Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Self-isolation: Financial Barriers

Tuesday 9 March 2021 · 7 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 4 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care covered financial support for self-isolation, including a 500 payment for those not qualifying for means-tested benefits.
  • The Chancellor increased funding for the discretionary scheme for self-isolation support to 20 million per month.
  • The Government expanded eligibility for discretionary self-isolation funding to include parents unable to work due to child self-isolation.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sharon Hodgson Lab Washington and Gateshead South
NHS
Context

Discussions on the adequacy of financial support for those instructed to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace.

Question

What recent discussions has he had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the adequacy of financial support arrangements for people who are self-isolating during the covid-19 outbreak?

Answer from Steve Barclay

People instructed to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace and on qualifying means-tested benefits, unable to work from home, may be entitled to a £500 payment from their local authority.

Answered
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Q2 Vicky Foxcroft Lab Lewisham North
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Discussion about the need for people to self-isolate despite inadequate statutory sick pay and lack of announcement regarding support payments in Chancellor's Budget.

Question

We need people to self-isolate to control transmission and ease restrictions, yet many are continuing to work as they cannot survive on £95.85 statutory sick pay per week. The Chancellor has been asked about this on numerous occasions, and it was disappointing that nothing new was announced in his Budget. Does the Minister agree that those who do not have access to occupational sick pay and cannot work from home should be eligible for the Test and Trace support payments?

Answer from Steve Barclay

The Chancellor announced a payment of £500 for those not qualifying for means-tested benefit, paid through the discretionary scheme funded at the Budget to be administered by local authorities.

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Q3 Judith Cummins Lab Bradford South
Economy Benefits & Welfare Local Government
Context

Concerns about Bradford Council's high demand for self-isolation payments and insufficient discretionary scheme funding.

Question

Bradford Council has the highest demand for self-isolation payments in the country, reflecting the fact that most people in our city are unable to work from home. The standard scheme for those on certain benefits is fully funded but the discretionary scheme is not. In fact, the funding for Bradford falls far short of demand. Will he urgently look into this so councils with high demand can support all workers who need to self-isolate?

Answer from Steve Barclay

The Chancellor announced a £20 million per month increase for the discretionary scheme, widening eligibility scope under that scheme to cover additional factors like parents unable to work due to child self-isolation.

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Q4 Kate Hollern Lab
NHS
Context

Concerns about initial inadequate discretionary self-isolation funding leading to denial of support in Blackburn.

Question

The Government have now made available £20 million a month in discretionary self-isolation funding for local authorities, despite only making £15 million available for four months when the scheme first started. Because of this, hundreds of people in Blackburn have been denied support to self-isolate. Does he accept that initial allocations fell well below what was needed and contributed to the rise in cases? Is it fair on my constituents?

Answer from Steve Barclay

The Chancellor has increased discretionary support funding to £20 million per month, extending eligibility to include parents unable to work due to child self-isolation. This shows the Government's willingness to adapt schemes as needed.

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Q5 Sharon Hodgson Lab Washington and Gateshead South
NHS
Context

A constituent's inability to access self-isolation payment due to isolation instructions from the NHS covid-19 app.

Question

In November, a constituent was told to isolate via the NHS covid-19 app. She would have been eligible for the isolation payment but as she was instructed through the app and never received an NHS Test and Trace account ID, her application could not proceed. My constituent was financially affected as she could not work. Can he advise if my constituent can still access this payment retrospectively?

Answer from Steve Barclay

It is difficult to comment without seeing full facts of individual case, but hon. Member will ensure the case is looked at. There is a wider package of support including self-employed income support scheme and other measures depending on individual circumstances.

Partly answered

Not addressed: retrospective eligibility for payment via NHS app

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Q6 Meg Hillier Labour (Co-op) Hackney South and Shoreditch
NHS
Context

Concern about insufficient funding for Test and Trace despite £37 billion allocation affecting its effectiveness.

Question

Test and Trace has now been allocated £37 billion but its head Baroness Dido Harding told both the Public Accounts Committee and the Science and Technology Committee that getting people to isolate is a struggle. Although the Government have provided support for self-isolation, surely the Chief Secretary can go back and look again to ensure what Treasury provides enables test, trace and isolate to be truly effective or we are really not going to beat this pandemic?

Answer from Steve Barclay

The Chancellor increased funding for discretionary support. This alongside £500 self-isolation payments shows Government's willingness to adapt schemes as needed, with wider support from employers being key in addressing costs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: review of Treasury's funding effectiveness

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Q7 James Murray Labour (Co-op) Ealing North
NHS
Context

The Government's road map out of lockdown emphasizes the importance of self-isolation in halting disease spread, but financial difficulties prevent people from adhering to this guideline. A year ago, the Health Secretary admitted that statutory sick pay is insufficient for individuals to survive on.

Question

The questioner noted that Baroness Harding recently acknowledged financial constraints prevent self-isolation and that a year ago the Health Secretary could not live off statutory sick pay of £94.25 per week. Statutory sick pay is now £95.85 per week. The MP asked why the Chancellor does not ensure those relying on statutory sick pay or unable to access it receive the £500 payment.

Answer from Steve Barclay

The Minister noted that the Budget announcement last week included a discretionary element of the Test and Trace support payments, which applies even if people are not in receipt of means-tested benefits. The £500 payment addresses the importance of incentivizing testing. Additionally, cases just outside the means-tested element of Test and Trace are addressed through a discretionary fund announced in the Budget last week.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked specifically about guaranteeing eligibility for those reliant on statutory sick pay or unable to access it, but the Minister did not provide a direct commitment beyond mentioning the discretionary fund. The specifics of how this fund operates were not detailed.

How: Under Review, Considering

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