How can get free

Book a visit to a test site to have the test today. Test sites are open 7 days a week.

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Get a free NHS test to check if you have coronavirus, how can get free.

Order a home test kit if you cannot get to a test site.

You’ve come to the UK from a high-risk country
You’re planning to leave the country
Your employer or school has asked you to get a test but you have no symptoms

Get a free NHS test to check if you have coronavirus

You can have a swab test to check if you have coronavirus (COVID-19) now.

Who can get a free test

You can only get a free NHS test if at least one of the following applies:

You have a high temperature

You have a new, continuous cough

You’ve lost your sense of smell or taste or it’s changed

You’ve been asked to get a test by a local council

You’re taking part in a government pilot project

You’ve been asked to get a test to confirm a positive result

You can also get a test for someone you live with if they have symptoms.

If you’re going into hospital

You may need to get tested if you’re due to have surgery or a procedure.

The hospital will arrange this for you. Contact your hospital department if you have any questions.

Who cannot get a free test

You cannot use this service to get a test if:

You’ve come to the UK from a high-risk country

You’re planning to leave the country

Your employer or school has asked you to get a test but you have no symptoms

You can pay for a private test.

When to get a test

If you have symptoms, get a test as soon as possible.

Book a visit to a test site to have the test today. Test sites are open 7 days a week. Order a home test kit if you cannot get to a test site.

England and northern ireland

You need to get the test done in the first 8 days of having symptoms.

On days 1 to 7, you can get tested at a site or at home. If you’re ordering a home test kit on day 7, do it by 3pm.

On day 8, you need to go to a test site - it’s too late to order a home test kit

Scotland

You need to get the test done in the first 5 days of having symptoms. This allows you the best chance of preventing the spread of coronavirus to others. After 5 days you should still book a test if you have been advised to do so by a healthcare professional.

On days 1 to 4, you can get tested at a site or at home. If you’re ordering a home test kit on day 4, do it by 3pm.

On day 5, you need to go to a test site - it’s too late to order a home test kit.

Wales

You need to get the test done in the first 5 days of having symptoms.

On days 1 to 4, you can get tested at a site or at home. If you’re ordering a home test kit on day 4, do it by 3pm.

On day 5, you need to go to a test site - it’s too late to order a home test kit.

Get a free test online

Get help applying

If no tests are available online, do not call helplines to get a test. No extra tests are available through the helplines.

If you have other problems using the online service, call:

119 if you’re in england, wales or northern ireland

0300 303 2713 if you’re in scotland

Lines are open 7am to 11pm.

Stay at home if you have symptoms

If you’re getting a test because you have symptoms, you and anyone you live with must self-isolate until you get your result. This also applies to anyone in your support bubble (where someone who lives alone - or just with their children - can meet people from 1 other household).

You must also self-isolate if you cannot get a test.

What the test involves

The test involves taking a swab of the inside of your nose and the back of your throat, using a long cotton bud.

You can do the swab yourself (if you are aged 12 or over) or someone can do it for you. Parents or guardians have to swab test children aged 11 or under.

Getting a test for someone else

If other people you live with have symptoms, you can order tests for up to 3 of them.

If you’re applying for someone who’s 13 or over, check that they’re happy for you to get a test for them.

If you need medical advice about your symptoms

England: NHS 111 online coronavirus service

Scotland: NHS inform

Wales: NHS 111 wales

Northern ireland: get advice from a GP or GP out-of-hours service

Call 999 if you feel very unwell or think there’s something seriously wrong.

You can get microsoft word for free, here’s how

Remote working has quickly become an increasing reality thanks to coronavirus, but how do you get the same tools at home as you do in the office?

A big part of many people’s working lives may by microsoft word. Even if you don’t use it to write documents, you may need it to open other documents that get sent to you by colleagues or clients.

If you’re not prepared to shell out for a subscription to microsoft’s office 365 – currently £80 a year for up to six people – then there are some alternatives.

For starters, if you just want to open DOCX files then you can download the free word mobile application and run it on your home computer. If you’re using windows 10 then you’ll just need to head to the microsoft store and search for word mobile. Alternatively, just download it directly by clicking on this link.

