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

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 is administering the grants on behalf of the Scottish Government.

The application process can now be done online through the Inverclyde Council website.

Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: “The coronavirus pandemic as well as being a serious health issue has caused huge financial problems.

“There has been a surge in demand for the grant since the end of December and those who have not been able to access support should apply now.”

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

They must earn less than the real living wage or have household income less than a set threshold, or be in receipt of one of the following: Universal Credit; Working Tax Credit; Income Support; Income Based Jobseekers 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 including the online form to apply.