Council plea for Government help with test and trace payments in Sunderland after 1,300 applications for support

People asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace who are on a low income, unable to work from home and who will lose income as a result, may be entitled to a payment of £500 from their local authority under the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme

In a Facebook post, Washington Central councillor Dianne Snowdon said that Sunderland City Council has so far had to go over their allotted test and trace payment funding.

When the scheme was launched on September 28, the council were given £148,000 of funding – which would cover 296 eligible applicants receving £500 payments.

But Sunderland Council has said that 347 payments have been made up to date, totalling an estimated £173,500 – resulting in the council being over their allocation with the scheme not ending until January 31. The council also confirmed it had received 1,300 applications for support.

Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council, Cllr Paul Stewart, said the authority would continue to support residents and make payments to those who met the necessary criteria.

And he added that the council would “remind the Government about its pledges” to help meet those costs.

Between the launch of the scheme and December 1, Sunderland saw more than 7,000 positive Covid-19 cases.

Cllr Snowdon said: “In Sunderland we were given £148,000 of funding for the main scheme which runs ‪until 31st January‬ so enough for 296 eligible applicants.

“As of the 1st December, the city council have made 332 payments with a value of £166,000 – so they are already over the allocation with another two months to go.

“More support is needed by Central Government, clearly they underestimated the demand and once again have left local authorities paying the costs.”

The test and trace payment scheme allows those who have been told to self-isolate by the NHS app to claim a one off payment of £500 to cover a loss of earnings over the isolation period.

Local authorities have the ability to offer discretionary payments for those going through “financial hardship” who are employed or self-employed and do not claim any income support or credit – however councils can set additional criteria.

The additional criteria for Sunderland City Council is:

- The person, or their partner if they have one, do not hold capital of £500 or more, and

- Are receiving a low amount of income during their period of self-isolation, and

- Are suffering from exceptional financial hardship.

Eligible residents in Sunderland are encouraged to apply for the payment by visiting: https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/TestandTraceSupportPayment

Cllr Stewart added: “The Government pledged earlier this year that it would assist in meeting the costs that are being incurred by councils across the country fighting Covid. We are continuing to remind the Government about its pledges.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “Funding is available to local authorities to make discretionary payments to people who fall outside the scope of the main scheme but who may still face hardship because they cannot work while self-isolating.

“There may be further criteria, set by local councils, which need to be met to receive these discretionary payments.”

The Northern TUC (Trades Union Congress) has criticised the scheme, saying that the payment system is flawed.

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