Issue - meetings

Report to follow

This report will outline the financial support scheme for residents who are financially vulnerable and have to isolate due to Covid-19, the rules of which are set by government but include an element of local discretion for those facing financial hardship who do not meet the rules, and will ask the Executive Member to approve the York scheme.

Resolved:  (i)      That the details of the self-isolation scheme be noted.

                   (ii)      That the council scheme attached at Annex A and the discretionary scheme at Annex B be approved.

                   (iii)     That approval be given for decisions on discretionary payments to be made by the service administering the council’s discretionary welfare support.

Reason:     To provide financial support to financially vulnerable residents who have been formally asked to self-isolate through the government’s track and trace system.

The Executive Member considered a report which outlined the financial support scheme for financially vulnerable residents who had to isolate due to Covid-19 (Test and Trace Support Payment).

The government scheme to provide a £500 lump sum to those individuals required to self-isolate who met the benefits-linked eligibility criteria had come into effect on 28 September and would run to 31 January 2021.  Detailed guidance was attached at Annex C to the report.  Local authorities must have systems in place by 12 October.  York’s scheme, set out in Annex A, was prescribed by government regulations and included a discretionary fund (Annex B) for residents who did not qualify for the Test and Trace Support Payment but needed financial support to self-isolate. The scheme was designed for online applications, but support would be provided for applicants unable to apply online.

Officers at the meeting indicated that the council would receive £66k from government for the core scheme.  To date, 34 applications had been received but these were yet to be checked against the eligibility criteria.

In response to questions from the Executive Member, officers confirmed that:

·        The government allocation to the discretionary scheme was a one-off payment, with no additional funding available

·        All applications would be given a unique reference number to ensure there was no duplication, and for audit purposes

·        Arrangements would be made for residents who could not apply online to provide the required documentary evidence.

The Executive Member asked to be kept updated on the progress of the discretionary scheme.

Resolved:  (i)      That the details of the self-isolation scheme be noted.

                   (ii)      That the council scheme attached at Annex A and the discretionary scheme at Annex B be approved.

                   (iii)     That approval be given for decisions on discretionary payments to be made by the service administering the council’s discretionary welfare support.

Reason:     To provide financial support to financially vulnerable residents who have been formally asked to self-isolate through the government’s track and trace system.