Self-isolation and support to self-isolate

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When you must self-isolate for 10 days

Self-isolate if you have:

  • symptoms of COVID-19 
     
  • anyone else in your household must also self-isolate for 10 days from when you started having symptoms.

You test positive for COVID-19

The self-isolation period will begin on the day after you start to experience symptoms, or on the day after you had the test, if you do not have COVID-19 symptoms.

You have arrived in the UK from a non-exempt country

People travelling into the UK from non-exempt countries must self-isolate for 10 days.  

Find out which countries are non-exempt 

You've been advised to self-isolate by the NHS Test and Trace or other authorities

You will be alerted by the NHS Test and Trace service via text message, email or phone, if you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

You can also be notified by Public Health England and from other authorities that you have had close contacts with someone who has tested positive.

You will begin self-isolation for 10 days from the day after your last contact with the person who has tested positive.

You could be fined if you do not self-isolate following a message by NHS Test and Trace.

Support to self-isolate

Please contact these services if you need support with finances, wellbeing or food during isolation:

Help Hub COVID Helpline

Support for any COVID-19 related issue. Visit Community Help Hub or Call 0808 281 3210, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm

Local food banks

Visit our Local food banks directory

Shopping, handyperson, and befriending

Visit Age UK Barnet, call 0208 203 5040 or email info@ageukbarnet.org.uk

Accessing benefits and grants support

Visit our Benefits, Grants and Financial Advice 

For mental wellbeing

Community Barnet COVID-19 (if aged from 18 to 55 years old)

Call 020 8016 0016 or email covidhelp@communitybarnet.org.uk

Grants to support self-isolation

If you need more financial support, you can apply for one of the following grants:

National test and trace self-isolation support payment

If you must self-isolate and need financial help, you can apply for the national self-isolation support payment.

The Government offers a £500 financial support package for people self-isolating.

To get a support payment, you must live in Barnet and meet all the following criteria:

  • have a unique NHS Test and Trace 8-digit identifier number
  • you've been notified to self-isolate on or after 28 September 
  • asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace either because you’ve tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
  • be employed or self-employed 
  • are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result 
  • be currently receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit 
  • make a claim within 28 days of the first day of your self-isolation.

Find out more about the national test and trace self-isolation support payment

Barnet test and trace self-isolation support payments

If you need to self-isolate and require financial help, but don’t qualify for the national scheme, you can apply for the Barnet discretionary self-isolation support payment.

You can apply for 1 of 2 support payments if you are either:    

  • self-isolating and earn between £250 and £400 per week, or
  • you have a dependent child self-isolating and you earn less than £400 per week. You will need a Test and Trace number or a letter from the school to apply.

Find out more about Barnet test and trace self-isolation support payments