Word mobile will only let you open and view documents, you can’t use it to create or edit anything. For that you’ll need to go a step further.

If you have an internet connection – and since you’re reading this I’m going to assume you do – you can access microsoft’s office suite in the cloud. Much like google docs, microsoft has office online and in order to access it all you need to do is sign up for a free microsoft account.

You can use word, excel, powerpoint, onenote and outlook at no cost. It’s true that these programs don’t have the full list of features that you get with the paid-for version but if you’re only a basic user then it shouldn’t matter much.

Using office online brings with it a few benefits – it retains all the microsoft word formatting and also makes your documents accessible anywhere thanks to the 5GB of onedrive cloud storage you get with each account.

If you’re going to be spending a lot of time working from home, then getting set up with a microsoft office online account could be a huge time-saver.

Of course, if you really must have the full list of features but don’t intend on keeping microsoft office forever (perhaps only as long as coronavirus is spreading) then you can take it on for a trial period.

Like other online services, microsoft lets you have the full package for a month for free. This gives you complete access in the hope that after the trial is over you’ll pay for the subscription. If you want temporary microsoft word access for free then sign up, set a reminder to cancel, and start using it.

Read the latest updates: coronavirus news live

Tesco worker reveals how you can get FREE bags for life ‘forever’ & it’s blowing shoppers’ minds

LET'S be honest - it's a good day if we remember to take one of our hundreds of plastic bags to the supermarket with us.

But after congratulating ourselves for being so organised, there's nothing worse than getting to the checkout and realising that your bag for life actually has an enormous rip down the side.

Well if this has ever happened to you in tesco, then one worker has revealed how you can get replacement bags for FREE.

Sharing her life hack on tiktok, tesco employee hannah lowther claimed shoppers can get bags for life "forever" if they return their broken bags in store.

"A little fun tesco fact for you," she said. "the famous bags for life is literally a bag for life."

She continued: "so you buy a 20p bag for life and if it breaks, you bring it into the store and we'll recycle it.

"and give you a brand new bag for free. Hence the name: bag for LIFE."

The video has racked up almost 70,000 "likes" on tiktok and left shoppers stunned.

"I work at tesco and I didn't even know this," one replied.

"nope," another added. "I never knew this!"

Meanwhile, a third wrote: "it irritates me when customers think their whole weekly shop will fit in one bag and gets annoyed when it rips. It's a plastic bag not a magic suitcase!"

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For more life hacks, this DIY fanatic finds DEEP HEAT gets rid of annoying paint marks on door handles and hinges with no scrubbing needed.

Plus this organised mums reckon poundland has won 2021 with a spice rack they’re using to store everything from food to make-up.

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How do I get free laptops for home-schooling and who can apply?

Disadvantaged children are the most vulnerable when it comes to learning from home

Since the outbreak of covid-19, schools have not been the same, with virtual classroom lessons and many exams cancelled.

After the christmas break, prime minister boris johnson took the decision to move england into a third national lockdown, similar to the one in march 2020 where schools were forced to shut.

With the majority of online learning and teaching provided through technological means, the digital divide in england has hit the poorest families the hardest.

Across the UK there are between 1.1 million and 1.5 million children who do not have access to a computer or laptop to learn from home and come from disadvantaged families, show reports from ofcom.

The department for education has said that those who have no access to laptops or any technology are classed as 'vulnerable children' which means they can go in to school for face-to-face lessons.

For the latest news in your area, enter your postcode below:

Many pupils with other siblings are having to take turns and share the use of their parents' mobile phones for access to the internet or certain apps they need for their work.

This has been a strain for some pay-as-you-go mobile customers as they are left with an overwhelming data bill at the end of the month.

Three UK - the mobile network provider - recently said it would provide unlimited data upgrades to disadvantaged school children in england until the end of the school year in july, with hopes that other network providers will do the same.

To tackle and ease the pressure, the government has set up a scheme to provide laptops and tablets for children who do not have the right resources at home to help their home-schooling.

Who can get laptops and tablets?

