£500 crazy government

[HatingCovid]

So the government wants to give.people with a positive covid test, £500.

This has got to be their most bonkers covid policy yet.

Government wake up!!! .... If you do this, you do realise that people will go out trying to catch covid in order to get their £500. This will backfire and cause a rise in cases. It will not help reduce cases.

Wake up government.

Just what I thought......

Sorry, I've just seen there's a mother thread on this! (www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4143379-You-have-got-to-be-kidding-me) sorry to duplicate!

'another' not 'a mother!!'

[[https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-no-plans-to-give-500-to-everyone-who-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-says-number-10-12195482]]

Where are you reading that because it says here they have no plan to?

They confirmed on the news they won't be doing that

Saw it in the telegraph (www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/01/22/500-covid-test-payment-positive-cash-coronavirus-uk-ministers/)

They confirmed on the news they won't be doing that

Thank goodness!!

It's such a terrible idea I think it must be a deliberate tactic by the govt to make people argue against the idea of giving people money, even though they should be supporting people financially but in a much better way.

I was going to post about this yesterday then thought about it and realised that people who are asked to self isolate can already claim £500 if they meet certain criteria (can’t work from home, wouldn’t get paid of off work, receiving certain benefits etc...) So don’t think it would “incentivise” people to catch covid anymore than the current system might.

The madness of the new idea is that even people who are able to work from home would be able to claim.
But it’s pointless discussing it anyway as it’s not happening!

if off work

Even if it was going ahead, why is it a bad thing?

It’s only £500, which is presumably supposed to cover living expenses whilst the patient can’t work. If it stops people from chancing work whilst positive as to not fall behind with bills, I’m all for it.

@sofiaaaaaa

Even if it was going ahead, why is it a bad thing?

It’s only £500, which is presumably supposed to cover living expenses whilst the patient can’t work. If it stops people from chancing work whilst positive as to not fall behind with bills, I’m all for it.

At 40,000 cases a day, that's £20million every day the government has to magic out of thin air.

Not to mention more people will get tested so the figure would be much higher.

Also you’re grossly exaggerating the amount of people that would purposely get COVID for the sake of a measly £500 - baring in mind that would place more restrictions on their lives (most people hate lockdown already, let alone not being allowed out at all) and potentially lead to them/their loved ones getting seriously ill. There’s no guarantee of a mild illness and long COVID is a possibility. There may be a couple of abusers but it certainly won’t be the majority.

@Sparklfairy why does that personally bother you? This government has wasted similar amounts for less worthwhile causes and will continue to do so. Your attitude is very “I’m alright, Jack”

If a positive COVID patient can’t “magic out of thin air” money to cover their bills and feed their children whilst being out of work, cases will continue rise as some will ignore their quarantine for survival

Not everyone has cushy wfh jobs

Not every self employed person is eligible for government support

I doubt people will go to these lengths for £500. Especially if they are working already. I’ve heard people say on here it’s not straight forward and you have to actually apply in order to get the £500.

@sofiaaaaaa

If a positive COVID patient can’t “magic out of thin air” money to cover their bills and feed their children whilst being out of work, cases will continue rise as some will ignore their quarantine for survival

Not everyone has cushy wfh jobs

Not every self employed person is eligible for government support

Nice assumption, but you're wrong. I'm SE and don't qualify for any help. I'm exactly the sort of person who would need the £500 but I still don't agree with it.

£20mill a day is a ridiculous amount to even consider giving to everyone regardless of circumstance. SE and SSP, yeah I can get behind that, but everyone? No.

I don’t think it would encourage people to catch covid.

How many of you are that desperate for £500? Why do you think so poorly of other people?

It kind of says something about yourself to be honest.

The idea behind it is sound - people who are testing positive are not isolating because they need to work. So this is a pragmatic solution.

Personally it would be better to just give everyone a lump sum of money, and if they need it they claim it. We’ve thrown billions down the drain already - give every adult £1,000 and raise taxes later to recoup it.

Do you think they'd make it retrospective? I've had it twice now and it would help make up for all the money I've lost (kidding, just about).

I strongly agree that people need to be supported financially so they can isolate. I think though, it would be better for employers to cover the normal wage then claim the cost back from the government (like furlough)- not sure how that would work for the SE, but then, I'm not Rishi Sunak so not my problem to solve 🤷🏻‍♀️

Those that don't think some will purposely try to catch covid to claim £500 - I can assure you they would. Not because they're bad, selfish people - but because so many people are desperate and living on the breadline in this country -£500 is a lot of money to many.

My initial thought was what?? Give everyone £508 whether they need it or not?? Totally nuts. Also, I think employers who exploited furlough payments will be the same who tell their employees they have to go into work whether they have covid or not, trust me it happens! Who would monitor whether those who received the £500 would actually self isolate anyway?

@sofiaaaaaa

If a positive COVID patient can’t “magic out of thin air” money to cover their bills and feed their children whilst being out of work, cases will continue rise as some will ignore their quarantine for survival

Not everyone has cushy wfh jobs

Not every self employed person is eligible for government support

100% this

I fell through all the cracks of government support - one of the 3 million #ExcludedUK

I'm self employed, so I wouldn't even get SSP. I can't WFH, but I wouldn't get the £500 because I'm not on benefits. I can't afford 10 days off work because I have bills to pay - indeed, my bills would go up because I'd have to pay for a dog walker.

I'm SO fed up of being told to "do the right thing" when government has consistently failed to do the right thing by me and the rest of the 3 million Excluded. I've already had more than my fair share of financial hardship, and I'm not prepared to sign up for more.

I'm sure someone will suggest that I'm selfish - but there's nothing selfish about having rent to pay. What's selfish is people who can WFH on full pay expecting others to lose 10 days of wages to protect the family of the WFH brigade.

As a result

• I've not downloaded the app
• I've told friends not to name me as a close contact
• I've proactively programed in the T&T phone number into my contacts list so I know never to pick up
• I won't get tested

If government wants to cover the costs, in full, of self isolation, then I'll happily comply. Until that happens, I'm going to have to prioritise the small matter of keeping a roof over my head, because government evidently doesn't give a shit about that.