£500 prize for a positive test, roll up roll up

[PicsInRed]

It's fantastic that help is at hand for those who can't afford to isolate but I do hope kids (or perhaps regular, asymptomatic testing) is excluded from this or the ex will be scratching my ones sinuses on a weekly basis.

In fact will there be enough tests if the asymptomatic go for regular testing?

news.sky.com/story/covid-19-anyone-who-tests-positive-may-get-500-amid-fears-just-one-in-four-britons-fully-self-isolate-12195040

DH and I are early retired so wouldn't lose any money anyway and would just isolate so quite a windfall for us if we both get it.

I think this is the stupidest idea ever! Certain groups of people will deliberately try and catch covid to get the £500. People who are young and at low risk, or those older who are just desperate for cash. I’ve worked with people on the fringes of society, drug addicts, alcoholics, the generational unemployed etc and many of them would see this as “easy money”. I despair, I really do.

I am put off getting a test because I can’t afford to be off work for 2 weeks on SSP so I would welcome this and it would definitely encourage me to got tested

If I were a young healthy student (say) I'd be quite tempted to actively try and get it...

I don't get paid sick pay. £500 for 7 days off would really help! Maybe offer it to those who don't get sick pay, zero contract hours, self employed?

Goodness. Sounds like another f-up round the corner. How do other countries administer such payments. Surely it should be done through the employer.

In the first few posts Piccadilly has proved my point!

@Meruem

I think this is the stupidest idea ever! Certain groups of people will deliberately try and catch covid to get the £500. People who are young and at low risk, or those older who are just desperate for cash. I’ve worked with people on the fringes of society, drug addicts, alcoholics, the generational unemployed etc and many of them would see this as “easy money”. I despair, I really do.

As one who would benefit, see my post above, I also think that this is the most ridiculous thing ever for all the reasons you said, there will be people having covid parties to clean up financially

That’s insane. There are many areas where that money could be better spent.

Lots of these schemes just seem to be throwing money around with no thought. My mum, who owns a very modest holiday flat that is barely used or booked out (because it’s tiny so just gets the odd night business traveller) got a TEN GRAND grant handout for lost income. She freely admits it was a windfall and she never would have made close to that much in a normal year. There might be a second grant in the pipeline too.

I don’t agree with her taking it to be honest but what can you do- it’s there, they don’t want to see details of lost income.

I would welcome it if it was for all working people who can't wfh or get full sick pay from their company but everyone, how ridiculous

DH and I just had this exact same conversation. Covid party anyone?

I wholeheartedly support the idea of giving extra support to people needing to isolate to make it feasible for them, thus reducing the risks to everyone else, but really, did no one spot the obvious flaw here?

I think it's a good idea. It is roughly the difference between my husbands normal pay for 2weeks and SSP for 2 weeks. Hes just above minimum wage.
So I'm guessing that's what they're aiming for it to cover.
I asked UC if it would be counted in your wages for their calc and they said it is. So it's not some sort of bonus payment for those like us on low household income but will just mean we wouldnt be worse off.

Presumably you’d have to prove loss of earnings.

@Fembot123

Presumably you’d have to prove loss of earnings.

No, it's for everyone, I'm retired and would get it.

I think it's a good idea but it should only be for working people who otherwise wouldn't be able to work, or for a parent who has to take time off work to stay home with an isolating child. Not for students or people who don't work.

Really, how can we possibly know the full criteria for a leaked proposal 🤷‍♀️

Political correspondent on BBC mentioned perverse incentive - exactly

I think this is the stupidest idea ever! Certain groups of people will deliberately try and catch covid to get the £500. People who are young and at low risk, or those older who are just desperate for cash. I’ve worked with people on the fringes of society, drug addicts, alcoholics, the generational unemployed etc and many of them would see this as “easy money”. I despair, I really do.

^^ this was exactly my thoughts when I read it this morning. Can the gvt really not predict that possibility? Also, how does that guarantee they still, isolate?

They can stick their £500. Stupid idea.

It’s in the papers. It won’t happen. They’re not that daft.

How could they enforce it anyway? It’s impossible, at least for the majority.

Just read it will cost us two billion pounds a month.

Providing it for loss of earnings/ sick pay is good. Giving it to everyone is ridiculous for obvious reasons.

@110APiccadilly

If I were a young healthy student (say) I'd be quite tempted to actively try and get it...

Indeed! I know many people who are struggling with job losses, reduced hours, loss of contracts etc all of who are finding paying bills difficult. I can absolutely imagine some people would consider trying to become infected and that it would be seen as a quick fix for many.

Good idea to help those isolate who would lose money because they can’t work. But it needs to be just for those people, not everyone. No point my household getting the payment, we can either work from home or get full pay sick pay if we are unwell.