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

@Puzzledandpissedoff

There would be far less point if compliance was high

There would, yes, but it's compliance I was thinking of - especially if that figure of 20% already not isolating with a positive test is accurate

And yes, I've seen that it's just a suggestion, but so were numerous other idiotic ideas which have since been introduced

You misread it. That post said only 20% are isolating. Which means 80% aren’t. No wonder things are so bloody awful if that’s true. And the “behave as if you’ve got the virus” message is failing.

I know it won't happen, but it was amusing to think of someone suggesting it before they spotted the flaws.

In Terry Pratchett's book Soul Music the government deal with a plague of rats by offering twenty pence for every rat tail. The rat problem goes away and then comes back worse than ever because everyone is breeding rats.

Stupidest idea they've had yet, and that is saying something! Give people an incentive to catch covid. I'm sure they're trying to kill us.

This rather misses the point that in most cases where the low paid/ zero hour worker has to go to work to get paid implies that it is their choice - in many cases it will be the employer putting pressure on the employee to come in even when they actually want to isolate, at risk of losing their job.

So it is the employers attitude that needs to be addressed rather than the employee. How many times have we heard that on here lately?

[quote GirlCrush]@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..[/quote]
Genius 🤣🤣

A classic example of a good idea in theory that would crash and burn in practice.

You need to balance it so that self-isolation does not mean lost wages, otherwise people will, inevitably, be reluctant to find out if they have covid because they won't want to lose money. In many cases, cannot afford to lose money.

All the "people should go it for the wider good" in the world, won't change that.

Instead if a £500 grant why don't they just pay covid SSP at the normally hourly rate for the employee rather than £90 whatever a week.

So much simpler, employee gives employer proof of need to isolate, employer pays covid ssp and claims in back from the HMRC who can check the amount if necessary against employees normal pay

Seems ripe for exploitation that would put the numbers up. Friend that has it would be visiting testing positive for all their friends and family down the test centre.
Kerching £500 each for all their mates.

Oh noooo... this is the first ive heard.. i must be living under a stone... what a ridiculous idea... 😭

It seems so dystopian. I'm no conspiracy theorist and don't believe Covid is a hoax but if you heard a story about a government giving money to people who tested positive for a deadly super virus, you'd think 'wow thank fuck that wouldn't ever happen'...

There is already payment for people who test positive for covid. My daughter and her partner had a positive test had payments of £500 each. Apparently there are payments available. When you get a positive result and register with track and trace you can claim under the test and trace support scheme, if you are not eligible they do make concessionary payments see here www.gov.uk/government/publications/test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme-claiming-financial-support/claiming-financial-support-under-the-test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme

Following from last post, i completely see why working people with a family to support etx wpuld need this for lost wages.. but does EVERYONE who tests positive get the 500? Im talking teenagers, homeless people, people on jobseekers? If so, i can see how that may increase spreading as 500 is a lot of money to people in those circumstances

They've 'discovered' (should have known all along) that one of the main drivers of continued infection is people with symptoms not isolating (not people not wearing masks, which only the stupidest amongst us could believe is the main driver).
They're mostly essential workers who don't have sick pay and so therefore can't afford to isolate.

That's why they're doing/considering this.

@Pootles34

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

Exactly!

Kids can starve - but lest's encourage deliberate infection.

If my dp catches covid, he will need to have time off work. He won't get paid for this. We live pay check to pay check and 2 weeks of no pay will mean we can't feed our children. Luckily so far he hasn't needed to isolate, but again, if he does need to, he won't get paid.
Realistically, the government should be forcing employers to not be total tossers but that's not going to happen and so this payment is needed.

Oh and he works in food distribution so has been a key worker all the way through. They're made to work through all illnesses including stomach bugs, it's disgusting.

Absolutely @SprogletsMum .

I'm appalled by the ignorance is the circumstances of many families shown on this thread.

Not a main point, but it's not that easy to "give" Covid to all your mates either. And if you've had it once you presumably wouldn't be paid again six week later.

Dont believe what you read in the media .

Does anyone know where you can get covid?

Asking for a friend.

My DP has worked all through this as he’s a delivery driver for a supermarket. If he has to go off to be tested he doesn’t get paid. If he has to isolate because of a family member he doesn’t get paid. People have had help with furlough. We lose his wage even for a few days it impacts us massively why shouldn’t there be some support there.

My friend works in the car trade. He doesn't get sick pay from his employer if he's Ill and can't work. He would only get statutory sick pay from the government. Many people continue to go work even when they suspect they may have vivid because they can't afford to take time off. That £500 would encourage people to stay at home.

@Duemarch2021

Following from last post, i completely see why working people with a family to support etx wpuld need this for lost wages.. but does EVERYONE who tests positive get the 500? Im talking teenagers, homeless people, people on jobseekers? If so, i can see how that may increase spreading as 500 is a lot of money to people in those circumstances

I am pretty sure it was just people who are working and are on benefits.

I'm sure you all know by now it isn't happening. It wasn't happening before breakfast.

Saw it last night on the news and couldn’t believe it. So the poorest in society incentivised to catch Covid?!?!?! Now up until this point I’ve had no time for conspiracy theories. However this seems pretty absurd.

And yes, yes it’s not to incentivise contracting the virus- it’s to incentivise getting tested. But I think targeting the poorest in society in this way is obscene.

Also how are we going to manage all this debt in the future? And what of the poor in society who are not on benefits? Am I to be jealous of my neighbours contracting the virus and being able to feed their children better than I can feed mine?