Test & Trace Support Scheme to be extended for parents/carers of isolating children.

Embem3

Afternoon, 
Would appreciate thoughts on the extension of the Test and Trace support scheme. I’ve read a few news articles stating that the Pensions Minister has now extended it to include a one of payment for parents/carers of children who have been told to isolate. As of today my child’s school has closed due to positive cases and is now in isolation which means I am unable to work. Unfortunately, I am unable to find any changes in eligibility criteria on either the gov website or my local councils. Would like to know if anyone else is experiencing the same frustrating issue. I can only assume that it takes some time for them to amend the websites? 

Also, I have not received a track and trace number to reference on an application as the school has requested isolation not track and trace. Please tell me I’m not the only one pulling my hair out! 

Kind regards to all and thanks in advance, 
EmBem 

MattMattMattUK

Are you in England and do you meet the criteria set out on gov.uk? The chances were made by the Welsh and Scottish governments to their schemes, they do not apply in England or Northern Ireland. In England there are no payments for parents who take time off for childcare, only if they themselves are told to isolate by Test and Trace. 

https://www.gov.uk/test-and-trace-support-payment

sheramber

Assuming you are in England, if you do not have  notification form Test snd Trace you need to apply to your local authority for a discretionary payment.
The local authority will tell you what proof they need. 

Embem3

Many thanks for the response. What you have mentioned is exactly what I thought. That Scottish and Welsh governments had made provisions for those in that position and those in England has slipped through the cracks. However several of the news articles I found reported on it fairly recently and gave the impression that those England were now included under the extension. Although re-reading the articles I’ve come to the realisation that they do not commit either way, just refer to us as a whole rather than, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Maybe I was just seeing what I wanted to see.. I’ll be missing a large chunk of money next month.

I would include the links but it will not let me, one was the Yorkshire Evening Post and the other on Heart.  

Many thanks, 
Embem

sheramber

The UK did extend the eligibility to parents and carers  - 7 March- but you need a Test and Trace code as part of the eligibility.
As you do not have that you are not eligible.
you need to contact your local authority  to ask about  a discretionary payment which is a separate payment.

Embem3

Many thanks for the response, I will try to contact the council tomorrow to discuss.