Friday 27 March 2020

New measures announced to support the self-employed

The Chancellor has announced new measures to help self-employed people to cope with the financial impact of Coronavirus. 

The government will pay the self-employed a taxable grant worth 80% of their average monthly profits over the last three years, up to £2,500 per month. The scheme will be open for at least three months, and extended if necessary.

The scheme is open to those who earn under £50,000 a year - around 3.8 million people - and self-employed people can continue to work as they receive this support. To minimise fraud, only those in self-employment, who have a tax return for 2019, can apply. However, anybody who missed the filing deadline in January will have four weeks from today to submit their tax return. You can find out more about eligibility by clicking here. 

HMRC are working urgently to get the scheme up and running, and the government says it expects people will be able to access it no later than the beginning of June. You don't need to do anything if you are eligible, HMRC will contact you with an online form, and pay the grant straight into your bank account. 

The self-employed can also access the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans, and Income tax payments that are due in July can be deferred until the end of January 2021.

This support is in addition to a whole package of support to help people who have been affected by Coronavius, which includes a three-month mortgage holiday for those in difficulty, evictions have been suspended, Statutory Sick Pay is available from day 1, and the government will cover up to 80% of the wages of retained workers. 



As your local MP, I am here to provide help and support in any way I can. Please get in touch if you have any issues or concerns. My office is physically closed, but my small staff team are working from home. Email correspondence sent to TeamOppy@gmail.com will be replied to in the usual way, post is being redirected and phone messages will be responded to. 

Two weeks ago, I launched by Coronavirus website - GuyOpperman.co.uk/Coronavirus. It is updated regularly with all the latest information for individuals, businesses and employers, from what to do if your MOT is due to expire, to advice Foreign Office advice, and support for businesses and jobs. You can click the links below to access each of the pages:








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