GRANTS of up to £500 are now available to support workers in Inverclyde who have been forced to self-isolate because of coronavirus.

From this week, those who are employed or self-employed can apply for a one-off payment to compensate for a reduction in earnings if they are required to stay at home and cannot continue to carry out their normal duties.

Inverclyde Council will be administering the grants on behalf of the Scottish Government.

The application process is over the phone only and the applicant must have the reference number provided to them by the ‘test and protect’ service.

Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: “A grant of up to £500 for those who are eligible to claim will hopefully ease some of the financial pressures facing many working families and I encourage anyone who suffers a loss of income through self-isolation to apply.”

Applicants must be employed or self-employed and unable to work from home while self-isolating.

They must be in receipt of one of the following: Universal Credit; Working Tax Credit; Income Support; Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance; Income Related Employment Support Allowance; Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit in addition to their earned income.

Those applying for a grant have to be experiencing a reduction in their earnings as a result of a period of self-isolation

More information is available online at www.inverclyde.gov.uk/selfisolationgrant and applications should be made by calling 01475 714444.