SWF - Self Isolation Support Grant

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Scottish Welfare Fund - Self Isolation Support Grant

Please note that we are currently experiencing an unprecedented demand for Self Isolation Support Grants. If you have made your application within the past 15 working days there is no need to contact us, we will be processing your application and will contact you directly. We appreciate your patience and will get back to you as quickly as possible.

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Self-Isolation Support Grant criteria

To be eligible for a Self-Isolation Support Grant, you must meet ALL of the following criteria:

• have been required by the Test and Protect Service or Protect Scotland app to self-isolate as a result of COVID-19, on or after 28 September 2020, because you
  • have tested positive for coronavirus, or
  • have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive or been identified as a secondary contact, or
  • from 7 December 2020 are the identified appropriate parent or primary carer of a child under 16 who has been required by the Test and Protect Service (or equivalent service across the UK), local public health director or a local Incident Management Team notification to self-isolate; or
  • from 2 February 2021 are the identified appropriate carer of a person over 16 who has been required by the Test and Protect Service (or equivalent service across the UK), local public health director or a local Incident Management Team notification to self-isolate
  • and
• be employed or self-employed; and
• be unable to work from home and can show that you will lose earnings as a result; and
• at least one of the following
  • be currently receiving, or been awarded but not yet received a payment of at least one of the following benefits, or your income is such that you would ordinarily be entitled to Universal Credit should an application have been made prior to your isolation:
    • Universal Credit;
    • Working Tax Credit;
    • Income-based Employment and Support Allowance;
    • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance;
    • Income Support;
    • Housing Benefit;
    • Pension Credit;
    • Means-tested Council Tax Reduction;
  • be an individual who earns less than the income level provided by the Scottish Government; or
  • whose household income is less than the income level provided by for this Scottish Government.

Prior to the scheme changing on 16 February, application was required within the 10 day self-isolation period (amended from 14 days as at 14 December). If you were told to self-isolate on or after 2 February, you will be able to make a backdated claim for payment from 16 February.

Full information on the Self-Isolation Support Grant is available from the Scottish Government on their Scottish Welfare Fund and Self-Isolation Support Grant guidance page.

To apply for a Self-Isolation Support Grant, you will need to provide:

• a bank statement; and
• proof of low income if you are not in receipt of a listed benefit
• proof of employment or, if you are self-employed, evidence of self-assessment returns, trading income and proof that your business delivers services which cannot be undertaken without social contact, and
• a statement declaring that you
  • will experience reduced income during your period of self-isolation, or
  • where a child is required to isolate, confirm that you are the parent or primary carer, meet all the qualifying criteria and will experience a loss in earnings as a result of staying home to care for the child, or
  • where an adult cared for person is required to isolate, confirm that you are the primary carer, meet all the qualifying criteria and will experience a loss in earnings as a result of staying home to care for the child.

We will check that you:

• have been asked to self-isolate by Test and Protect; and
• are in receipt of a qualifying benefit.

If you have been asked to self-isolate on the Protect Scotland app, please follow the instructions to "Send a Certificate". Add your postcode for the certificate to be sent automatically to the council. The certificate is proof that you need to self-isolate.

Self-isolation payments are taxable. If you're employed, you'll pay tax on the payment if you go over your tax-free personal allowance. Your tax code will change to collect the tax. You will not pay National Insurance contributions on the payment. If you're self-employed you must report the payment on your Self-Assessment tax return.

You can make an application here