Hull Residents Should Check If They Can Claim £500 Covid Payment

Hull residents who have lost income as a result of self-isolation are being urged to check if they are eligible for a new £500 payment.

People in the UK now have a legal duty to self-isolate if they test positive for Covid-19 or are contacted by NHS Test and Trace.

Now, those on lower incomes who cannot work from home could be eligible for the NHS Test and Trace Support Payment.

Information regarding the eligibility requirements for the support payment and online claim form has been launched to allow Hull residents to see if they are eligible for support and make a claim.

To be eligible, residents must:

• Have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace either because they have tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
• Be employed or self-employed
• Be unable to work from home and will lose income as a result
• Be currently receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit.

People from the same household can each make an individual application to receive the payment if they each meet the eligibility criteria. People can claim more than once if they are asked to isolate multiple times as long as the isolation periods do not overlap.

David Bell, Hull City Council’s Director of Finance, said: “Covid-19 has hit many people hard, but no one has been harder-hit than those on low incomes who cannot work from home and therefore cannot earn a living because of the pandemic.

“This £500 payment could be vital to help people in this situation to get by until the situation improves. That is why we are setting up this eligibility checker to help those who might be entitled to the payment.

“Businesses is in the city are also being urged to make employees aware and encourage compliance in isolating when contacted by Test and Trace or in the case of a positive test.”

The scheme came into force on Tuesday 28 September. Claims can be backdated to that date so no eligible applicants lose out.

Find the form and more details at www.hull.gov.uk/coronavirus/coronavirus-community-advice-and-support/test-and-trace-support-payment.

Those who cannot claim online should call 01482 300307.