You have got to be kidding me!!!

[Hellin301]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55760467

People who test positive getting £500 to self isolate. All that will do is encourage the idiots in society to spread the disease just to get the money.

What are the government thinking

Such a vast amount of money

That was my first thought too! Also, no £30 for vulnerable kids - mum might spend it on fags - but have £500 for contracting covid.

This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard yet surely it will encourage people to deliberately catch it? Plus 30,000 adult cases a day... that’s £15 million?

Woohoo! I’ll be straight down Asda with no mask on. I’m unlikely to be very ill from Covid and I could do with £500. If I catch it maybe I’ll have a Covid party so my friends can get £500 as well.

Will it be means tested?

They won't do it at the moment as there are simply too many cases.

They might do it once case numbers are much lower and when they want to lift lockdown. Then it won't be as expensive but might stop the virus reaching crazy levels again after lockdown.

The verification of positive results will be tricky though. Will it need to be PCR tests that are lab verified and performed at a test site so it can be checked that the person named on the test actually took it. To avoid one positive person taking 50 lateral flow tests for all their extended friends and family.

Be a quicker way to herd immunity though .........

@Glenorma

That could happen! If it’s means tested and only those currently in receipt of benefits can actually get it then this could be another government tactic to kill off a whole group of people! Give em all a £500 bonus so they all end up killing each other via the virus..... no more benefit payouts! 💰

Government save 💰 long term! I’m only half joking too..

Paying people to have covid

What a shame we had it last year! 😂

(Stupid idea!)

It is to help the lowest earners in society who otherwise may still risk working whilst infected. People who wouldn’t get paid. People who are on zero hours contracts. It is actually a good idea. A sensible idea (possibly one of the only ones the government have had!).

Anyone who thinks it is a ludicrous idea is obviously well off and wouldn’t struggle to put food on the table, pay their rent, keep gas and electric metres running whilst isolating.

@ThatDamnKrampus

You are living in la-la land.

But as has been reported it will be available to all and not means tested? So it's ludicrous because it's so inefficient and wasteful. I don't think it will happen anyway but there you go.

I sincerely hope not

@ThatDamnKrampus

It is to help the lowest earners in society who otherwise may still risk working whilst infected. People who wouldn’t get paid. People who are on zero hours contracts. It is actually a good idea. A sensible idea (possibly one of the only ones the government have had!).

Anyone who thinks it is a ludicrous idea is obviously well off and wouldn’t struggle to put food on the table, pay their rent, keep gas and electric metres running whilst isolating.

I agree it’s time to change approach - The “stick” hasn’t worked (fining, threatening people etc!) so they are now trying the “carrot” approach. I agree with you that on paper it’s a good idea - help people to stay at home. But people are daft and there is worry people will see this has some money making scheme. I guess only time will tell!

No, gov decided against this bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-55763212

Sorry, thought it would lead straight to the article. Here it is:

Posted at 11:5911:59
Universal self-isolation payment idea 'never made it near PM'

Ben Wright

BBC political correspondent

Government sources are firmly downplaying the idea of a universal £500 payment for people required to self-isolate.

One senior source says the idea was drawn up by officials but never made it near the prime minister.

It is understood there are fears in government that such a payment system could create perverse incentives.

I agree with support for those on low incomes, who would not get paid if they cannot work.

But to make it available to everyone???? Crazy! So many of us don't need it, and it could incentivise getting the virus!

I get that strict means testing is difficult, but even if there was an element of self declaration of your financial circumstances (with the threat of punishment if you commit fraud) this would be better than universal entitlement. You would still get some who lie (as with any system it is impossible to stop completely) but most people wouldn't lie for £500, either because they are too honest or because they are scared of being done for fraud.

How else do posters imagine that someone who faces almost complete loss of income for a fortnight, who has no savings and is probably already in a precarious financial position, can do the right thing and not go to work?

Making it means tested costs a whole lot in admin itself, puts many off claiming and delays essential money.

@Crazycatlady83

Be a quicker way to herd immunity though .........

I must admit I wondered if this was the truth behind it.

It would be hugely expensive in the short term but could well allow things to reopen much quicker.

Clearly a very poorly thought out plan though. Unless Boris is relying on none of these people needing hospital treatment?

It would be absolutely impossible to manage properly, open to huge fraud, it probably wouldn't be long before criminal gangs had worked out a way to get a piece of the pie.

Unless perhaps we are being played??

It has emerged that the £500 which should be there for those self isolating on low incomes cannot be accessed by many with genuine need. In some areas it is almost impossible.

So they put this story out. Get us all angry about how insane it is to give everyone £500. Which stops us pointing out how inadequate the current system is.
There should be some middle ground between "70% of applications rejected leaving thousands with an impossible dilemma" and "£500 for everyone"

@ThatDamnKrampus

It is to help the lowest earners in society who otherwise may still risk working whilst infected. People who wouldn’t get paid. People who are on zero hours contracts. It is actually a good idea. A sensible idea (possibly one of the only ones the government have had!).

Anyone who thinks it is a ludicrous idea is obviously well off and wouldn’t struggle to put food on the table, pay their rent, keep gas and electric metres running whilst isolating.

Exactly - who would be daft enough to try and catch covid for £500. Covid seems to be a complete game of Russian Roulette.

Exactly the same thought. Madness. Also, where is the ££ coming from? If we have it, why are people in need of foodbanks?

@ThatDamnKrampus

It is to help the lowest earners in society who otherwise may still risk working whilst infected. People who wouldn’t get paid. People who are on zero hours contracts. It is actually a good idea. A sensible idea (possibly one of the only ones the government have had!).

Anyone who thinks it is a ludicrous idea is obviously well off and wouldn’t struggle to put food on the table, pay their rent, keep gas and electric metres running whilst isolating.

And how is this going to be policed exactly?

There was a thread on here a while ago with a poster asking if her boyfriend was being unreasonable for getting a temp job whilst he was furloughed. That and this will be massively abused.

Ok, so I get covid (from work) after this comes in. Who wants me to take a swab for them? I'll only charge 100, and then you can keep your 500 from Mr BJohnson!

Just get proper sick pay policies in place, now and forever, not patch the cracks left by minuscule SSP.