Funding for councils to support people with COVID-19 to
self-isolate is fast running out, undermining efforts to contain
the virus and minimise infection, a survey by the District
Councils’ Network reveals today.
Councils were given £15 million by the government to set up
discretionary schemes that make £500 Test and Trace support
payments to people with a low-income who are required to
self-isolate and unable to work from home. These payments are for
people that are not able to access support from the main payment
scheme for those on in-work benefits.
A third of district councils who responded to the survey expect
this money to run out before Christmas while a further 16 per
cent say it will not last beyond January. Nearly 5 per cent said
they had already run out of funding.
It was originally anticipated by government that the funding
would last until 31 January.
The DCN, which represents 187 district councils in England, is
warning that without additional top-up funding councils will have
no choice but to begin closing schemes, putting efforts to
support people to self-isolate and contain the virus at risk.
It also says councils are experiencing a far greater volume of
cases than they were told to expect and prepare for.
There are concerns that with mass testing being rolled out in
tier 3 areas, even greater numbers will be required to
self-isolate and will come forward for the discretionary support.
The DCN is calling on government to urgently provide further
funding and to broaden the eligibility so people get support to
self-isolate and reduce the risk of spreading infection.
Cllr Giles Archibald, District Councils’ Network lead member for
Better Lives said:
“District councils have been on the frontline fighting this virus
since day one, and supporting residents and businesses
throughout. Key to this has been supporting those facing
financial hardship and helping them to do the right thing and
follow the rules to keep everyone safe and minimise transmission
of this deadly virus.
“However we have concerns that the money we have to provide
payments to those on low-incomes needing to self-isolate is about
to run out.
“This is vital funding to support those facing financial
difficulty and to keep coronavirus at bay.
“We are also concerned that if the money runs out, infectious
people will be tempted to go to work because it is the only way
of paying the bills and meeting household costs.
“With mass testing being introduced in some areas, there is a
risk that councils will be unable to provide financial support to
households who need it.
“We need government to address this by providing new, additional
funding, so we can continue to work together and get through the
months ahead of a vaccine becoming widely available.”
Notes to editors
- DCN survey of District Councils on the Test and Trace support
payments scheme
From a base of 85 council responses.
Almost 5% have exhausted all of the discretionary T&T support
payments scheme.
Of those that have not yet exhausted all of the funding:
- 33% will in December 2020
- 16% in January 2021
- 7% in February 2021
- 7% in March 2021
- 37% don’t know when it will be exhausted
