To ask the Minister of Health (i) whether independent health and social care workers, who are not on the HSC payroll, will be given the opportunity to receive their £500 recognition payment in instalments, similarly to those workers who are on the HSC payroll; and (ii) whether their payments will also be topped up to offset tax and National Insurance contributions arising from the payment.

Employers may consider phasing payments to staff if that is requested but we do not intend it to be a condition of this scheme for phased payments to be available. Phasing is therefore at the discretion of the employer but must only be done in response to a request from an employee.

The Department is making payment of up to £735 per individual which means if you qualify for the full award, and pay tax at 20% and National Insurance at 12% you should receive approximately £500 pay in your pay.

The net payment will depend on personal circumstances and for example, an employee who pays tax at the higher rate will receive a lessor net amount.