Self employed scheme

[notonmywatchyouwont]

Aibu to wonder if, like the furlough scheme, Rishi Sunak will also extend the help for the self employed?

[Opendraw]

I wondered too but Martin Lewis was strongly hinting it may not be :-(

[Therealfatshady]

I doubt it. I'm self employed and I'm not holding out any hope.

[Opendraw]

But in case they read this .... it should be extended we are tax payers too :-)

[GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat]

I firmly believe we’re seen as second rate taxpayers though.

[PineappleUpsideDownCake]

I'm getting increasingly anxious he wont. I cant see how they can just write off all the self employed people, whilst extending furlough for employed.

Im trying ti look into benefits but finding it a bit overwhelming.

[BissueTox]

Martin Lewis didn't think it would be extended.

[PineappleUpsideDownCake]

I've just read the Chancellers comment about self employed people. Its not looking like he thinks v highly or is likely to provide does it. :( I really really didnt think we'd end up like this.

[saylor]

Disgusting isn't it. Furlough scheme extended till October but no more help for self employed. I don't understand why?

They'll have to reopen the entire country back up soon if they don't want self employed people going hungry and homeless.

[Livelovebehappy]

It was hinted in some of the papers yesterday that he wasn’t going to. I think a lot of self employed sole traders like plumbers, electricians etc are actually back at work. At least I see lots of vans out and about. Lockdown is being eased over the next few months so guess the government might be thinking its best to give a gentle shove to people to get them back in the work place and not get too comfortable with receiving grants etc.

[Frouby]

I think it possibly will.

The payments being claimed for and paid out atm cover March,April and May and the sceme runs until at least June like the original furlough scheme I believe. I haven't been able to find anything that states anything for June though, just that payments will be made in June which was then brought forward.

I could see them extending it for certain sectors that can't return like hospitality. But not to the construction industry for instance even though it has been massively impacted and remains impacted.

I hope they do, dh is in construction. The pay out will be amazing and will keep us out of trouble. But the impact of the recession that will come will have more of an impact than the few weeks off work had.

[BuffaloCauliflower]

I find this more minimal support for the self employed strange from a small State Tory government that supposedly stands up for entrepreneurship and business being the source of all good. Surely they should want to encourage individuals who strike out on their own?

[BuffaloCauliflower]

I do see that it’s more complex than the furlough scheme so perhaps is taking longer to work out the logistics for extention

[BuffaloCauliflower]

Extension*

[Roselilly36]

Not looking promising is it?

[Opendraw]

When the chancellor and Martin Lewis are saying don’t really expect it then I’m doubtful there was talk of the threshold reducing to £30000. The sector I work with will be last to be back , no client paid their outstanding invoices and no work . Was glad to get the grant

[Opendraw]

If they don’t extend it’s pretty unfair as we will be paying off the huge debt in tax too

[PineappleUpsideDownCake]

I was puzzled by the insistence on extra tax for self employed too as if we were somehow to blame. They're furloughing lots and lots of people why isntnit equivalent?!

[PineappleUpsideDownCake]

There sinply isnt the work for many of us so it isnt refusal to work.

[Opendraw]

I’d rather work to be fair I think most people prefer to work!

[RandomLondoner]

I don't think there was a proper rationale for the self-employed to be helped in the first place. The point of the furlough scheme was to protect the economy by preventing cascades of business failures, not to directly help the workers furloughed. Most self-employed businesses are not going to die if they have to down tools and claim Universal Credit for a few months.

The self-employed help was a politically-motivated bung, based on the above being too hard to explain to the electorate.

If the point of furlough was to give workers money, we already have a system to do that, Universal Credit. It would be hugely illogical to invent a temporary second system to duplicate that job.

[TitsalinaBumSquash]

I'm wondering this, I can't go back and start working until shielding ends. I can't claim UC because DH earns just over the threshold, we can't move off of his wage alone, we have a disabled child who takes a hell of a lot of money to care for on top of his DLA. It's getting to the point of wondering if I'll have to try and find somewhere else to live so I can work without risking DS.
I'm in the vulnerable group myself ( the second one from shielding) but needs must.

[Opendraw]

I think you are probably right Random.... that was exactly why they were furloughed self employed are a bit more expendable. They should make sure it is big corporations that pay in tax.

[GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat]

The irony of my situation -

I’m a childminder and can return on 1/6.
Parents aren’t ready to send children back and don’t want to pay me (I’ve offered a retainer discount)
The government doesn’t want to pay me.
Parents are furloughed so are receiving help.
Parents are still receiving Tax credits/ uni grants for their childcare so are actually in profit!

[StatisticalSense]

Other than hairdressers and other beauticians the vast majority self employed should all be able to return to work by the middle of June so a blanket continuation wouldn't be appropriate. Clearly there needs to be some kind of support put into place for hairdressers and barbers if they are unable to reopen at the very start of July but they'll be so busy when they are able to reopen there is no reason why this shouldn't be a repayable interest free loan.