Self Employed and no work due to the virus

MingVase

Son asking me what's the worst that can happen if he cancels all his D/Ds because he's not going to have much work for a bit. Or what other things can he do?

He is a self employed joiner.

calcotti

He can possibly apply for Universal Credit https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/
There are benefit calculators here https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators where he can assess possible entitlement.

MingVase

TY calcotti. Can he get UC even if his wife still works? or is that a joint thing?

calcotti

MingVase said:

TY calcotti. Can he get UC even if his wife still works? or is that a joint thing?

Both have to claim and entitlement is based on joint circumstances so there may be no entitlement depending on family situation and how much wife earns. Try the calculator.

MingVase

thank you xx

mwarby

MingVase said:

Son asking me what's the worst that can happen if he cancels all his D/Ds because he's not going to have much work for a bit. Or what other things can he do?

He is a self employed joiner.

Priority bills pay these first

Mortgage\secured loan - see if you can get a repayment holiday first

Council tax - try and keep paying or get council tax benefit

gas\elec - try and keep paying, if struggling ask for help

Other bills, lower priority but still better ways than just cancelling direct debits

credit card or loan - talk to them about a payment holiday or reduced payments

Phone\internet\tv - these will be somewhat essential try to keep paying, but look to see if they can be reduced

In terms of his trade bills, he should try to keep these going as best he can (if not talk to them). This will all come to an end at some point in the coming weeks or months, he'll need these suppliers etc to be able to start a return to normal work

If he has debt issues, he should look at getting a statement of affairs and asking in the bankruptcy\debt free wanabe boards and looking at stepchange or other debt charities

MingVase

Thanks! He says he has debts but nothing unmanageable, all trade accounts work in cash. He has money but wants to hang onto it in case he can't get work for a while. I've passed all this onto him, thanks everybody 

Jeremy535897

I understand the Chancellor is to make a statement about help for the self-employed very soon, so see what he says.

SeeMe

My cousin is a 1 man band self employed decorator, and has had phone call after phone call of cancelled jobs, single with mortage/bills etc just like many, and only very small savings and is now very worried that shortly he will have no work, its mainly peoples houses his work revolves around.

calcotti

SeeMe said:

My cousin is a 1 man band self employed decorator, and has had phone call after phone call of cancelled jobs, single with mortage/bills etc just like many, and only very small savings and is now very worried that shortly he will have no work, its mainly peoples houses his work revolves around.

Look at Universal Credit. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/ 
There are online calculators to help you assess entitlement  https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

SeeMe

calcotti said:

SeeMe said:

My cousin is a 1 man band self employed decorator, and has had phone call after phone call of cancelled jobs, single with mortage/bills etc just like many, and only very small savings and is now very worried that shortly he will have no work, its mainly peoples houses his work revolves around.

Look at Universal Credit. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/ 
There are online calculators to help you assess entitlement  https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

Will pass on thanks.