I’m unsure of how I can now survive
SELF-EMPLOYED WORKER ONE OF MILLIONS TO ‘SLIP THROUGH NET’
ROSS Sharman admits he is worried what the future will hold.
And he’s not alone.
He says he can’t see an end in sight and, in a letter to his MP, wrote: “I’m unsure of how I can survive for much longer.”
Ross is just one of an estimated three million self-employed workers described as having ‘slipped through the net’ of government funding schemes during the Covid pandemic.
As 2020 went on, and after losing a day job he also worked, he was forced to turn to Universal Credit.
Now, after bills and rent are paid, Taekwondo instructor Ross has just £8 per month to live off.
His plight was raised in the House of Commons this week by Withington MP Jeff Smith – who asked Boris Johnson if he could live off £8 per month.
The PM didn’t answer the question.
Ross, 31, from West Didsbury, has now spoken with the M.E.N. as the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, faces growing calls to offer financial support for the newly-self employed.
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has said ‘solutions have not yet been found’ for three million taxpayers unable to access the government’s Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, Job Retention Scheme or other forms of financial assistance because they set up in business after April 2019.
Ross’s story made headlines after it was raised in Parliament.
He currently claims Universal Credit of £598 per month.
But his rent, council tax and bills together add up to £590 a month – leaving him £8 spare.
Labour MP Mr Smith said: “He is one of the people who has fallen through the gaps in the self-employed support scheme.”
Ross is a self-employed Taekwondo instructor who works within universities – and founded the British University Taekwondo League.
Alongside that, he was working as a sports officer at Manchester Metropolitan University Students’ Union, but said his contract wasn’t renewed in June last year.
Three months earlier, as the first coronavirus lockdown was announced, all Taekwondo ceased.
For Ross – and many others working in martial arts – it has never started again.
Luckily Ross says he has a strong support network around him – and has the help of his family.
“There are a large amount of people in a similar situation to me,” he said. “The government is scared of people setting up as self-employed now – and claiming the money they would be entitled to under the scheme. But that hits genuine people like me.”
There are a large amount of people in a similar situation to me
Ross Sharman