I can't help but feel the self employed are being ignored in this self isolation & sick pay matter. For me, I'm in a situation where
- I'm not eligible for SSP as I'm self employed (not that SSP would cover even my rent, let alone council tax etc)
- I'm in the first year of a start up business, so I don't have significant reserves of cash
- I can't get accident / sickness income protection insurance due to a pre-existing condition that affects every part of my body to a greater or lesser extent
- if I don't leave the house and see the public face to face then nothing gets sold and not a penny comes in.
- most of my income comes from large scale public events, which could shortly be banned, as they have been in France and elsewhere. Organisers may or may not return pitch fees. Most of the rest of my income comes from private parties, which could also be cancelled.
- It's a highly seasonal business, with summer being peak season; it would be one thing if this happened in winter but a week of trading in summer is worth a month in the winter
- I'm renting privately, so if I can't pay the rent due to the above, I'll get evicted and I'll find it impossible to rent a new place when my business has just folded and I have a dog. The dog cannot be rehomed as he has behavioural problems.
What the fuckity fuck am I meant to do if told to self isolate? People like me are genuinely screwed. I honestly think that if I thought I'd come into contact with someone who has coronavirus I'd have to avoid seeking medical advice for fear of being told to self isolate and hence losing my home.