Self-isolation cash is not enough

摘要

Funding for council schemes supporting people forced to self-isolate due to COVID-19 do not go far enough, according to new research. Analysis by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) found demand was far outstripping supply for discretionary payments to workers who are ineligible for the Government's main scheme, under which £500 is given to low-paid employees who cannot work from home. According to a Resolution Foundation estimate, seven in eight workers do not fit the criteria for the main scheme. Of the 116 councils that provided data, representing 37% of councils running discretionary schemes, 31,979 applications were made, exceeding the available funding if granted. The TUC estimated the total number of applications would top 86,000, at a cost of more than £43.2m-£18m higher than the Government funding so far.