lb500 payments for individuals on low pay who have to self isolate extended to March 2022

A scheme where individuals on low pay obtain a lb500 payment if they have to self-isolate has been extended by Welsh Government.

The Self-Isolation Support Scheme was opened in November 2021 to help people who cannot work from home as well as parents and carers on low incomes with children who are self-isolating who have been told to isolate through the NHS Wales Test Trace Protect service simply because they have symptoms of coronavirus or really are a close contact.

It has been extended until next March. Finance minister Rebecca Evans has said another lb4m is going to be made available to extend the scheme. So far, 13,200 payments have been made under the scheme.

Read about the big decisions the Welsh Government must make in front of next review

Mrs Evans said: "These payments are vital for anyone who continues to be told to isolate by Test Trace Protect but may experience financial hardship because of having to stay at home and miss work.

"The scheme is run by local authorities and includes a discretionary element to supply support to people who need it most."

Health minister Eluned Morgan, who's herself currently self-isolating, said: "It is so important that people self-isolate if they test positive for Covid-19 as this helps you to stop the virus spreading.

"Test Trace Protect has been extremely effective at supporting both people who have tested positive and their contacts and providing advice, guidance and support. It is important we still invest to provide support to those who require it the most.

"We have created guidance to make sure local authorities can access funding to provide support tailored to people's needs, including alternative, temporary accommodation for those who can't self-isolate safely or effectively."

Do you think Welsh Government has done enough to assist those impacted by covid? Tell us within the comments below