Example
C applied for a Self-Isolation Support Grant via the Scottish Welfare Fund administered by their local council. C stated that they had been required to self-isolate and could not work, suffering reduced earnings as a result.
The council rejected the application at both stages of the process as their checks demonstrated that C was not employed at the time they were required to self-isolate.
We corresponded with C by email during the review process. C confirmed that they were a student but provided evidence of shifts that they had lined up with an employer. These shifts were during the period of self-isolation but C was not employed at the time they were required to self-isolate, and we reasoned that this meant that they could not demonstrate a reduction in earnings, which has to be measured from normal earned income, which was zero in C's case as they were not employed at the time they were required to self-isolate. We did not therefore change the council's decision. We provided the council with feedback in relation to their decision making notes not being clear and robust and a finding regarding Self-Isolation Support timescales at the initial decision stage.