Question reference: S5W-33631
- Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 30 November 2020
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 30 November 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reviewed the eligibility criteria for the Self-Isolation Support Grant.
Answer
It is vital that those who are doing their part to limit the spread of COVID-19 are not financially disadvantaged by doing so. The Scottish Government worked with local authorities to introduce the Self-Isolation Support Grant at great pace, and we committed at its introduction to review the Grant in order to ensure it worked for people who face hardship as a result of self-isolation.
Following early feedback from councils and stakeholders, we will extend the Grant to be available to parents of a child who is required to self-isolate from school or nursery, and the parent fulfils the other eligibility criteria – that they are a worker, on a low income, and they face a loss of income as they are unable to work from home. This will support parents who are facing financial hardship because they need to take time off work to care for that child.
We will also extend the Grant to people who are eligible for Universal Credit, but have not claimed it. This will allow people to receive the Grant as quickly as possible.
The changes have been agreed with CoSLA and we will work with councils on delivering these changes to the scheme. The changes are expected to start from 7 December.