Self-isolation grants for Inverclyde workforce
GRANTS of up to £500 are now available to support workers in Inverclyde who have been forced to self-isolate because of coronavirus.
From today (Monday 12 October), those who are employed or self-employed can apply for a one-off payment to compensate for a reduction in earnings if they are required to stay at home and cannot continue to carry out their normal duties.
Inverclyde Council will be administering the grants on behalf of the Scottish Government.
The application process is over the phone only and the applicant must have been told by the 'test and protect' service to self-isolate as a result of Covid-19.
Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: “The coronavirus pandemic is not only having a serious health impact but it’s causing huge financial problems as well.
“Often through no fault of their own, people will have to self-isolate if they have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 and this can have an effect on their income if they cannot work from home.
“A grant of up to £500 for those who are eligible to claim will hopefully ease some of the financial pressures facing many working families and I encourage anyone who suffers a loss of income through self-isolation to apply.”
Applicants must be employed or self-employed and unable to work from home while self-isolating.
They must be in receipt of one of the following: Universal Credit; Working Tax Credit; Income Support; Income Based Jobseekers Allowance; Income Related Employment Support Allowance; Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit in addition to their earned income.
Those applying for a grant have to be experiencing a reduction in their earnings as a result of a period of self-isolation
Anyone who has been contacted through the Protect Scotland app informing them to self-isolate as a result of Covid-19 is not eligible for a grant at this time but should contact the ‘test and protect’ service on 0800 028 2816 for advice.
More information is available online at www.inverclyde.gov.uk/selfisolationgrant and applications should be made by calling 01475 714444.