(Reposted from Adur and Worthing Council website)
Adur & Worthing Councils are in the process of creating a new system to allow local residents in need a way to apply for financial support to help them through any self-isolation they may have to take.
Residents in Adur and Worthing, along with the rest of the country, are now required by law to self-isolate, if they test positive or are contacted by Test and Trace.
Now, a £500 lump sum payment has been made available for those people on low incomes who meet government eligibility criteria. They must have been instructed to self-isolate, be employed or self employed and unable to work from home, they would otherwise lose income as a result, and are receiving one or more benefits. This grant ensures those who are asked to self isolate themselves are financially supported to do so.
Many people are following the rules around self-isolation, but these steps will help support those who are in receipt of benefits, as well as those on lower incomes. Those needing to self-isolate from 28th September 2020 will receive backdated payments once the scheme is set up.
Adur & Worthing Councils advise those who are looking to apply, to read the government rules first, to be sure they are eligible for the grants. The councils are currently awaiting final instructions from the government before the system goes live, and begins accepting submissions on 12th October 2020. The forms will be verified by councils staff before payments are made. Contact centre staff are now available to take calls on self-isolation grants, taking residents' details to alert them once the system is live so individuals can apply.
This government scheme and subsequent financial support comes as tougher fines are introduced for breaking the rules. Fines start at £1,000 and increase up to £10,000 for repeat offenders and the most egregious breaches. These fines include those preventing others from self-isolating, such as any business owners threatening self-isolating staff with redundancy if they do not come to work.
