A grant is to be made available to people on low incomes who are having to self-isolate which will cause them financial hardship as a result.

The Scottish Government grant of £500 will be administered by local authorities.

The grant will be targeted at people who are in receipt of Universal Credit or legacy benefits, with some discretion to make awards to others in financial hardship. 

Applications will open from 12th of October.

The scheme has been welcomed by the organisation representing local councils, COSLA.

Councillor Kelly Parry,COSLA Community Wellbeing Spokesperson said:

“Councils have vast experience of providing local support of this type to communities and are the best placed to deliver this measure.  We are keen to agree the details with the Scottish Government as soon as possible and look forward to getting much needed support to the people who need it.”

The grant will give much needed support to those having to self isolate who might otherwise have felt pressurised to go out to work when they needed to stay at home.

Shirley-Anne Somerville, Social Security Secretary in the Scottish Government commented:

“We are introducing this new £500 grant for people on low incomes who have been told to self-isolate.

“These payments will help ensure people do not have to make a choice between self-isolating and supporting themselves financially.

“While we continue to press the UK Government for clarity around consequential funding for the support scheme they recently announced, it is essential that we act swiftly so that people who need support are able to access it. I am glad that the scheme has the support of local authorities and that we have a means of delivering it from next month.”