Self-employed able to claim £2,500 a month
SELF-EMPLOYED workers will be able to claim up to £2,500 a month in an ‘unprecedented’ move to cover the impact of coronavirus, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced.
Support worth 80 per cent of their average monthly profits would cover 95 per cent of self-employed workers.
Mr Sunak told them: “You have not been forgotten.”
The package comes after the government came under sustained pressure as its initial package of financial support only covered employees.
Mr Sunak said: “To support those who work for themselves, today I am announcing a new self-employed income support scheme.
“The government will pay self-employed people who have been adversely affected by the coronavirus a taxable grant worth 80 per cent of their average monthly profits over the last three years, up to £2,500 a month.”
The Chancellor said the scheme will be available ‘no later’ than the beginning of June.
It is open to anyone with trading profits of up to £50,000 and will only be available to those who make the majority of their income from selfemployment so only the ‘genuinely self-employed’ benefit.
“And to minimise fraud only those who are already in self-employment who have a tax return for 2019 will be able to apply,” he said. “Ninety-five per cent of people who are majority self-employed will benefit from this scheme.”
The Chancellor said ‘it provides an unprecedented level of support for self-employed people.’
He said: “I’m proud of what we’ve done so far, but I know that many self-employed people are deeply anxious about the support available for them.” Business groups and union leaders welcomed the package of measures for self-employed workers and urged the government to make sure the support was available as quickly as possible.
Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the CBI, said: “Many selfemployed people across the UK will be hugely relieved tonight. “These new measures will provide essential support to those facing significant
You have not been forgotten
Rishi Sunak’s message to the self-employed
uncertainty and loss of income. Given the complexity of the task, it’s understandable this will take time to deliver. Fast clarity on how and when money will reach their bank accounts will help individuals to plan.”
Tim Roache, general secretary of the GMB union, said: “Millions of self-employed workers will sleep easier tonight. Food, rent, utilities aren’t cheaper if you’re selfemployed and for many work has dried up, so it’s right and welcome that support will now be put in place.”