Support for people affected by coronavirus (COVID-19)

Find out what support is available if you've been shielding during coronavirus.

• find out about protection levels on gov.scot
• find advice on sharing parenting with someone who lives in a different home on Parent Club

• find the latest information about face coverings on gov.scot
• find out who does not need to wear a face covering

Find information and guidance to help check the coronavirus risk in your workplace on gov.scot.

Find guidance on pregnancy and coronavirus from NHS inform.

Find an advocate. An advocate is someone who acts as an independent spokesperson for people who find it hard to speak up for themselves. This can include older people and people with:

• autism
• dementia
• mental health conditions
• learning disabilities
• physical disabilities

An independent advocate can support you if you're dealing with care, housing or health services. They can help you:

• say what you want
• have a say in what's happening to you
• get the information you need
• stand up for your rights

You can phone 0800 111 4000 (textphone: 0800 111 4114) if you need help with things like:

• food, if you're not able to get the day-to-day food you need
• medication, if you're not able to pick up the prescriptions you need
• access to local social work services
• emotional support
• contact with local volunteer groups

This can also include other things not on this list.

Opening hours

The helpline is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. It's free to phone.

Who the helpline is for

It's for people who need essential help and cannot get it from family, friends or local groups in your community.

How it works

When you call, you'll be put through to speak to someone at your local council. They'll be able tell you the kind of help you'll be able to get.

Find a list of organisations who can give you help and advice on the Ready Scotland website.

Find out about the extra Coronavirus Carer's Allowance Supplement.

If you cannot afford food, find out if you can get:

• the Self-Isolation Support Grant
• Universal Credit on GOV.UK
• a Crisis Grant
• Best Start Grant or Best Start Foods
• free school meals - including during school holidays
• COVID winter hardship payment (£100 per child)
• support from a food bank near you on Citizens Advice Scotland
• Child Winter Heating Assistance - for children up to 18 years old who get get the highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance
• get help with energy bills

• if you cannot pick up your own prescriptions, ask your pharmacy if they can deliver them to your home
• see a list of supermarkets that offer gift card schemes to help friends or family members do your shopping for you on gov.scot
• see a list of shops that can deliver boxes of pre-chosen food and essentials to your home on gov.scot

Helpline for local support

You can phone 0800 111 4000 (textphone: 0800 111 4114) if you need help with things like:

• food, if you're not able to get the day-to-day food you need
• medication, if you're not able to pick up the prescriptions you need
• access to local social work services
• emotional support
• contact with local volunteer groups

This can also include other things not on this list.

Opening hours

The helpline is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. It's free to phone.

Who the helpline is for

It's for people who need essential help and cannot get it from family, friends or local groups in your community.

How it works

When you call, you'll be put through to speak to someone at your local council. They'll be able tell you the kind of help you'll be able to get.

• NHS Inform - Scotland's national health information service. Provides information on how to look after your mental wellbeing
• Samaritans - phone: 116 123 (24 hours a day 365 days a year). Samaritans provides phone and email support for anyone who's feeling low, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide
• Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) - Scotland's national mental health charity. Provides information, links and resources about how to protect your mental health
• Young Scot - Scotland's national youth information and citizenship charity for 11-26 year olds. Provides information and links about how to look after your mental health
• see me Scotland - Scotland's national campaign to stop the stigma of mental ill health. Provides links to resources and support organisations
• Breathing Space - phone: 0800 83 85 87 (Monday to Thursday, 6pm to 2am and Friday 6pm-Monday 6am), Breathing Space is a free, confidential, helpline for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16 experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety
• if you're already receiving help from your GP, phone your GP or care team first - or if you're unable to talk to them, call 111

• get advice for children of all ages during coronavirus on Parent Club
• get information about supporting your children's mental wellbeing during coronavirus on GOV.UK

You can leave your home during coronavirus to escape or keep yourself safe from domestic abuse.

