Self employed marketing assistant

Rosebud65

Hi. I am self-employed providing a service within the recruitment sector and already and understandably most clients are saying that they are putting recruitment on hold. This means that I can't generate any income. I am looking at other ways to work through this period by applying for jobs however until I can secure something from today onwards I will have no income coming in. I am a single parent already recieving any benefits that I am entitled to. I have read through the GOV.UK guidelines but can not see anyway that I can ask for help. The only support is for delaying tax payments however I have completed my tax return and already paid my tax for 2018/2019. If anyone can give me any advice it would be gratefully received.

[Deleted User]

 Claim universal credit 

Rosebud65

Thanks for speedy response however as explained I already receive tax credits which is the same as universal credit 

[Deleted User]

 Not exactly the same, have you done a comparison to see which benefit will leave you better off? 

 Universal credit fluctuates month to month with your income unlike tax credits, provides towards your rent and provides childcare. 

T_Buckley

I’m a self employed contractor working for the financial sector and my contract ends on 31st March due to IR35. I’m single, have a mortgage and bills to pay, no dependents. I’m applying for jobs outside of my normal work, anything to contribute towards bills but no guarantee I’ll secure a temporary role due to high numbers doing the same. Any advice on what I can do, as of 1st April my income will be zero. 

iklooshar

I am self employed and run a theatre company. All work has ceased completely so my family has no income at all for the foreseeable future. We don’t pay tax as we don’t earn enough and have struggled for many years with very little. This year we received savings to expand the business from an inheritance which was the first time ever and was going to be used for a new theatre show instead of a grant. The money is for the business. Now we have no work and can’t claim universal credit because we have ‘savings’. We are supposed to be given same help as employed workers so will it still be means tested? 

Jeremy535897

It is becoming clear that the Government has overlooked a very important sector, the small self employed business. The proposed relief for small businesses is often unhelpful, in that while it offers cash grants to people who pay no rates at all due to SBRR or RRR, it offers no grants for people who work from home and pay council tax. Universal credit is often unavailable as it is still means tested and usually has an income floor (although this is suspended), and can work very badly where income and expenditure fluctuate. I would urge anyone to be very careful before switching from tax credits to universal credit. Once done there is no going back. It is clear from the design of universal credit that the Government believed at the time that too many people were turning their hobbies into "businesses" and claiming tax credits instead of looking for a "real" job, so it is not surprising that it is often unavailable. There is Opposition pressure aimed at the lack of support for small self employed businesses (as a sole practitioner accountant I run one), and I would hope that we see some more help offered in the near future.

justwhat

Jeremy535897 said:

It is becoming clear that the Government has overlooked a very important sector, the small self employed business. The proposed relief for small businesses is often unhelpful, in that while it offers cash grants to people who pay no rates at all due to SBRR or RRR, it offers no grants for people who work from home and pay council tax. 

Cash grants - rates  - its only for retail/hospitality sector.
no grants for non retail
So plumber jim who is SE and has a workshop will not get.

calcotti

T_Buckley said:

I’m a self employed contractor working for the financial sector and my contract ends on 31st March due to IR35. I’m single, have a mortgage and bills to pay, no dependents. I’m applying for jobs outside of my normal work, anything to contribute towards bills but no guarantee I’ll secure a temporary role due to high numbers doing the same. Any advice on what I can do, as of 1st April my income will be zero. 

Universal Credit. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/. It will not help with your mortgage but you should be able to get a mortgage holiday in line with government announcements.

Jeremy535897

justwhat said:

Jeremy535897 said:

It is becoming clear that the Government has overlooked a very important sector, the small self employed business. The proposed relief for small businesses is often unhelpful, in that while it offers cash grants to people who pay no rates at all due to SBRR or RRR, it offers no grants for people who work from home and pay council tax. 

Cash grants - rates  - its only for retail/hospitality sector.
no grants for non retail
So plumber jim who is SE and has a workshop will not get.

Not necessarily, see guidance as follows:

Support for businesses that pay little or no business rates

The government will provide additional Small Business Grant Scheme funding for local authorities to support small businesses that already pay little or no business rates because of small business rate relief (SBBR), rural rate relief (RRR) and tapered releif. This will provide a one-off grant of £10,000 to eligible businesses to help meet their ongoing business costs.

Eligibility

You are eligible if:

• your business is based in England
• you are a small business and already receive SBBR and/or RRR
• you are a business that occupies property