SCOTS are facing a “postcode lottery” over access to vital grants that support people forced to self-isolate who may miss out on earnings, new figures show.

The Self-Isolation Support Grant is aimed at people on low incomes who are unable to earn if they must isolate because they have Covid.

The £500 grant is awarded through local authorities and figures from the Scottish Government show the average rate of approval across the country is 51%.

The lowest rate of approval is in Argyll and Bute, where just 30% of claims were approved. It is highest in Dumfries and Galloway – where the rate is 74%.

Scottish Labour say the grant allows people on the breadline to avoid a “choice between keeping themselves or others safe or putting food on the table”.

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The party analysed the rates of approval from December 2020 to November 2021, claiming the system “isn’t working as it needs to”.

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'Postcode lottery'

Pam Duncan-Glancy, Labour’s spokesperson for social security, said: “This grant is both a lifeline for countless people and a crucial public health measure. It is completely unacceptable for access to this essential support to come down to a postcode lottery. 

"No-one should face a choice between keeping themselves or others safe or putting food on the table. 

"Council staff are working tirelessly to try and get people the support they need, but it's clear the system isn't working as it needs to. 

“The Scottish Government must make sure Councils can get this funding to those who need it, when they need it.

“They should be promoting uptake nationally and at every opportunity, like on the adverts about the rules, so that people know about the help out there and we can make sure people on the lowest incomes aren't paying the price for protecting public health."

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According to the latest figures from the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), published in 2020, Dumfries and Galloway has some of the highest rates of fuel poverty in Scotland. Some 46% of households in the area were classed as “fuel poor”.

Both Dumfries and Galloway and Argyll and Bute council area had lower shares of the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland. Dumfries and Galloway had 1.36% deprived and Argyll and Bute had 0.93%. 

Scotland's cities had generally high rates - Edinburgh approved 70% of applications, Glasgow 68%, Dundee 73%. Aberdonians faced more difficulty having their applications approved with a rate of 53%.

A spokesperson for Dumfries and Galloway council said they used a screening process not employed by all local authorities which might account for their high approval rate. 

The spokesperson said: "The criteria for Self-Isolation Support Grants is the same across all local authorities.

"The differences in success rates is primarily due to how each local authority administers the process to reduce the number of ineligible cases progressing to application.

"In Dumfries and Galloway, cases are screened by the Social Work access team, can verify the NHS self-isolation criteria. Therefore, those cases who don't meet the isolation criteria don't progress to the application stage. This reduces the number of non-eligible applications being made and reflects the higher success rate. Not all local authorities use this screening process."

Argyll and Bute council said they had distributed more than £571,000 of self isolation support funding "to date". 

A spokesperson said: "To date we have administered approximately £90 million to businesses and individuals including over £571, 000 of Self-Isolation Grant funding.

"The criteria for the Self-isolation Grant is set nationally and performance across Scotland will be different based on area demographics.

"To be eligible, applicants need to supply supporting information including bank statements, proof of income and loss of income. Evidence of having to self-isolate is also required. It is essential as part of the application process to supply these documents to avoid rejection.

"Unfortunately the majority of rejected claims were due to missing information.

"We have helped thousands of people access grants throughout the pandemic and always take the time to help and guide people through the application process.

"This includes advising unsuccessful applicants on what they need to do to reapply or appeal the decision. We would encourage anyone applying for the Self-Isolation Grant to include all the necessary documents with their application."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Local authority level application figures should not be compared with each other due to several factors that are known to influence the number of applications.

In local authorities where online applications are used, a higher number of non-eligible applications may be included in the data than in those where applications are only via phone, email or outbound calling.

“Councils are doing everything they can to support people through this challenging time to ensure they do not have to make a choice between self-isolating and supporting themselves financially.

“Anyone eligible will, of course, receive the financial support they are due, including any backdated payments.”