Self-isolation support payment

Eligibility for a Self-Isolation Support Grant (SISG) is restricted to people who:

• Have received a public health request by the Test and Protect Service (or equivalent service across the UK) to self-isolate or from 1 May 2022 have been advised by the Test and Protect Service to stay at home as a result of COVID-19, because they have tested positive for coronavirus.
  
  
• Are the individual household contact, the parent or carer of a child under 16 who is a household contact, or the carer of a person over 16 who is a household contact who has been required by the Test and Protect Service (or equivalent service across the UK), the Protect Scotland app (or equivalent app), local public health director or a local Incident Management Team notification to self-isolate because they have recently been in close, household contact with someone who has tested positive.
  
  
• Have received a public health request by the Test and Protect Service (or equivalent service across the UK) to self-isolate as a result of COVID-19 because they have recently been in close contact with someone who has either tested positive or has received a public health request to self-isolate in relation to a variant of concern included on the list published by the Scottish Government and that individual’s public health request can be verified.
  
  
• Up to 1 May 2022 have not been fully vaccinated with the coronavirus vaccine and have received a public health request by the Test and Protect Service (or equivalent service across the UK) to self-isolate as a result of COVID-19 because they have recently been in close, household and non-household contact with someone who has tested positive.
  
  
• Up to 1 May 2022 have not been fully vaccinated with the coronavirus vaccine and have been notified by the Protect Scotland app (or equivalent app) to self-isolate as a result of COVID-19 because they have recently been in close, non-household contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus and this requirement can be individually verified.
  
  
• Are the identified appropriate parent or primary carer of a child under 16 who has a positive PCR test for coronavirus or who has not been fully vaccinated with the coronavirus vaccine and 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 because they have recently been in close, non-household contact with someone who has tested positive.

In addition, prior to the self-isolation period or period they are advised to stay at home, and they must meet the following criteria:

• Are employed or self-employed; and
• Are unable to work from home and will experience reduced earnings as a result; and
• Are assessed as having a low income, either:

their household is currently receiving, or has been awarded but not yet received a payment of the following benefits, or whose income is such that they would ordinarily be entitled to Universal Credit should an application have been made prior to their isolation:

• Universal Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income Support
• Housing Benefit
• Pension Credit; and/or
  Means-tested Council Tax Reduction; or

are an individual who earns less than the Real Living Wage threshold as detailed in the Ready Reckoner table provided by the Scottish Government for this purpose; or their household income is such that it falls within the agreed definition of ‘low income’ for this purpose for their household type in their local authority area, being 25% above the UC level, and including the temporary coronavirus £20 per week increase in the UC Standard Allowance.

their household income is such that it falls within the agreed definition of ‘low income’ for this purpose for their household type in their local authority area, being 25% above the UC level, and including the temporary coronavirus £20 per week increase in the UC Standard Allowance

Grants are paid per eligible person, not per household, therefore a couple who both meet the eligibility criteria for the grant can apply.

Earning Threshold Household Income Levels

You can apply for the grant if your personal earnings are £1,771.25 or less per month. This amount is before deductions such as tax and National Insurance

If your personal earnings are over this you might still qualify under your total household income. You can apply for the grant if your personal earnings are £1,771.25 or less per month this amount is before deductions such as tax and National Insurance

If your personal earnings are over this you might still qualify under your total household income.

Household Income Levels

The household income level depends on your household type and whether or not you have children. This amount is after deductions such as tax and National Insurance.

The following threshold applies from 6 April 2022. 

If you do not pay rent, a mortgage, or have special circumstances

You can apply for the grant if your personal earnings are £1,608.75 or less per month. This amount is before deductions such as tax and National Insurance

If your personal earnings are over this you might still qualify under your total household income.
The low-income levels are different if you do not pay rent or a mortgage. For Example, if you’re an adult living at home with your parents.

Special circumstances

Special circumstances can include if you:

• are disabled or a carer (or another household member is)
• have more than 2 children
• have limited capacity for work-related activity
• have childcare costs

In these cases, the council will need to do an individual assessment of your income.

• I declare that the information I have given on this form is correct and complete as far as I know and believe
• I understand that Stirling Council will use the information I have given them to decide whether to award me a Self-Isolation Support Grant
• I authorise Stirling Council to check the information that I have given them with: the Department of Work and Pensions, against the information already held about me and my household, and to make any other enquiries to check the information on the form.
• I authorise Stirling Council to retain a copy of the form and understand that it may be held electronically and may be shared with other Council Services and relevant agencies, for example other councils or advise providers.