Extra £100,000 for York workers having to self-isolate

It will help workers who are struggling financially.

Author: Harry LongPublished 7th Jan 2021

An extra £100,000 is being made available to support workers in York who have to self-isolate.

The money is coming from York's Public Health Covid Outbreak Management Fund.

It will help up to 200 people in the city with fixed payments of £500 - if they're struggling financially while having to self-isolate.

The scheme runs alongside the Government’s Test and Trace Support Payment scheme which makes one-off payments of £500 to eligible residents suffering financial hardship during their 14-day quarantine period.

City of York Council’s first discretionary scheme was funded by the Government but was enough to support only 39 eligible people.

It will also accept applications from working adults living with parents, and from working students where they have been experiencing financial hardship because they have been told to self-isolate for 14 days.

Cllr Nigel Ayre, Executive Member for Finance and Performance, said: “We know how worried many people are about money at this difficult time. This £100,000 for eligible applicants to our discretionary scheme will provide much-needed relief to those worried about not being able to earn due to self-isolation.

“Self-isolating is just one way in which people are being affected financially by the pandemic. We’re also offering help to people to maximise any benefits and extra payments they’re eligible for, and to give advice to help them manage financially through these difficult times.”