• call Scotland's Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline. Phone: 0800 027 1234 (every day, 24 hours)
• get domestic abuse advice and support from Scottish Women's Aid
• get domestic abuse advice and support from Safer Scotland
• find more domestic abuse advice and support for people in Scotland
• find more domestic abuse and coronavirus advice and support on GOV.UK

Get advice and support from Rape Crisis Scotland. Phone: 08088 01 03 02 (every day, 6pm to midnight).

Get more information about child protection from Police Scotland.

• check if you can get help paying your rent
• paying your rent from Shelter Scotland
• mortgage arrears and breaks from Shelter Scotland
• claiming benefits from Shelter Scotland

Tenants

• your tenancy rights if you have a private landlord
• your tenancy rights if you have a social landlord
• what you should do if you're being evicted from Citizens Advice Scotland

Landlords

• get a loan to help with lost rental income from Scottish Government
• guidance for private landlords and letting agents on gov.scot
• guidance for social landlords on gov.scot

• find out about moving home and how to stay safe from Shelter Scotland
• read the Scottish Government guidance for moving home during coronavirus on gov.scot

Guidance about moving to and from your student accommodation.

Advice and support if you're homeless or worried about becoming homeless.

You should only go into work if you cannot work from home. In protection level 4 areas, this is the law.

Read the coronavirus stay at home guidance with information about different workplaces.

• find out about testing if you're a key worker on gov.scot
• what to do if you're worried about going to work because of coronavirus on Citizens Advice Scotland
• your workplace rights from the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)

Find information and guidance to help check the coronavirus risk in your workplace on gov.scot.

• find out about applying to the Self-employment Income Support Scheme on GOV.UK
• information on getting help with tax on GOV.UK
• apply for Universal Credit on GOV.UK
• get help with benefits
• find business help and support on the Find Business Support website
• use the GOV.UK business support finder to see what financial support is available for you and your business

• what to do if you've lost your job on GOV.UK
• what you can do if you're laid-offon GOV.UK
• your rights if you've been dismissed on GOV.UK
• what to do if you've been furloughed on GOV.UK
• apply for Universal Credit on GOV.UK
• what you can do if your employer has told you not to work from Citizens Advice Scotland
• information on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme on GOV.UK

• check if you can get a self-isolation support grant
• check if you're eligible for Statutory Sick Pay on GOV.UK
• find out what to do if you're employed but cannot work on GOV.UK
• find information on getting Statutory Sick Pay if you're self-isolating from Money Advice Scotland

Find out if you can get a crisis grant from the Scottish Welfare Fund.

• Find Business Support - offers the latest coronavirus business advice for Scotland. This includes information on Scottish and UK government announcements, guidance for employers, and advice on finding finance and paying taxes
• see a timeline of key dates for businesses in Scotland on Find Business Support. The dates in the future are indicative, which means they could still change.
• use the GOV.UK business support finder to see what financial support is available for you and your business

Information on rates reliefs and grants to help owners of non-domestic properties, including businesses, during coronavirus.

Registering a birth during coronavirus.

• getting married during coronavirus
• civil partnerships during coronavirus

• registering a death during coronavirus
• funerals during coronavirus

Schools are only open to in-person learning for children of key workers and vulnerable children.

All other children and young people will have remote learning.

From the week beginning 22 February, we plan:

• a full time return of early learning and childcare for all children below school age
• a full time return to school for pupils in primary years 1 - 3
• a part-time return for senior phase pupils to allow in-school practical work that they need to do to complete national qualification courses

Read more about the back to school plans on gov.scot.

Find out how to support your child's learning during coronavirus on Parent Club.

Find out about free school meals - including during lockdown and school holidays.

Find advice on sharing parenting with someone who lives in a different home on Parent Club.

You should only use informal childcare if it's essential. For example, a grandparent looking after a grandchild.

Only the child should go into the home of another household.

More about the stay at home guidance and childcare on the Parent Club website.

By law you can only leave your home if you have a good reason.

More about the stay at home guidance and travel and transport on gov.scot.

• international travel, quarantine and exemption list for Scotland
• find the latest advice about travel during coronavirus on GOV.UK
• find travel advice for specific countries and territories on GOV.UK