UK Council rejects 6 out of 10 requests for Covid self-isolation payments

The Council continues to reject more than six out of 10 applications despite the government increasing funding for the vital anti-Covid system in March to £20 million per month, according to a freedom of information request by the Trade Union Congress.

One board, Hackney in east London, said it had rejected 91% of its £500 payment requests. said the government's criteria were "very strict". Some requests had to be turned down because they did not present the proper documents although it was acknowledged that it would be difficult if the family got sick or went into isolation.

Gateshead Council, in northeast England, which rejected 97% of claims for not meeting strict eligibility criteria, saying: "We had to turn down a lot of people we knew needed help."

Also Read : All adults can get vaccinated against coronavirus in the UK Today

A quarter of the 94 boards that responded also said they ran out of funds to make payments at some point during the program.

Self-isolation schemes are a key part of the government's infection control measures, but with more people being turned away than approved, there are fears people with Covid are continuing to work. From March to May, between 13% and 17% of people who tested positive did not comply with self-isolation requirements, according to a survey by the Office for National Statistics.

The TUC also highlighted the public's lack of awareness of the scheme, with a poll showing four in five people did not know about the availability of money to help them self-isolate when they or someone else in their household tested positive for Covid.

The organization described it as "a failed scheme that few people have ever heard of".

The figures come as Whitehall officials are urging ministers to do more to help people self-isolate, according to the internal government. assessment, reported this week by the Politico website. It said the isolation policy had only “low to moderate” effectiveness because people on low incomes and in precarious work did not have adequate support.

Also Read : What you can and can't do from 21 June 2021 when the reopening of COVID-19 in Singapore resumes

 The government's scientific advisers have warned of exponential growth in the Delta variant, with infections doubling every week across many models and hospital admissions rising to more than 1,000 a day even with the latest easing of lockdown measures postponed until July 19.

"No one should be forced to choose between doing the right thing and isolating oneself, and getting into trouble," said TUC secretary general Frances O'Grady. “But too many are still leaving without the financial support they need to self-isolate. The self-isolation payment scheme failed. And it has been very clear from the start of the pandemic that the meager sick pay under UK law is not enough to live on."

Nine out of 10 applications were rejected at Gateshead, while only five out of 10 were rejected at Mendips in Somerset. Hackney said the government's criteria were "very strict, and we were often unable to make payments even in difficult circumstances".

Reasons for refusal included not being told to isolate by NHS testing and tracking, not receiving benefits in employment and not being in legal or self-employed employment.

Also Read : BA Plane Crashes After Capsize At Heathrow

In the London area of ​​Newham, where the infection rate tripled in the last month from a low base to 34 per 100,000 people, the board is offering separate £200 "micro-grants" for people who do not qualify for a £500 support payment.

 A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Social Care said: “Since its launch in September 2020, the government has provided £176 million to local authorities to run the scheme. In March this year, we increased funding and expanded eligibility to help more people.

 "The department is working with 314 local authorities in the UK to ensure as many people as possible are aware of the support available to them after the initial announcement and will continue to listen to feedback on the scheme."