Parents who need to take time off work to look after children who are self-isolating due to COVID can now apply for financial support.

The self-isolation payment scheme has now been expanded to include parents of children aged 15 and under (or up to 25 with an EHC plan) who are not themselves legally required to self-isolate, but who need to take time off work if their children are required to do so. Parents can claim for the £500 grant if:

• Their child has been asked to isolate by Test & Trace or by their school or childcare setting due to being identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive, and the isolation starts on or after 8 March.
• They are employed or self-employed.
• They cannot work from home.
• The parent or guardian meets all the other criteria for the Test & Trace scheme.

People are able to claim more than once for subsequent periods of isolation and only one parent can claim for a child.

People need to self-isolate if they have one or more symptoms of coronavirus or have tested positive, if they live with someone who has symptoms or has tested positive, or if they have been identified as a close contact of a positive case and told to self-isolate by Test & Trace.

Support for people who are self-isolating includes:

• The Test & Trace Support Payment Scheme administered by the District Council, which entitles people who meet certain criteria to a one-off payment of £500 if they lose income as a result of not being able to work. This payment can be made available on multiple occasions if a person comes into contact with people who test positive a second or even third time.
• For anyone not eligible for the government support, a local discretionary fund which offers financial support to make sure people don’t suffer financially.
• The network of support hubs run by the district and city councils which can support people with grocery shopping, medicine collection, dog walking, befriending services and in many other ways.

For more information on support available for people self-isolating visit www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/selfisolationsupport

People can also contact their local support hub via their local council or by calling 0345 045 5219.