Self Employed Help during this Crisis

paulwl

Hi, I am a self employed driving instructor and I'm confused with current announcements from the Government over help for small businesses. 

I'm self employed, but have no property as I run my business from home. So I dont have the Small Business rate relief for business rates

However as a driving instructor I do still have my overheads, like Car lease, Insurance, loans etc for me to do my work. 
If the current crisis continues and I fear it will for a while, what help can I get?
Some are saying we can came ESA, but that doesn't help with my overheads to keep my business up and running, i free soon that i will not have the income to cove these. So can i make a claim though any of the packages announced yesterday for small businesses. 

Any help would be great. Thank you. 

cedrag

paulwl said:

Hi, I am a self employed driving instructor and I'm confused with current announcements from the Government over help for small businesses. 

I'm self employed, but have no property as I run my business from home. So I dont have the Small Business rate relief for business rates

However as a driving instructor I do still have my overheads, like Car lease, Insurance, loans etc for me to do my work. 
If the current crisis continues and I fear it will for a while, what help can I get?
Some are saying we can came ESA, but that doesn't help with my overheads to keep my business up and running, i free soon that i will not have the income to cove these. So can i make a claim though any of the packages announced yesterday for small businesses. 

Any help would be great. Thank you. 

Ignore what some say unless you are ill or disabled.

You can read about the packages announced yesterday for small businesses here and decide for yourself
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses

Cornflakes

I've used the HMRC tool to see if I am eligible for the grant but have been turned down. The first reason is that apparently, I am earning over £50,000. Completely wrong, more like £18,000 pa. It also says that my self-employed work is less than 40% of my total income. Completely wrong, it is my ONLY income. HMRC insists that the tool is working correctly, I have my doubts. Now, I may have to wait until the end of May for my eligibility to be reassesed. Very worrying.

Cornflakes

Oh, another reason given is that HMRC claims that I did not submit a tax return in January this year. Completely wrong. Not only did I submit it but I have a receipt for the tax I paid. So, wrong on all three counts.

Maria2000

A few of soup through the net

i didn’t qualify for the first Sae help or the next bounce back loans

its just not fai

Jeremy535897

Cornflakes said:

Oh, another reason given is that HMRC claims that I did not submit a tax return in January this year. Completely wrong. Not only did I submit it but I have a receipt for the tax I paid. So, wrong on all three counts.

Try the online tool again. It may give a different answer. If not, contact HMRC.

Cornflakes

Have tried online tool several times but still the same answer. Crazy. Have contact HMRC but told it will be end of May before review.

Grumpy_chap

@OP - as self-employed, is SEISS available? 
If not self-employed, but your own Ltd Co, then maybe CJRS. 
Also the bounceback loan?

theone999

paulwl said:

Hi, I am a self employed driving instructor and I'm confused with current announcements from the Government over help for small businesses. 

I'm self employed, but have no property as I run my business from home. So I dont have the Small Business rate relief for business rates

However as a driving instructor I do still have my overheads, like Car lease, Insurance, loans etc for me to do my work. 
If the current crisis continues and I fear it will for a while, what help can I get?
Some are saying we can came ESA, but that doesn't help with my overheads to keep my business up and running, i free soon that i will not have the income to cove these. So can i make a claim though any of the packages announced yesterday for small businesses. 

Any help would be great. Thank you. 

you should be claiming universal credit now.

and you're not a business, you're self employed. so ignore anything business related because you're not a company and check your eligibility for self employed grant