Who can apply
You might be able to get a payment of £500 to support you during self-
isolation if you live in England and meet all the following criteria:
 you’ve been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and
Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app, either because you’ve tested
positive for COVID-19 or have recently been in close contact with
someone who has tested positive
 you’ve responded to messages from NHS Test and Trace and
have provided any legally required information, such as details of
your close recent contacts
 you’re employed or self-employed
 you’re unable to work from home and will lose income as a result
of self-isolating
 you’re currently receiving or are the partner of someone in the
same household who is receiving, at least 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
 Pension Credit

If you’re not on one of these benefits, you might still be able to apply for a
£500 discretionary payment if all the following apply:
 you meet all the other criteria listed above
 you’re on a low income
 you will face financial hardship as a result of self-isolating
Your council will tell you what counts as low income and financial hardship,
and whether you’re eligible.

If you’re the parent or guardian of a child who’s been
told to self-isolate
If you’re not legally required to self-isolate, but you are the parent or
guardian of a child who has been told to self-isolate, you could be eligible
for a £500 Test and Trace Support Payment or discretionary payment if all
the following apply:
 you’re the parent or guardian of a child in your household who is
self-isolating, and you need to take time off work to care for them
 your child is aged 15 or under, or aged 25 or under with an
Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan, normally attends an
education or childcare setting, and has been told to self-isolate by
NHS Test and Trace or by their education or childcare setting
 you’re unable to work from home and will lose income because
you have to care for your child while they are self-isolating
 you meet all the other eligibility criteria for a Test and Trace
Support Payment or discretionary payment

Find out more about:
 other COVID-19 support available
 getting help from your local council
If you’re eligible for either the Test and Trace Support Payment or a
discretionary payment, you’ll receive the £500 payment in addition to any
benefits and Statutory Sick Pay that you receive currently.

How to apply
In England, the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme is run by local
councils.
If you think you meet the eligibility criteria for either the Test and Trace
Support Payment or a discretionary payment, you can apply through your
local council. You can claim up to 42 days after the first day of your self-
isolation period.
For the application, you will need to provide the following:
 an NHS Test and Trace Account ID, sometimes referred to as a
CTAS number. If you test positive for COVID-19, or are told to self-
isolate by contact tracers, you will be provided with an NHS Test
and Trace Account ID
 a bank statement
 proof of employment or, if you’re self-employed, evidence of self-
assessment returns, trading income and proof that your business
delivers services that cannot be undertaken without social contact
If you’re applying because you’re a parent or guardian who needs to care
for a child who is self-isolating, you will also need to provide your child’s
NHS Test and Trace Account ID or a communication from their education
or childcare setting telling them to self-isolate.

If the NHS COVID-19 app has told you to self-isolate because you’ve been
in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you
will need to follow some additional steps to request your NHS Test and
Trace Account ID.