COUNCIL chiefs have given out more than 200 grants to those on low incomes having to self-isolate because of Covid-19.
So far the City Council has paid out 160 automatic £500 grants to Worcester residents and a further 106 under the discretionary scheme.
Unfortunately around a third of applications for the Council’s discretionary grant scheme are being rejected because people are not able to produce all the supporting information needed.
Now the City Council is appealing for people to check the full list of information needed before they apply, so they can make sure they have it all to hand and be confident their application for a grant will be successful.
Coun James Stanley, chair of the council’s Communities Committee, said: “We want to help people and we don’t want to be turning down applications. Our housing team is pulling out all the stops to help Worcester people who are self-isolating on low incomes, but there is a legal process here and it has to be followed.”
The information required to apply for the scheme is:
- National Insurance (NI) number
- Eight-digit NHS Test and Trace ID number
- Proof of benefit entitlement
Residents claiming Universal Credit, Working Tax Credits, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit or Housing Benefit will, in most cases, automatically qualify for a grant.
The City Council is also making discretionary grants to Worcester people who meet all the other criteria, but are not claiming one of these benefits and are still facing severe financial hardship as result of having to self-isolate.
A recent bank statement, proof of employment and evidence showing a reduction in your wage from your employer will be be needed for those employed while self-employed residents will also need proof of self-employment such as self-assessment returns.
Visit www.worcester.gov.uk/coronavirus for more.
