Domestic cleaners

[wholelottahistory]

Can your cleaner come back? Are they one of the 'can't work from home' so encouraged to get to work this week?
And if they refuse, will they still be entitled to the 80% self employment help from today onward?

Wholelotta From what I've read on the HMRC criteria for the self employment support grant and advice from Martin Lewis (that money expert guy) the grant will not be affected by self employed working/not working during April May and June.

It's a one off lump sum covering 3 months. HMRC will calculate an average profit based on the person's last 3 years tax returns (the last one was submitted in April this year) and then award 80% of average profits for 3 months, or £2500- whichever is lower.
That's it after that, no more handouts for Self employed.

Therefore any money earned after April this year is not taken into account and does not affect a SE claim. It's a fairly basic system because it's had to be fast tracked. There wouldn't be time to adjust the grant based on any earnings or means test it.
Lots of self employed people won't meet the criteria to receive it. For example, you must have submitted 3 years tax returns and some haven't been self employed for 3 years.

Guidelines or not - you are still allowing somebody in your house that probably visits a minimum of 10 other house a week. Surely nobody needs shiny taps that badly!

Most self employed cleaners working on their own won't be visiting 10-20 houses a week. That's an massive overestimate. I have 4 clients (at least I did!) and that keeps me booked up for the whole week.

I suppose it depends on the area. I live in a fairly affluent area, the houses I clean are huge and can take around 5 -10 hours a week Inc laundry, bed changing, ironing.

Despite being very fit, it wouldn't be possible to clean properly 9-5 everyday to a good standard. I'd be on my knees

Even 4 is too many. It’s just not worth the risk.

I think the risk is very minimal. The R rate is now below one and if social distancing measures are followed there is no contact between cleaner and customer. I will also be cleaning all hard surfaces, door handles, cupboards, hand rails before leaving. I don't use public transport which could be a problem for some cleaners.

I am leaving my customers to decide based on their own risk assessments. Some families who have dc and are working full time from home plus home schooling are finding it impossible to keep on top of domestic chores. They have to be trusted to weigh up the benefits against the risks.

I have no choice but to return to work. It's never going to be 100% risk free. I cannot survive without an income and will lose my home. Like Tootsey said, I will be building up work slowly and being as responsible as possible.

One of my clients is 84 with asthma and I will not be able to safely return to her. It's a shame because she's a lovely lady and very lonely but it far too risky for her to see anyone.