Rishi Sunak speech....

[unhappyclap]

What are people thinking so far?

for @StillDisappointed and her dad, what an utterly shit situation to find yourself in.

I see this morning that all the major supermarkets are recruiting for thousands of of temporary jobs as the pressure on them as doesn’t seem to be easing off anytime soon. I wonder if some sort of scheme could be put in place to give self employed people first dibs on these jobs to tide themselves over until all this ends.

My stepfather is self employed and he has really suffered through the Brexit uncertainty and was doing lots of temp driving jobs to get through it. His work was just picking up again only for all this to hit so I imagine he will have to get himself by in the same way again.

It’s a nightmare for so many. 80% of up to £2,500 sounds like a lot but realistically the majority of people don’t take home anyway near £2,500 a month so won’t get the full £2,000 being offered. It is still a generous package though of course.

In a perverse way I hope this makes people realise that actually a life on benefits is no picnic and have a little more compassion for people who have to live on UC in normal times through no fault of their own.

I hate the posts on here saying "you are self employed it is always a risk or you should rely on your savings."

As someone who works in the public sector, I will probably get the 80 percent offered because my work has dried up.

I am very fortunate. However, do not forget that self employed people also work hard if not harder than me as they don't have paid holidays like us. In countries like Holland they will also pay for the self employed. I hope Sunak and Co realise this and paying self employed people their last 3-6 months average payslips would be a start at least.

In countries like Holland they will also pay for the self employed

A lot of other countries have different than the UK eg paying tax from day 1 or tighter rules around perm-tractors.

rules

To the poster who asked about the UC calculator results. Be careful which one you use. Some haven't been updated to reflect that the minimum income floor has been abolished (they don't now assume self-employed will earn minimum wage for the whole month - that's why some calculators show zero, despite entering no income). I believe the one on Martin Lewis's website has been updated.
A single person with no income receives around £96 per week + housing benefit towards rent, but I don't think housing benefit immediately pays towards a mortgage. I hear it takes 5 weeks to start receiving UC after you claim. So end of April approx.
I'm not aware of any help for previously self-employed for council tax relief. Only a few groups are eligible on the website of my council.
The chancellor has granted £96 per week to cover your council tax, utilities, rent excess and food, plus any debt repayments that you can't get a holiday for.
Asda have just announced £5 million to two charities which run food banks. Self-employed people can presumably get referred to food banks once their UC claim is accepted? I think we should wear a special 'self-employed' t-shirt whilst queuing.

@Stilldisappointed, I am so sorry for the situation you and your dad are in - and many other self employed people. I read the following today: ‘there is even is a growing Tory backbench rebellion on the lack of measures aimed at self-employed people. MPs expect Sunak to have to “go further” once again next week to protect the self-employed.’

I hope it brings some hope there are a lot of people of influence who feel the govt need to provide more support for the self employed. As someone said, the unilateral public measures that are needed won’t happen if a significant part of the working people (5 million are SE) aren’t supported sufficiently. Truly hope the govt will bring in some more measures next week for the self-employed

If the government do bring in any measures for the self-employed it will only be because of public pressure.

If they could have got away without doing anything they would have.

Don't think for a moment that the government actually gives a shit about the self-employed. They don't normally.

Next update will be at 4pm, let's hope they address this. They seem to just repeat the same thing when they get asked about the self-employed

If they change it it will be an about turn.

I wonder how self employed people who've been "managing" their tax returns are feeling

Double I know. Probably seemed a good idea at the time.

Isn't it great how we're all pulling together and supporting each other in this time of crisis!!!

Is that for me feellikeanalien?

I support all efforts to support anyone who needs it using taxpayers money at this time Tax avoiders have never been interested in "pulling together" though, that's exactly what they refused to do!

Double action - if you are interested in tax avoidance, think about large companies such as Starbucks and Amazon first. Think about all the CEOs and Directors of large companies who take a low wage and the rest in dividends, shares and pension. Then come back and talk to us about freelancers who work in the arts and events, graphic designers working from home because they needed flexible hours for childcare, nail technicians and hair stylists earning an average wage but with no job security. Uber drivers who work all hours to pay for their cars, insurance and (25% to the Uber Corporation?). Your gardener, childminder and window cleaner. All living the fancy high life. Now unable to work through no fault of their own with an abrupt halt to their earnings.

Yes and they should all get support, based on the income they've declared on their tax returns. My tongue in cheek comment was aimed only at those who have been under declaring their income.

Gosh yes I think you’re being very unfair. I have never avoided tax or under declared. I just want to be treated fairly as I was made to feel I would when they said no one would be left behind and we are all in this together. Instead I’ve been left to feel very second class citizen and being abused online for choosing a job that can only be done as self employed feels awful. I just want to provide for my family like everyone else.

@DoubleAction I can assure you that my tax returns have always been a completely honest reflection of my earnings. My hideous tax bills would suggest this is the case!

I have paid fairly into the system for 30 years. I have worked and looked after children, including one with SN. I would now like a bit of help.

Good, then I believe you should get an appropriate level of support. I hope you do.

I was only remarking on the fact that any support would have to be based on reported income, so those who have under reported have shot themselves in the foot.

“Statutory self-employment pay
(1) The Secretary of State must, by regulations made by statutory
instrument, introduce a scheme of statutory self-employment pay for
those whose work has been impacted as a result of the coronavirus.
(2) The scheme must make provision for payments to be made out of
public funds to individuals who are—
(a) self-employed, or
(b) freelancers.
(3) Regulations made under subsection (1) may define the meanings of
“self-employed” and “freelancers” in subsection (2).
(4) The payments to be made under subsection (2) are to be set such that
the gross monthly earnings of an individual specified in subsection (2)
do not fall below—
(a) 80 per cent of their gross monthly earnings, averaged over the
previous 3 years (or if records do not date back 3 years, the
monthly net earnings averaged for the period records are
available), or
(b) £2,500,
whichever is lower.
(5) No payment made under subsection (2) shall exceed £2,500 per month.
(6) Regulations made under subsection (1) may provide that payments
made under subsection (2) must be paid back via self-assessment if the
payments were made in error.
(7) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section is
subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of
Parliament.”

You are all welcome

Where is that from?

Didn't realise an announcement was made about this, what is your source? Can you provide a link?

Announcement supposed to be tomorrow according to bbc earlier

StatisticallyChallenged

www.parliament.uk/business/news/2020/march/lords-debates-emergency-covid-19-legislation/

H of L passed it without further issue.

With all this volume on my hands, I can indulge in watching parliament tv, reading and discerning.

Rishi is back today at 5pm I believe.