Bradford Council has promised to continue supporting vulnerable people battling through the pandemic despite Government money for a vital grant scheme running out.

The Council said it as having to use its own reserves to support low-paid people to self-isolate "due to the Government’s under-estimation of demand for help."

There are two schemes to support low-paid people who are unable to work from home but who have been told to self-isolate to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

One is a standard grant for those in work but receiving income related benefits and the other is a discretionary grant of £500 for those on a low income.

Money for the standard scheme in Bradford has already been used up and the Government has therefore agreed to increase the level of funding in order to continue the payments.

The level of need for the discretionary support is also much higher in Bradford than Government anticipated but they have said they will not provide the further funding required to maintain this scheme to support the low paid.

Bradford was awarded enough funding for 623 standard awards and 369 discretionary awards. By 26 November 2020 the council had already made 860 standard awards and 375 discretionary.

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of the Council, has written to the Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock and Chancellor Rishi Sunak asking them to extend funding for the discretionary scheme, as Bradford’s initial allocation has proven insufficient to meet the high level of demand.

Cllr Hinchcliffe said: “It is already clear that the people who are most adversely affected by the pandemic and the various lockdowns are those who were already vulnerable and suffering from deprivation in one form or another.

“Despite the acute financial pressures on the Council and the necessity of providing the whole ranges of services, we refuse to abandon those in desperate need and will continue to provide this vital financial help.

“We have exhausted the grant provided by the Government and we are having to use money which should be spent on other services in the district.

“All we are doing is asking the Government not to abandon the low paid and to provide the appropriate finding for this vital programme. It is only fair when we have more people in need than others. They should be fully supported.”

By the time the scheme comes to an end at the end of January the bill for the scheme could run to as much as £400,000.

Case Study 1

Mr X had been instructed to self-isolate and could not work from home. His earnings had reduced significantly and he had submitted an application for Universal Credit. As the Universal Credit wouldn’t be assessed for five weeks he couldn’t be awarded a test and trace payment under the main scheme but an award was made under the discretionary scheme.

Case Study 2

Ms Z works as a home care assistant and when she was told to self-isolate she was unable to continue working. Although low-paid, she had not claimed benefits before and therefore didn’t qualify for a support payment under the main scheme. As her income had reduced and her normal earnings were less than £350 per week she was entitled to a payment under the discretionary scheme.