Essex residents will be paid £500 to self-isolate at home if they test positive for Covid-19.
In an effort to reduce the spiralling rates of infection in Essex the County Council has announced a £3 million fund to ensure those who might not covered by Government funding schemes can also be compensated for self-isolating.
Residents who test positive for Covid-19 could be entitled to a £500 Test and Trace Support Payment from the Government.
However, many residents who have to self-isolate may be ineligible for the Government payment. It is these people this new fund aims to help.
People may not qualify for Government support because, for instance, they are on zero hours contracts, self-employed and trading for less than one year or self-employed without access to support because of low trading returns.
Cllr John Spence, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: “Throughout this pandemic we have emphasised the need to test and self-isolate. Now with the picture of rising rates we see this has never been of greater importance.
“Essex County Council want to help people to self-isolate without fear that self-isolation will worsen their personal finances. That is why we have secured these funds from the Government.”
The funds ECC have been able to access come from the Government’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF)
To apply for the funding visit: https://www.essex.gov.uk/test-and-trace-support-payment.
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