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

Just noticed that Susan Michie, one of the proponents of this idea, is said to be a member of the Communist Party and a Marxist campaigner

Makes sense now ...

Why mums?

This, with bells on! I really think there should be a site for women, who have children, sometimes single, sometimes not in the jobs where they get paid loads....mumsnet should be middle class smugsnet🙄🙄

I know, astounding. The benefit system should be abolished...all those lazy idiots who don’t want to work because of an illness, disability, caring for children, loved ones, older generations...tell you what, why we are at it....lets get the kids back into work.....

@earnshaw47

why ? surely they shouldnt need an insentive

Maybe they want to be able to pay their rent and feed their kids? Just a thought.

The fact that some people can’t even conceive of why two weeks out of work might be a problem just demonstrates how ignorant people are of the issues some are facing right now. If you are a single parent on a zero hours contract, no sick pay or annual leave entitlement and living hand to mouth and you develop a slight fever, are you going to immediately get a test and stop going to work, unpaid until you get your result knowing that a positive will mean the loss of two weeks income?

The fact that many people have had no choice but to go to work has definitely increased spread - talk to some sole traders you know about the support available to them at this time.

Glenorma you made me chuckle 🤭

This won’t happen so calm down. @Pootles34 the idea that all vulnerable kids have mother’s driving go are feckless and carelessly spend their money on ‘fags’ speaks volumes about your own failings and no ones else’s. It’s snobbery and snobbery is the bastion of the stupid and the fearful. Do better and grow up.

@Crazycatlady83

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

There will be no herd immunity. For a couple of reasons. One is that we know you can catch the same variant twice. It's happened world-wide several times now. The second is that this virus is mutating very rapidly, and some new variants appear to be vaccine-resistant. For now, forget herd immunity, which is basically a governmental excuse to do nothing. Look how well that worked for us here in the USA!

You can only claim the £500 if you’re in employment. I think you also have to show loss of earnings, so I don’t think people on salary can claim, or those on benefits. Students can’t claim either. It’s to support people to self isolate so no one has to make a choice between earning money to feed their kids or self isolating to stop the spread of this virus. I get what you mean though, it’s a lot of money. At least it’s being spent on something that might stop the spread of the virus rather than space force or whatever else the government want to spend countless billions on 🤦‍♀️

Don't think some people understand, it is not a £500 bonus payment. It is to cover loss of earnings for people on low income who have to self-isolate and cannot work from home. These people would otherwise have no income, imagine being told you have no wages for 2 weeks if you have no savings etc. As for those saying go to Asda without a mask to get this money, have you literally no idea of reality??

There is already a £500 payment for those on certain benefits who meet the criteria call the test and trace support. This new one is presumably opening it up for the many people who work and do not meet the criteria. This new payment is one of the governments very few good ideas!

Has anyone upthread pointed out that the article is about this NOT HAPPENING? I haven't had the patience to sit through the whole thread as there we so many MNers up in arms about the ridiculousness of the idea.

It was one idea of many in an options paper, and was discounted.

Why is everyone getting so upset about an idea?

@Agwen

Has anyone upthread pointed out that the article is about this NOT HAPPENING? I haven't had the patience to sit through the whole thread as there we so many MNers up in arms about the ridiculousness of the idea.

It was one idea of many in an options paper, and was discounted.

Why is everyone getting so upset about an idea?

Maybe because sometimes, just sometimes, ideas turn into reality. This was just a crazy idea and would only encourage the greedy and stupid in our society (and sadly there are many) to deliberately go out and catch the virus.

I think you are all very blinkered to the actual reality of the situation and the fact is that many low earners are turning up to work with symptoms/positive tests as they simply cannot afford to stay at home on ssp.

Anyone blasting this idea is looking at it completely wrong. It's not happening anyway so no need for people to get their knickers in a twist. What I will say is people will continue to work with symptoms unless they do increase ssp or offer a one of payment.

When you break it down it's £250 a week across 40 hours that's £6.25 ph it's hardly rolling in it

@Merrymermaid7

Don't think some people understand, it is not a £500 bonus payment. It is to cover loss of earnings for people on low income who have to self-isolate and cannot work from home. These people would otherwise have no income, imagine being told you have no wages for 2 weeks if you have no savings etc. As for those saying go to Asda without a mask to get this money, have you literally no idea of reality??

Sadly no I don't think they do...as I said in pp if someone is working ft the £500 bonus is lower than their earnings at nmw anyway

@Pootles34 I agree with you!

Allispretty

Actually I am a low earner but would know if I had the virus or not. I'm tested 4 times a week.