‘Final round’ of help for the self-employed
APPLICATIONS have opened for a second round of grants for selfemployed workers to help them through the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Government says the grant, covering the three months to the middle of October, is the final time it will support the sector with a cheque.
Self-employed people can claim 70 per cent of their usual income under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), up to a maximum of £6,570 for the three months.
So far £7.8billion has been paid out to support 2.7 million self-employed people who sent claims to the authorities for help.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “Our scheme has helped millions of people whose hard work running their own businesses is crucial to our economy.
“It means people’s livelihoods across the country will remain protected as we continue our economic recovery – helping them get back on their feet as we return to normal.”
Last week the Office for National Statistics found that there were around 238,000 fewer self-employed people in the most recent quarter. The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed said the Government would need to consider a second extension if the country suffers another wave of Covid-19.
The association’s chief executive Derek Cribb said: “It is now clear from the sharp drop in the number of selfemployed in the UK that this vital part of the workforce has had nowhere near enough support compared to employees. With the risk of a second wave looming, government must be ready to not only reopen SEISS, but also extend it to the desperately struggling forgotten self-employed.”