COVID-19: Self-isolation Payment Update

Part of Ministerial Statements – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 10:45 am on 17 November 2020.

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Photo of Carál Ní Chuilín Carál Ní Chuilín Sinn Féin 10:45, 17 November 2020

I thank the Member for his sentiments. As I said in the statement, people can apply for this when they need it. Unfortunately, due to the length of the pandemic, some people have had to isolate at least once; others a lot more than that. It is a non-taxable grant. Therefore, it should not impact on tax credits. We need to make sure that what we give on one hand is seen in the other. That is not the case across other jurisdictions and we do not want that to happen. Many people who are on tax credits are already on a low income. We need to ensure that, after their application and when this support is given to them, they know exactly what they are getting and exactly what they have.