Furlough/self employment queries

wiles92

I have two questions/queries if possible please that I would like some advice on.

1. My partner is a swimming teacher who works for Serco on a 0 hour basis. None of the teachers seem to have signed a contract and they’re saying they aren’t entitled to be furloughed for these hours they’ve done as they’re classed as “overtime”, yet they receive holiday pay and sick pay entitlements on the 0 hours they’ve done. Serco aren’t being helpful and keep shrugging everyone off who asks any questions, hopefully you can help as to whether they’re in the wrong, as currently she has minimal income.

2. Up until March I was self employed, I found a job because I could see what was going to happen with covid. I applied for the SEISS grant which was accepted and received. They’re now saying they’re going to have another grant. I saw Martins show in the week which said “if you were eligible for the first you’ll be eligible for the second”, I just want to know if I’m eligible now that I’m employed? I haven’t stopped being a sole trader but being employed currently I didn’t want to apply if I would end up having to pay it back etc. I just don’t want to do anything wrong.

poppy12345

1/ No one is entitled to be furloughed, it's entirely up to the employer whether they choose to do so. If the RTI was sent by 19th March then your partner is eligible but it's still the decision of the employer. However, 10th June is the final date that employees can be furloughed.

2/ If you intend to continue to trade in 20/21 then you'll be able to claim the 2nd SEISS.

wiles92

Sorry, let me add some more info where this gets more confusing.

1- she’s been furloughed for her “contracted” work which is 1.5 hours a week, she has to do the 1.5 hours a week to be entitled to do her “private” teaching lessons. I use the word private but they are on a 0 hour basis. She gets paid through PAYE. It’s on these 0 hour works that she is supposedly not entitled even though the GOV guidelines are that overtime and commissions works etc are eligible for furlough.

2- can I claim for the second grant even if I keep my employed job which would be my main income now and I traded self employed too but the income would obviously be much lower?

thanks!

Grumpy_chap

For your wife, furlough is entirely at the employer's discretion and if they don't want to do it, there is nothing you can do about it.

For SEISS, the criteria include that you were trading, continue to trade and intend to continue trading.  You sound like you are no longer trading.  I interpret differently to Poppy.

Jeremy535897

Grumpy_chap said:

For SEISS, the criteria include that you were trading, continue to trade and intend to continue trading.  You sound like you are no longer trading.  I interpret differently to Poppy.

OP says "and I traded self employed too", which I think means he intends to continue to trade in 2020/21, and should be eligible for the second grant, but we will know more when the details are published on Friday.

Grumpy_chap

Thanks Jeremy, reading that sentence again, it does now interpret as intends to continue to trade.  It's the error of reading the past tense "traded" when the OP means that to be "traded" in the future.

Jeremy535897

Grumpy_chap said:

Thanks Jeremy, reading that sentence again, it does now interpret as intends to continue to trade.  It's the error of reading the past tense "traded" when the OP means that to be "traded" in the future.

Sometimes I find the hardest issue to address is what the OP actually means to say, rather than what is typed.

wiles92

Jeremy535897 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

Thanks Jeremy, reading that sentence again, it does now interpret as intends to continue to trade.  It's the error of reading the past tense "traded" when the OP means that to be "traded" in the future.

Sometimes I find the hardest issue to address is what the OP actually means to say, rather than what is typed.

Hi Jeremy.

im new in the forums and asking questions in the written form so apologies for any miscommunication that may have been caused.

i was self employed only, due to covid causing a lack of work etc I found an employed job for financial reasons. I will continue to work as a sole trader in the future as well as most likely keeping my current employment. I will have to complete a full return in April 21.

Jeremy535897

wiles92 said:

Jeremy535897 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

Thanks Jeremy, reading that sentence again, it does now interpret as intends to continue to trade.  It's the error of reading the past tense "traded" when the OP means that to be "traded" in the future.

Sometimes I find the hardest issue to address is what the OP actually means to say, rather than what is typed.

Hi Jeremy.

im new in the forums and asking questions in the written form so apologies for any miscommunication that may have been caused.

i was self employed only, due to covid causing a lack of work etc I found an employed job for financial reasons. I will continue to work as a sole trader in the future as well as most likely keeping my current employment. I will have to complete a full return in April 21.

Thank you for the clarification. A lot of people find themselves in the same position. After typing 3,360 replies, I have had a bit more practice. You should be able to apply for the second grant.