Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS)
The UK-wide grant scheme has been extended from November 2020 to April 2021, and is available to anyone who was previously eligible for SEISS (though they do not need to have applied for these first and second grants previously). Third and fourth grants will be payable in two lump sums, each covering a 3-month period:
The third grant covered the period 1 November – 31 January 20201, and will be calculated at 80% of average monthly trading profits, capped at £7,500 in total. Details of the fourth grant, covering February – April 2021, will be announced in due course.
Grants are taxable and subject to National Insurance contributions.
Details of the scheme and how to claim can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-employment-income-support-scheme-grant-extension/self-employment-income-support-scheme-grant-extension
The HMRC emergency helpline for businesses and self
employed people is 0800 0159 559.
Job Retention Scheme
This UK-wide scheme, commonly known as the furlough scheme) has been extended from 1 November 2021 until 31 March 2021. It provides a grant to employers to ensure that employees receive a proportion of their usual salary for hours not worked up to a maximum of £2,500 (proportional to the hours not worked). Claims for the period 1 November 2020 – 31 January 2021 this is set at 80%.
Check if you can claim employee wages through this scheme
at www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.
Benefits that employed or self-employed people may be able to claim
This UK Government web page includes information about benefits that people may be able to claim:
- If your employer has less of no work for you because of coronavirus
- Where a workplace is closed or hours reduced
- If you’re off work because you have coronavirus symptoms, or are self-isolating or shielding.
A Test and Trace Support Payment - this is a £500 payment for people who are off work because they have
coronavirus symptoms, are self-isolating or shielding, available via
your local authority. It is available to self-employed and employed
people.
New Style Employment and support allowance - you might be able to get this if either:
You have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work,
You or your child has coronavirus, is self-isolating or shielding
Universal credit- you may be eligible if:
- you’re on a low income or out of work
- you’re 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)
- you’re under State Pension age (or your partner is)
- you and your partner have £16,000 or less in savings between you
- you live in the UK.
Pension Credit - depending on your weekly income being below set thresholds, you may
be eligible if you and your partner have both reached state retirement
age
There is also useful information about
claiming benefits at www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/coronavirus
Business support
There is a range of government support schemes and grants available for businesses – some are UK-wide and others specific to each of the four nations. You can find out what you may be able to claim with this checker:
www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder
Note: the previously announced Job Retention Bonus for employers is no longer available, with an alternative to be announced at a later date. This will be a budget consideration for small employers who have brought PAYE staff back from furlough and had counted this payment within budget and cash flow projections for Winter 2021.
Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors in England will not have to pay business rates for the 2020-21 tax year. You do not need to take any action – your local council should apply the discount automatically.
www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-your-retail-hospitality-or-leisure-business-is-eligible-for-business-rates-relief-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19
There is similar support available in Scotland for non-domestic, retail, hospitality and leisure businesses
https://www.mygov.scot/non-domestic-rates-coronavirus/
And also in Wales
https://businesswales.gov.wales/business-rates-relief-in-wales#tabs-2
Rates holidays may be available in Northern Ireland
www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/rates-holiday