Test and trace payments

Who can get it

Bolton residents may be entitled to a test and trace support payment of £500. This is to support people on low incomes who are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result. Payments will be made by the council, directly into your bank account.

Who is eligible?

Bolton residents who

  • Have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace on or after 28 September 2020 or identified as a close contact by the NHS COVID-19 App from 10 December 2020.
  • Have responded to messages received from NHS Test and Trace in which you provided contact details and where they have tested positive, the details of your contacts or if the NHS COVID-19 App has told you to self-isolate because you’ve been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus, you have followed the steps to request an Account ID.
  • Follow the requirement to self isolate
  • Are employed or self-employed
  • Are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result, and
  • are currently receiving, or are the partner of someone in the same household who is receiving,
    • Universal Credit
    • Working Tax Credit
    • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
    • Housing Benefit
    • Income Support
    • Income based Job Seeker’s Allowance
    • Pension Credit

Test and Trace Support Payments for parents and guardians

The Test and Trace Support Payment scheme has been extended to parents and guardians who are not legally required to self-isolate, but who need to take time off work to look after a child or young person who is self-isolating. It applies where the child or young person has been told to self-isolate on or after 8 March 2021.

Who is eligible?

Bolton residents who

  • are the parent or guardian of a child or young person in the same household and need to take time off work to care for that child or young person whilst they self-isolate
  • The parent or guardian is:
    • not required to self-isolate (if the parent / guardian has to self-isolate, they can claim a payment in their own right)
    • employed or self-employed
    • unable to work from home while undertaking caring responsibilities and will lose income as a result.
    • currently receiving, or the partner of someone receiving one of the following qualifying benefits; Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Employment and Support Allowance (IR), Jobseeker’s Allowance (IB), Income Support, Housing Benefit or Pension Credit. The partner must be living in the same household.
  • the child or young person that is self-isolating:
    • is aged 15 or under (or 25 or under with an Education, Health and Care Plan) and normally attends an education or childcare setting.
    • has been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or by their education or childcare setting because they have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

The payment is limited to one parent or guardian per household for the child or young person’s self-isolation period.  If there is another parent or guardian in the household who can care for the child or young person, for example where one parent can work from home, they are not eligible for the payment