Car Cleaning Business - no help from Government and can't claim Universal Credit

PaulArdoch

I have a car valet business. All my customers are cancelling so have zero income, but I cannot get any help from government schemes because my company is designated as "cleaning services" I am a one man band so no employees.

The worst thing, which I am sure is the law of unintended consequences is that I have been told I cannot claim Universal Credit unless I liquidate the company. Surely this is the opposite of what the Government wants? - we all need businesses to survive and come back after this is all over.

Or am I wrong?

[Deleted User]

 You're wrong. You can claim universal credit. It's for employed and unemployed and the amount you get depends on what you earn. 

Don't know enough about the new initiatives to comment on them. 

Jeremy535897

Were you, as an employee of your own company, on that company's HMRC registered payroll at 28 February 2020? If so, what salary did you take? You may be able to furlough yourself under the job retention scheme, if there is no work to do for your company other than routine director's duties.
Universal credit in these circumstances looks through the company. See
https://www.gov.uk/self-employment-and-universal-credit

JessicaF_2

PaulArdoch said:

I have a car valet business. All my customers are cancelling so have zero income, but I cannot get any help from government schemes because my company is designated as "cleaning services" I am a one man band so no employees.

The worst thing, which I am sure is the law of unintended consequences is that I have been told I cannot claim Universal Credit unless I liquidate the company. Surely this is the opposite of what the Government wants? - we all need businesses to survive and come back after this is all over.

Or am I wrong?

Are you a LTD company or a sole trader?

Jess