Newly self employed SEISS letter, genuine?

TomB2

I became self employed (freelancing) at the start of the 2019 tax year. Had to stop working completely due to covid closing my industry and stopping all work. and I didnt quality for any help from the previous schemes to help the self employed. I've had an incredibly dificult year financially just the odd bit of work here and there, and in January 2021 I stopped trading and started working full time on a payroll. 
I recieved a letter from the inland revenue that looks genuine saying , because I've filled in my 2019/2020 tax return I may qualify for help. It's my understanding that because I am no longer self employed I do not qualify, as the 4th SEISS grant is for February-April 2021, and I'm no longer trading.
I got the phone call today as stated in the letter attached. And explained my concerns. The lady said that I should still qualify. I also expressed my concerns about sending so much personal information to a drop box link from an unknown number. I told her I would check out the legitimacy of this and she said she would ring back tomorrow, as I have 48 hours to claim ( bit of a red flag for me) By the time I'd finished work all the offices I could ring were shut... I will try tomorrow morning.  Even if it is genuine, is it worth claiming as I dont think I'm eligible. But the money would go someway to paying off all the debt that mounted up last year (it's a shame it's not backdated...) has anyone else had this letter?

Jeremy535897

According to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, those first self employed in 2019/20 will be asked to do verification checks, and will receive this letter:
https://www.icaew.com/-/media/corporate/files/insights/tax-news/seiss4-pre-claim-verification-letter.ashx?la=en

As you say though, you will not be eligible as you are not trading in 2020/21.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

You are clearly not eligible for the 4th SEISS grant.

in January 2021 I stopped trading 

Criteria from gov.uk

1. Who can claim

To be eligible for the fourth grant you must be a self-employed individual or a member of a partnership.

To work out your eligibility we will first look at your 2019 to 2020 Self Assessment tax return. Your trading profits must be no more than £50,000 and at least equal to your non-trading income.

If you’re not eligible based on your 2019 to 2020 Self Assessment tax return, we will then look at the tax years 2016 to 2017, 2017 to 2018, 2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020.

You must also have traded in both tax years:

2019 to 2020 and submitted your tax return by 2 March 2021

2020 to 2021

You must either:

be currently trading but are impacted by reduced demand due to coronavirus

have been trading but are temporarily unable to do so due to coronavirus

You must also declare that:

you intend to continue to trade

you reasonably believe there will be a significant reduction in your trading profits due to reduced business activity, capacity, demand or inability to trade due to coronavirus