Self Isolation Payment Wales 2022: a complete guide

What is Self Isolation Payment Wales? If you live in Wales, must self-isolate, are employed but cannot work from home, you could receive this benefit. Furthermore, this is one of many health benefits, as you must be positive with Covid-19 in order to apply. This Your Benefits article will tell you all you need to know about this financial aid.

What is the Self Isolation Payment Wales?

Self isolation Payment is a benefit for those living in Wales. It is also known as the Self-Isolation support scheme. Indeed, it is intended for people who tested positive for coronavirus and had to self-isolate. Additionally, said person must work, but not be able to work from home. 

In order to apply, you must either be employed or self-employed. Additionally, you must submit your claim no later than 21 days after the last time you self-isolated. Lastly, this benefit should not impact any other that you receive.

Am I eligible for Self Isolation Payment?

Some things need to be true about your situation in order for you to be eligible for the Self-Isolation support scheme. Indeed, first you must live in Wales. Then, you must have one of two things:

• a positive PCR test result
• a positive LFT (lateral flow test) no more than 24 hours after receiving the result

Furthermore, some things need to be true about before you needed to self-isolate. Indeed, all of the following must apply to you, you were:

• working, either employed or self-employed
• not capable of working from home, and losing income because of your self-isolation
• get at least one qualifying benefit

You may not receive a qualifying benefit. If this is the case, do not worry. Indeed, you may still be eligible. More specifically, this may be the case if you are experiencing difficulties from the income lacking from your self-isolation. 

What is a qualifying benefit for Self Isolation Payment?

In order to be eligible for the Self-Isolation support scheme, you must have received at least one qualifying benefit before your self-isolation period. More specifically, one of the following benefits:

• Working Tax Credit
• income-based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Universal Credit

You may be unsure of what benefits you qualify for. If this is the case, Your Benefits can help. Indeed, we offer a free simulator that can show you exactly how much aid you could be getting. And again, it’s completely free!

What if my child is positive?

Your child may have tested postive for Covid-19. If this is the case, you may be eligible for this benefit. You can also apply if you are the carer but not the parent of the child. Furthermore, in order for your child to make you eligible, a couple of additional things need to be true.

More specifically, to receive this benefit, your child must go to childcare, further education or school, up to Year 11 (and including that year). They may have complex needs, in which case they qualify if they are up to 25 years old. Additionally, they need to have been notified to self isolate by the NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect service.

How can I apply for Self Isolation Payment Wales?

The way that you may apply for this benefit is online. More specifically, through the website of your specific local authority. However, note that local authorities have had a lot of claims lately. As such, you may not get an answer to your claim right away.

You may apply for someone else. In this case, the bank account where payments are paid need to be named as the person for whom the application is for. For example, you may apply for your sibling. In such a case, the bank account needs to be in your sibling’s name.

What do I need to claim Self Isolation Payment?

You will need a couple of things in order to apply for this benefit. First, you need a confirmation of exactly when you started to self-isolate. Then, you need proof that you receive a qualifying benefit. Then, what you need to provide depends on whether you are employed or self-employed.

Indeed, if you are employed, you will need to provide all of the following, your:

• Bank account number, sort code and name. Note that payments made by this benefit are BAC bank transfers
• Last bank statement, dating no later than 2 months prior to your application. They must show proof of earnings
• Last payslip, dating no later than 2 months prior to your application. They must show proof of earnings

However, you may also be self-employed. In this case, you will need to provide all of the following, your:

• Bank account number, sort code and name. Note that payments made by this benefit are BAC bank transfers
• Latest self-assessment return or set of accounts
• Last business bank statement, dating no later than 2 months prior to your application

What happens after I send my application?

After you apply, you will receive either an email or letter about whether or not you will be able to receive this benefit. If your application was rejected, you cannot ask for your application to be looked at again.

Note that the reason for the rejection may have been that certain information was lacking in your application. In this case, you can contact your local authority and ask for help from them.

What if multiple people are positive with Covid-19 in the same household?

You may not be the only person that qualifies for this benefit in your household. Indeed, there may be multiple. In this case, every eligible individuals can each claim this benefit. However, your child may be the person that is eligible. In this case, only one claim can be made for your household, for the duration of the self-isolation.

Self Isolation Payment Wales: how much can I get?

You can get either £500 or £750 with the Self-Isolation support payment. Indeed, this depends on when your self-isolation period started. If your self-isolation started on or after 28 January 2022, you could get £500. If your self-isolation started between 7 August 2021 to the 27 January 2022, you could get £750.

You may have to pay taxes on the amounts that you receive. Indeed, what you need to do depends on your employment status. If you are employed and go over your tax-free personal allowance, you will have to pay tax. If you are self-employed, you will need to report the benefit on your Self-Assessment tax return.

Note that NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect service must have told you to self-isolate to get this benefit. Indeed, this is so you are eligible for this benefit. If you are applying because your or the child you care for tested positive, the same applies. They must have been contacted by NHS Wales TTP and been told to self-isolate.

Will I get less of my other benefits if I apply?

If you apply for this benefit, you will not receive less of your other benefits. Indeed, this benefit will not impact your other benefits. For example, let’s say that you receive Universal Credit. Indeed, you may first wonder how much of that benefit you can get. Then, you can see that the standard allowance rates of that benefit are as follows:

For example, let’s say that you are 26 years old and single. Furthermore, you got diagnosed with Covid-19 with a PCR test, and were notified to self-isolate starting 26 March 2022. Lastly, your job does not allow you to work from home, and you receive Universal Credit. Then, if you claimed this benefit within 21 days of the last day of your self-isolation, you could get £500 once on top of your Universal Credit payments.

You may be unsure of what benefits you qualify for. If this is the case, Your Benefits can help. Indeed, we provide a free simulator that can show you how much you are entitled to. You would be able to see what aid you could be missing out on. And again, it’s free!