alongside this, the Government has provided extra cash for new a Test and Trace Support Payment scheme for people on low incomes and losing earnings because they are unable to work while they are self-isolating.

Along with other councils in England, Wakefield council has put arrangements in place to deal with applications and make payments to successful applicants, as well as preventing and detecting fraud.

To find out eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit the Wakefield Council website here.