Dacorum residents can apply for the discretionary £500 self-isolation payment - here's what you need to know

More than 4,000 residents in Hertfordshire will now be able to claim for the discretionary £500 self-isolation payments after a £2million investment was agreed.

Eligible residents will be able to access the new scheme which works alongside the local Test and Trace programme.

The county-wide Health Protection Board has now approved an additional £2 million of funding for councils across Hertfordshire to provide an inclusive payment scheme that will support a wider range of residents on low incomes.

To be eligible for the £500 discretionary payment, residents must:

> have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test & Trace because they have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been in recent contact with someone who has

> be employed or self-employed and are unable to work from home

> lose income due to self-isolation

> be aged 16 or over

> have usual net earnings of £500/week or less (£2,167/month), and have savings of less than £16,000.

Residents receiving the payments must agree to follow self-isolation guidance.

To apply, residents in Dacorum should visit the council's websitefor more information from Monday, February 1.

Leader of Dacorum Borough Council, Councillor Andrew Williams, said: “The announcement of this additional funding is very welcome.

"Supporting as many Dacorum residents as we can to do the right thing by self-isolating and following the guidance is paramount to reducing transmission of the virus and keeping our community safe.”

The £2million of funding was agreed by a key group of public sector partners across public health, NHS, police and environmental health officers.

This extra money was approved by the Health Protection Board after the county’s 10 district and borough councils had already distributed the previous grants from Central Government.

Tim Hutchings, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Prevention at Hertfordshire County Council, said: “This extra £2million will help those people that are eligible to apply for it.

"Those that are eligible can get access to £500 if they have unfortunately tested positive for COVID-19.

"Self-isolating – and not going out in any circumstances – is absolutely critical for us to continue to reduce infections from spreading within our communities.

"We would welcome any further investment from Central Government in following our lead on this issue.”