Financial guru Martin Lewis has taken to Twitter to remind parents that they could be entitled to a COVID-19 support grant if their child is sent home from school to self-isolate.
If your child has been sent home because of an outbreak of coronavirus then you could be able to access a £500 payment that is available for those on a low income and those who are unable to work because of childcare.
In Scotland, if Test and Protect tells you to self-isolate the Self Isolation Support Grant is there to help with the added cost or loss of income.
The Money Saving Expert tweets as Scotland reports another new record for the number of positive tests with 3,385 confirmed cases.
He tweeted: "Spread word. Many children are being sent home by school due to someone in class/year group bubble testing +ve for Covid.
"If so, and you then can't work due to needing to be home with them, this (not just NHS test & trace) can trigger the £500 payment for those on low incomes."
Nicola Sturgeon said: "We're seeing quite a steep rise in Covid cases right now.
"The positive news is that vaccination is providing a lot of protection so we are not seeing a commensurate rise in the number of people going into hospital or intensive care, or dying from the virus."
However, she stressed that people should not be complacent.
If you're employed, you'll pay tax on the payment if you go over your tax-free personal allowance.
Your tax code will change to collect the tax and you'll not pay National Insurance contributions on the payment.
If you're self-employed you must report the payment on your Self Assessment tax return.
Do you qualify?
The ScotGov guidelines say that an applicant must apply to all of the below qualifications.
4 things you must have to qualify for the Self Isolation Support Grant
1. Test and Protect
You must be told by Test and Protect or the Incident Management Team to self-isolate, or you are the parent or carer of a child under 16 who has been told to self-isolate caring for someone over 16 who has been told to self-isolate
2. You must be employed or self-employed.
3. You'll lose income because you cannot work from home.
4. You must be on a low income or getting one of these benefits.
Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Income-based Employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Pension Credit, Council Tax Reduction
Low income
You may qualify for this grant if you're on a low income. This can vary between councils and you can check here.
No recourse to public funds
You can still apply for the grant if your right to live in the UK includes the condition that you've no recourse to public funds.
If you're not eligible for the grant
If you're not eligible for the Self-Isolation Support Grant you may be able to get a Crisis Grant.
You can only apply for a Crisis Grant through your local council.
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