Rishi Sunak speech....

[unhappyclap]

What are people thinking so far?

Sherloidbaisherloid- If your hours are reduced no, if they ask you to take unpaid leave no.

However, if they would have to let you go, then they can opt to instead take this grant and keep you employed but not working until the situation improves. This wouldn't be unpaid leave, you would be granted a leave of absence basically with the company able to claim a grant for 80% of your wage (up to the monthly limit).

It all comes down to how your company choose to approach, so definitely have the discussion with them if they ask you to take unpaid leave or cut your hours majorly.

TabbyStar I get that, but what was your plan if you’d had a car accident, gotten pneumonia of had your house burned down?

I'm personally fine, but I have a reasonable income, lots of self employed people in groups I'm in, and some of the people I contract with aren't. There are plenty of employed people who also would be on very minimal incomes if any of those things happened, but in this case they are being protected but SE aren't, it's the inequality of the support to larger businesses and very small ones and people feeling frightened if there's no safety net.

I know, HolidayLetter. You seem to be in a fairly unusual situation. You have capital but it’s all tied up in property.

If I were you, I’d put in a UC claim straightaway. There will be some kind of provision for that.

Surely people know thy being SE is less secure than being an employee when they decided to be self employed?

Absolutely, @PicturesOfCats I have been SE for nearly 30 yrs have had some very lean periods, but nothing like this. This one is not one anyone could reasonably have predicted.

A SE income could obviously be calculated on the basis of X years of HMRC returns. Mine would show some big blips (and some very good spikes) but a very steady average.

Surely people know thy being SE is less secure than being an employee when they decided to be self employed? I say this as someone whose DP is SE.

Lots of us are in this situation because our caring responsibilities or health conditions make employment difficult or impossible, particularly women.

Hang on , self employed people are entitled to UC , sooo that means they will get part/most of their rent payed then?

Just over two hours ago self employed people whose business is affected were facing zero income for the foreseeable future. Now they’re being thrown a life line and they’re bitching. It’s unreal.

Thanks, @Forza14. That's kind of you. I looked this afternoon at the 'qualifications' for UC, and I think property ownership counts in the same way as savings - but anything is worth a try!

@MaddieElla you will be able to get an advanced payment I think.

Perhaps read my posts, @MoonlightMistletoe ?

My business costs about £800 a month to run, costs I still have even if I'm not working. How is £500 a month or whatever it is a lifeline?

TabbyStar I don't see how those costs will be enforceable under the circumstances. The charges you mentioned above will have to be suspended by the relevant companies.

How is £500 a month or whatever it is a lifeline?

It’s better than nothing, which is what you were expecting to get three hours ago.

TabbyStar. Yes, but again...what was the plan for self-employed people who found themselves unable to work? Did they have one? Maybe it was simply “claim benefits” (which is perfectly fine & the only real plan I had when I was self-employed) so what’s different here?

A self-employed person with no savings & no insurance would have to claim benefits if they became too unwell to work, like anyone else.

Lots of us are in this situation because our caring responsibilities or health conditions make employment difficult or impossible, particularly women
I understand that, but doesn’t change my point.

Just over two hours ago self employed people whose business is affected were facing zero income for the foreseeable future. Now they’re being thrown a life line and they’re bitching. It’s unreal
I know, what do people expect? For the government to say we’ll pay all your wages and bills as usual
Even if they did do that, these would be the same people moaning when the economy tanks that selfish Boris and how all he cares about is... his mates/big businesses/the banks/delete as applicable

I have absolutely no doubt that we will all be paying for this in the long run but at the moment I couldn’t care less. I think he’s doing well and look forward to hearing that they will be doing more to support the self employed that we all need.

@LoudBatPerson thank you so much for explaining that, I will definitely need to have a chat with them

Just this 😂

Most self employed people weren't just relying on benefits if they got sick. My dad has insurance coverage for if he's sick and unable to work. But he's neither of those.
It doesn't cover him for a pandemic.

He wants to work, he likes work, he's happy to work. He's had it taken away from him and his job was relatively secure in that there was always people in London to get in his taxi. Never, in a million years, would he have thought to plan for an eventuality where there was no one in London.

If the government can bail out businesses again by helping them pay staff up to 80% of £2500 to sit at home, they can do something for the self-employed whose work has been taken away also.

Seeing as this is unprecedented and absolutely no ones fault every worker should be treated fairly.

He cannot say (with a straight face) 'we stand together' when he's creating a £1600 a month disparity.

apply for uc.what you mean that thing people are going into debt,depression and committing suicide over because its a fucking mess!

and it will be a fucking piss take if all these people get uc when disabled and others have been crying and shitting themselves over life on the edge becasue they cant get it

I do know, HolidayLetter that property value can be ignored for about 6 months for means-testing purposes under quite a few circumstances, so don’t lose hope. It’s not that you have other homes...your business (in effect) owns property. So I’m willing to bet there’s provision for circumstances like that.

But claim straightaway and let them figure it out.

@BovaryX
How is me not being a citizen (yet) relevant here? I am a permanent resident, I work in the UK, pay taxes and may lose my job due to the coronavirus outbreak.I am in the same boat as everybody else. This is an extraordinary situation without a precedent. How are you then sure I would not be covered? Maybe you know something I don’t. ☹️
I appreciate you taking the time to answer me.

The self employed understand that if they're sick they cannot work.

This isn't the case though.

This is unprecedented and every worker deserves to be treated fairly.

Anyone who doesn't believe that is an issue to the 'we're all in this together' mentality.

As I said, I have no idea how Rishi can say (with a straight face) 'we stand as one' whilst creating at £1600 disparity between workers who cannot work through no fault of their own. It's disgraceful.

To keep the economy going he needs people to spend money; which the self-employed can no longer do:
The businesses and jobs the self-employed do may not survive to the other side of this; that dent in the economy will always remain.

Totally agree that the SE have been totally overlooked. They pay their taxes in the same way as employees and should be supported without disparity.

My best friend is an nhs worker, her hubby is SE and has earnt nothing for a month. He won't be entitled to UC even though they're effectively down to 1 wage. Is there any help for these families except for a 3 month mortgage freeze. Even with that they won't manage to feed themselves and 3 kids.