The government website states that schools will be able to order an allocation of devices for:

Disadvantaged children in years 3 to 11 who do not have access to a device and whose face-to-face education is disrupted;

Disadvantaged children in any year group who have been advised to shield because they (or someone they live with) are clinically extremely vulnerable;

Disadvantaged children in any year group attending a hospital school.

Disadvantaged children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are included within this offer. However, if specialist support and equipment is required, help may be available through the family fund.

The site has clearly stated that parents, carers and pupils cannot apply for laptops, tablets or internet access. You should instead contact your school for help accessing remote education.

Care and support you can get for free

There's some help and support you can get for free that's available to everyone.

It's not means-tested and it does not matter what your income is.

This free care includes:

Some equipment and home adaptations

Benefits

Help after coming home from hospital

NHS continuing healthcare

Nursing in a care home (NHS-funded nursing care)

Free home adaptations and equipment

You may be entitled to free home adaptations and equipment provided they cost less than £1,000 each.

The type of adaptations and equipment this includes are:

Handrails for the stairs

Grab rails for the bathroom

An intercom system for answering your front door

Ramps for wheelchair access

A walking frame

Perching stools in your kitchen or shower

If the hospital gives you any equipment to use when you get home, such as a toilet surround frame, this should also be free.

How do I get it?

Ask the adult social services department of your local council for a home assessment. You can do this online or by telephoning them.

An occupational therapist will visit you at home to see what you need.

If the assessment finds you need a change to your home or a piece of equipment that costs less than £1,000, the council must provide it free of charge.

Benefits you can claim

Make sure you claim any benefits that you're entitled to.

Some, like attendance allowance and personal independence payment (PIP), are not means tested.

If you're looking after someone, you may be able to claim a carer's benefit.

How do I get it?

If you're eligible for a benefit, you have to apply by filling in a form.

Find out how to apply for:

Help after you come home from hospital

You may be eligible for free care and support at home for up to 6 weeks after a stay in hospital, or to prevent you going into hospital.

It's known as intermediate care or reablement. The idea is to get you back on your feet as soon as possible.

It might include equipment or home adaptations to help you get around the house.

Or it might be home help from a paid carer for tasks like cleaning, getting washed and dressed, and using the toilet.

How do I get it?

Hospital staff will arrange this for you before you leave hospital.

If you or someone you know has fallen or needs help because they're ill, speak to their GP.

They should be able to arrange for someone to come to your home and discuss what you need.

NHS continuing healthcare

NHS continuing healthcare is a package of care you may be entitled to receive if you have a serious disability or illness.

It covers the full cost of your care (in your own home or a care home), including:

Healthcare

Personal care, such as help getting washed and dressed

Care home fees, including accommodation costs

You may qualify for NHS continuing healthcare if you have a "primary health need". This means that the majority of your care must involve managing your health needs, rather than social or personal care needs.

You'll need to go through an initial screening process using a checklist. Only if this initial screening process is positive will you then be eligible for a detailed full assessment of your needs.

The purpose of the full assessment is to find out if you are eligible for NHS continuing healthcare funding.

The assessment process can be complex, but if you're eligible, you or the person you care for will have all health and social care needs funded by the NHS.

How do I get it?

Ask a GP, social worker or health professional, such as a district nurse, to arrange an initial screening process for NHS continuing healthcare to find out if you are eligible for a full assessment.

If your health, or the health of someone you care for, is getting worse quickly, ask if you would be eligible for a fast-track assessment.

An organisation called beacon gives free independent advice on NHS continuing healthcare.

Visit the beacon website or call the free helpline on 0345 548 0300.

Nursing in a care home

If you live in a nursing home, the NHS will sometimes pay towards your fees.

With NHS-funded nursing care, the NHS pays a flat rate of £158.16 a week directly to the nursing home to reimburse them for the nursing care they're providing for you.

This reduces the amount you pay in fees.

How do I get it?

Ask a hospital discharge nurse, GP or social worker to arrange an assessment for NHS-funded nursing care.

If you have already had the assessment for NHS continuing healthcare, you will not need a separate one for NHS-funded nursing care.

Care services, equipment and care homes

Page last reviewed: 8 august 2018
next review due: 8 august 2021