Self Employed Scheme extension

MikeTennis

Hi, I am eligible for the self employed scheme but am aware that at the moment it is covering up until the end of May, therefore paying for 3 months starting March. The furlough scheme has been extended to the end of June and now it is being discussed that this may continue after that. Is there any update or will there soon be one as to weather the self employed scheme will be extended to follow suit.

Thanks Mike 

Jeremy535897

Nothing as yet, so far as I am aware.

Grumpy_chap

SEISS is for three months paid as a lump sum (by the end of June) and was announced at the end of March.  I always assumed it covered the months of April - May - June.  Different, I know, to the furlough scheme which can now be back-dated to beginning March.  Also, the SEISS scheme allows you to continue working while claiming, which furlough does not.  I would be very surprised if it is extended, but that is only opinion as no-one knows.

ProDave

When I checked my eligibility today it told me when I fill in the claim I will have to confirm my business has been adversely affected (it has just 4 jobs in April, none at all yet for May)

Will they now be reducing the amount paid if you have carried on working?

poppy12345

ProDave said:

Will they now be reducing the amount paid if you have carried on working?

No.

Grumpy_chap

For the SEISS scheme, there is positive encouragement that you carry on working as much as practical. 

There is also the requirement that the business declares to have been adversely affected by coronavirus (which is a reasonable challenge - SEISS is not just to give up to £7.5k to every one that is self-employed).  It is possible there may be some superficial audit on this when tax returns / accounts are submitted covering this period.  If your profits are exactly £7.5k (or your claim) higher than an average year that might look odd.  If your profits are massively higher, that might also be investigated (for example you probably would not have been adversely affected by coronavirus if you are self-employed making surgical face masks).  

I don't think anything has been said about this, but we can only imagine there will be some kind of 'after-the-event' assessments in some cases.

_nate

The same logic applies to the self-employed as it does to employers, however: people need to plan. Knowing what one's income will be is important. The government should extend the scheme and, if they are not going to do so, say so.

Grumpy_chap

I think everyone should plan on the assumption that there will not be any extension to either SEISS or CJRS.  Neither are sustainable in the long-term and, if either are then extended in full or in part, that is a bonus to those that subsequently benefit if they wish / need to.  A business can plan how they will return without knowing when that will be.

gunboat4

Sorry for jumping in . I am self employed and have not worked since middle of March. I have received a very small amount of universal credit. I want to know  if I have an 80% payout of wages shortly from HMRC  do I have to put this in the monthly universal box asking  About wages for the last month. I am confused as the lady on the help desk that I called several weeks ago told me  universal credit and 80% of self employed wages scheme are 2 different things. Thankyou for any help .

whizzywoo

gunboat4 said:

Sorry for jumping in . I am self employed and have not worked since middle of March. I have received a very small amount of universal credit. I want to know  if I have an 80% payout of wages shortly from HMRC  do I have to put this in the monthly universal box asking  About wages for the last month. I am confused as the lady on the help desk that I called several weeks ago told me  universal credit and 80% of self employed wages scheme are 2 different things. Thankyou for any help .

It's better if you start your own question, this thread is about an entirely different aspect of the Self Employed grant scheme.

Davers123

I have been told I cannot claim and afternoon talking to a person on HMRC webchat I am told he will escalate it but they look at escalations from 18May. Why could they not look and sort?? An idea let’s all write to our MPs and complain. As HMRC say there is nothing wrong with their system. If there is admit it and people would understand.