SEISS 2 Eligibility question

daddycool5000

I sell personalised printed products on Amazon and outsource the printing. 

I claimed seiss 1 as my sales turnover was dramatically down at that point compared to last year by about 7k. My main supplier closed due to CV19 for 7 weeks forcing us to reduce products for sale and thus total sales by approx 90%. I also had to furlough my one staff member (still furloughed to date). 

Seiss 2: Sales July 14th to July 31st were certainly reduced compared to same period last year. Overall sales year to date still dramatically down. However, 1 month sales from July 14th to today are slightly up on exact same period last year, hence my questioning eligibility.

Additionally, my main supplier took annual leave for 2 weeks earlier this month forcing me to seek an alternative supplier further afield (I travel to collect goods from them)  and was a lower quality product which caused me extra additional work to correct the product. 

Lastly. Whilst my staff has been furloughed I am doing their job this increasing my own hours. 

Whilst I'm personally in no doubt my business overall has been adversely effected, I'm: 

1: Slightly nervous about the above point that my sales from July 14th to date have been slightly higher than the same period in 2019, even though I can *prove that sales "On or after July 14" in HMRC's words were indeed lower. 

2: Just wondering what actually evidence I need to collate should I ever need it. *Would sales report figures for July 14 to 31 from my Amazon account cut it?

Any advice on the above points gratefully received. 

Jeremy535897

You can only furlough an employee if your business is adversely affected by coronavirus. The guidance says:
"If you cannot maintain your workforce because your operations have been affected by coronavirus (COVID-19), you can furlough employees and apply for a grant to cover a portion of their usual monthly wage costs where you record them as being on furlough."

It would be wholly illogical therefore not to claim SEISS 2. You are putting in more hours than last year for no more reward. If you had put those hours in last year you would presumably have earned more. You may also have additional costs.

justwhat

1: Your turnover / profit can be higher compared to previous years. And you are still entitled to the grant. It is not solely profit / turnover based. (it could be irrelevant)
2: Evidence - Stock price increase, Supplier stock availability, Furloughed staff, increased costs eg travel ,  PPE costs. There will be loads of evidence.

Grumpy_chap

The business has to be adversely affected because of coronavirus, and it seems as though you can evidence this as being the case.
However, this:

daddycool5000 said:

Additionally, my main supplier took annual leave for 2 weeks earlier this month forcing me to seek an alternative supplier further afield (I travel to collect goods from them)  and was a lower quality product which caused me extra additional work to correct the product. 

Is not a coronavirus-linked disruption to business and it was probably always prudent that you had a second supply chain to fall back on.