Manx Isolation Payment

Please Note: The Manx Isolation Payment is ending in line with the removal of self-isolation rules for people who have contracted Covid-19 from Friday 1 April 2022. From that date people who are unable to work on account of Covid-19 should consider making a claim for Incapacity Benefit.

If you haven't worked and paid National Insurance contributions throughout the last 3 years you may not be entitled to Incapacity Benefit. If this applies to you, you should think about also claiming Income Support. You should also consider claiming income support if you have a family or have to pay housing costs and need additional help. Normally payment of Income Support only runs from the date on which you make your claim, so don't delay in making a claim if you think you may be entitled. If you do delay you may lose money you would otherwise be entitled to.

Introduction

This lump-sum payment of £300 is payable to qualifying persons whose isolation begins on or after 10 January 2022.

They must have registered a positive lateral flow device (LFD) test with the Isle of Man Government, or have received a positive result following a PCR test, and been instructed to isolate accordingly.

A payment will only be made where a person has had to isolate for at least 4 days in a row and meets the other qualifying conditions set out below.

An Isolation Payment is payable to a person only once in any 26-week period.  

Employees, including Government employees, who receive either full pay or more than half of their normal rate of pay for the period they are isolating are not entitled to an Isolation Payment.

A person may be able to get Incapacity Benefit worth up to £86.55 a week in addition to an Isolation Payment if they meet the conditions of entitlement, including the National Insurance contribution conditions.

An Isolation Payment will be taken fully into account as income for income support and income-based jobseeker’s allowance purposes in the week in which it is paid. It will be ignored for employed person’s allowance and will not affect any other benefits.

Isolation Payments are taxable, though no tax will be deducted at source.

Qualifying conditions

To be entitled to a Manx Isolation Payment you must:

• be aged 16 or over, but under state pension age and
• be present in the Isle of Man at the time you make you claim and have been ordinarily resident in the Island when your period of isolation began

If you’re an employee

You must have had earnings of at least £120 a week on average (net of deductions) in at least 13 of the 26 weeks immediately before the day on which your period of isolation began.

But if you have been on maternity or adoption leave on any day in the 52-week period immediately before the day on which your period of isolation began and you were paid at least £120 a week by your employer for 13 or more of the 26 weeks immediately before you commenced your maternity or adoption leave (or for 13 or more of the 26 weeks immediately before you claim an Isolation Payment) may also be entitled to an Isolation Payment.

If you’re self-employed

You must have registered as being self-employed with The Treasury at least 13 weeks before the day on which your isolation began and you must have paid Class 2 National Insurance contributions for at least 13 of the 26 weeks immediately before the day on which your isolation began.

But if you were on maternity leave or adoption leave on any day in the 52-week period immediately before the day on which your isolation began and you don’t meet the above conditions may still qualify for an Isolation Payment if in the 26 weeks immediately before your period of maternity or adoption leave commenced you could meet those conditions.

If you have registered with The Treasury as being self-employed and have been issued with a Small Earnings Exception certificate (or would have been if you had applied for one) you won’t qualify for a Manx Isolation Payment, unless you can satisfy the work and earnings test as an employee (see above).

If you have been directed by Public Health to isolate more than once, references to 'the day on which your isolation began' above relate to your latest period of isolation.

How to claim Manx Isolation Payment

You can now claim a Manx Isolation Payment using the online form below. 

If you can't claim online you should call +44 1624 685656.

Make your claim after you have received a formal Notice to Isolate from Public Health and you have isolated for at least 4 days in a row.

You have up to one month to claim a Manx Isolation Payment starting from the day on which your period of isolation began. If you don’t claim within that period you won’t qualify for an Isolation Payment.

How and when a Manx Isolation Payment will be paid

If you’re eligible for an Isolation Payment it will be paid directly into your bank account, usually within 7 days of making your claim.

In exceptional circumstances it may be paid at a post office using a MiCard.