Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of financial hardship on compliance with self-isolation rules during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Self-isolation is an essential part of the Test, Trace and Isolate system. If an employee is unable to work due to self-isolating, they may be eligible for their employer’s sick pay policy or Statutory Sick Pay.

In order to reduce the financial barriers to self-isolation compliance, the Government has introduced the Test and Trace Support Payment. People who are instructed to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace and are on a qualifying means tested benefit, unable to work from home and will lose income as a result, may be entitled to a payment of £500 from their local authority. Those who are not on a qualifying benefit but meet the other criteria and will face financial hardship while self-isolating, may be eligible for a £500 discretionary payment.

People who are self-isolating may also receive support with everyday tasks, such as collecting shopping, through the NHS Volunteer Responder scheme.