Any help for self employed?

[SerendipitySunshine]

Sorry, I didn't really understand what help they have announced for sole traders. I'm pretty sure our salaries aren't protected. Is it if we get sick we can apply for sick pay? How about if we are home looking after children and can't work? Or if we need to self-isolate long term?

No, didn't think so!

I think the self employed have been thrown onto the universal credit scrap heap to put it mildly. I think it’s great that some workers are being protected by the 80% wages but it feels very unfair for the rest of us.

I 'think' there are loans the self employed can get.

There's a helpline for HMRC that might be worth ringing but it's likely it's applying for benefits.

That's if you're eligible for benefits. HMRC helpline is ridiculous. They'd seriously rather pay people to man the phone lines than help out the self-employed.

It's ESA if you're sick or self isolating, (£70 ish a week) Universal Credit if not (£90ish a week), but savings may disqualify that option. Small Business Grant if you have a business premises, Small Business Loan (12 months interest free) if you already receive rate relief and occupy a property.

Its got to be more than £90 a week for a family with kids?!

It is a lot more than £90 for a family with kids. There’s a child element, housing element (if applicable) and so on.

You need to use one of the calculators to find out what you can get, it depends on your circumstances. Turn2Us or Policy in Practice have calculators, don't know if they'll be up to date yet following the announcement today.

Thanks so much. It's so hard to navigate. I have worked since I was 16 and never had a situation like this before.

I haven't seen anywhere that they are suspending
UC work related requirements?. Ie normally if you are well and apply for UC and have no children/not caring/children aged 3 or over you would be expected to be actively seeking work. This assumes people can access childcare and/or children are at school. It also doesn't take into account the current situation where self-employed people suddenly have no business (hopefully temporarily) due to the extraordinary circumstances. Face to face Work search reviews have been suspended but no suspension on the requirement to be actively seeking work?

I don't even know where you'd start with an application.