MARTIN Lewis has reminded parents they could be eligible for a £500 payment if their kids are sent home from school.
The Money Saving Expert founder tweeted today that low-income households could receive the payment if they have to care for children sent home to isolate.
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The money is available if you receive certain benefits and have to miss out on work to look after a child under 15.
If they have been sent home to self-isolate because another child in class or in their bubble has tested positive for Covid, you could claim the one-off grant for the full 10 days they will have to stay off school.
In the tweet that was posted this morning, Martin said: “Spread word. Many children are being sent home by school due to someone in class or year group bubble testing positive for Covid.
“If so, and you then can’t work due to needing to be home with them, this (not just NHS test and trace) can trigger the £500 payment for those on low incomes.”
What to do if you have problems claiming Universal Credit
IF you’re experiencing trouble applying for your Universal Credit, or the payments just don’t cover costs, here are your options:
- Apply for an advance – Claimants are able to get some cash within five days rather than waiting weeks for their first payment. But it’s a loan which means the repayments will be automatically deducted from your future Universal Credit payout.
- Alternative Payment Arrangements – If you’re falling behind on rent, you or your landlord may be able to apply for an APA which will get your payment sent directly to your landlord. You might also be able to change your payments to get them more frequently, or you can split the payments if you’re part of a couple.
- Budgeting Advance – You may be able to get help from the Government for emergency household costs of up to £348 if you’re single, £464 if you’re part of a couple or £812 if you have children. These are only in cases like your cooker breaking down or for help getting a job. You’ll have to repay the advance through your regular Universal Credit payments. You’ll still have to repay the loan, even if you stop claiming for Universal Credit.
- Cut your Council Tax – You might be able to get a discount on your Council Tax by applying for a Council Tax Reduction. Alternatively, you might be entitled to Discretionary Housing Payments to help cover your rent.
- Foodbanks – If you’re really hard up and struggling to buy food and toiletries, you can find your local foodbank who will provide you with help for free. You can find your nearest one on the Trussell Trust website.
The money is only available to those who can’t work from home and will lose income as a result of the time off, but it won’t have to be repaid.
Anyone who is told to self-isolate because of coming into contact with someone who has Covid is legally required quarantine for 10 days under the current rules, or risk a £10,000 fine.
But many children are being sent home because of this and as the school term winds down ahead of summer, it’s leaving working parents in a difficult situation as they may not be eligible for sick pay themselves.
Martin Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert explains how you can claim the extra cash and who is eligible too.
The money is given out by local councils, so that’s who you’ll need to call or get in contact with to get your £500.
You can use the council website checker to find out the contact details of yours.
If you receive Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Income-based employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit or Pension Credit you will be eligible.
If you’re not on any of those schemes, you could still get the money, but it’s up to your local council to decide, and usually reserved for those on a low income or suffering financial hardship as a result of not being able to work.
You don’t have to have received an official NHS Test and Trace notification as Martin points out in his tweet, but your child does have to have been sent home from the school.
You’ll then need to show the communication from the school telling your child to self-isolate when applying for the payout.
If you take the 10 days to quarantine with your child without being told to by the school or NHS Test and Trace however, then you can’t receive the funds.
The payment shouldn’t affect your benefits but it is subject to income tax.
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There are other ways of getting support if you have to self-isolate, including statutory sick pay and taking payment holidays.
School uniforms can become another costly expense, but hard-up parents may be able to claim up to £150 to help cover this.
Martin Lewis has also today warned holidaymakers which trips won’t be refunded as he presented on Good Morning Britain.
Good Morning Britain’s Dr Hilary left red-faced as he delivers wrong advice over when to self isolate after a holiday
