MARTIN LEWIS has explained how to claim up to £500 if you’re self-isolating as a result of the “pingdemic”.
The money saving guru outlined on This Morning how Brits can get cash to help them get by if they’ve been told to stay at home.
Martin Lewis has explained how workers on low incomes can get £500 if they’ve been “pinged”
It comes as the pingdemic continues to cause havoc across the country with one million people told by the NHS Covid app to self-isolate in just one week.
Supermarkets have reported up to 20% of staff are off work in some cases, and pubs, restaurants and petrol stations have had to close because of a shortage of workers.
If you’ve been “pinged” and cannot go to the workplace, you can claim up to £500 if you’re on a low income, Martin said.
Brits receiving certain benefits such as Universal Credit, working tax credit or income support will be eligible for the £500 pay out.
You will qualify as well if you’re caring for a child who has been told to stay home, and as a result, you are unable to work from home.
To apply for the help, you need to go through your local authority – you can find out which council area you live in online.
Martin said that there should also be a “financial support” button in your NHS Covid app if you’ve been pinged that you can click on which will tell you how to get the help.
You must apply before the cut off date, which is 42 days after you were told to self-isolate.
But he warned viewers that many councils are starting to run out of funds to dish out to hard-up self isolating Brits.
“It’s something to try, but not something to rely on,” he said.
What other help can you get if you’re self-isolating?
The £500 Covid self-isolation payout isn’t the only help you can apply for if your income has taken a hit because you’re self-isolating.
Martin added that you can claim the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant if you’re self-employed and have been told to stay at home.
The grant allows self-employed workers to get compensated for a loss to income due to the Covid crisis.
He said HMRC has confirmed you can claim for the help if you’ve had to self isolate – but there are other criteria you have to hit too.
You’ll be able to apply for the help when the fifth SEISS grant opens later this month.
Earlier this week, Martin Lewis also explained how workers who’ve been pinged can get £125 for staying at home.
Anyone who has been required to work from home by their employer can claim tax back of up to £125 a year to help cover added expenses, such as higher energy bills.
You qualify for the relief if you have been told to self isolate and cannot go to the workplace.
Masher News has also rounded up other ways which workers can get help if they’ve been told to self-isolate.
You might be able to claim statutory sick pay (SSP) if you’re isolating due to the pandemic, even if you aren’t sick yourself.
SSP is £96.35 per week and it is paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks.
However, not everyone is eligible – for example, it doesn’t apply to self-employed workers, those who don’t earn at least £120 per week, and Brits who have become parents in the last 14 weeks.
You can also apply for a Covid Local Support Grant from your local council to help with food, bills and other essentials.
The help available varies between different councils, so check with your local authority to see what is on offer in your area.
You also might also be able to access Employment Support Allowance if you were unable to work while self-isolating or shielding because of Covid.
ESA is usually given to people who have a disability or health condition that affects how much they can work.
You can apply for ESA online, as long as you have your national insurance number and your bank details – and you’ll get £73.10 if your claim is successful.
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