Still not getting any help whatsoever from the government. I'm pissed off.

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

I run a highly seasonal business that's dependent on public events, weddings and the like. Everything I'd planned to do this summer with the business has been cancelled; I'm doing some home deliveries but whether or not this will sustain me remains to be seen - the summer season is so crucial to the business, and I'm now having to factor in more petrol and more time as doing deliveries is time consuming.

I've fallen through every crack of government support on offer.

• Self employed income support grant (furlough equivalent) - can't get it because I only went self employed last year, despite having paid PAYE every year before that

• Universal Credit - like many others, I can't get it because of having some savings and / or having a partner still earning. Even if I could get it, it wouldn't cover even the basic outgoings on my very modest lifestyle FFS (Shared flat. In Wales). Note that no other form of coronavirus support is restricted on the basis of savings / partner income.

• £10k grant - can't get it because my business doesn't have premises - I've been running the business from home while in the start up phase; I had been hoping to take on business premises in future.

• Business Loan Interruption Scheme - can't start taking out loans because I'd have no way of paying them back (and I strongly suspect I'd be turned down for it anyway, as the majority of applications have been rejected).

• Welsh Government Economic Resilience Fund - can't get it as I'm not employing anyone else and I'm not VAT registered.

I'm not really sure what the government expect people like me to live on - thin air? Presumably I'm also going to be taxed more to cover the cost of the coronavirus support that I've been denied. It feels like everyone around me is either getting some nice time off work, fully or 80% paid, is working and being paid as normal, or is getting a nice cheque from the government. I am SO done with this lockdown shit already; I just want to go to the pub and drown my sorrows with my friends. I'm possibly being unreasonable but I just feel so forgotten and abandoned by the government.

I don't have any practical advice but didn't want to read and run - 💐

I know so many self employed people in similar positions and it's horrific :(

Sadly nobody can go to the pub (though I'm so with you on that being a really nice idea). If you're able to do some work then that's great, try to expand on that. Are there other things you can sell and deliver to make more money? It's unclear even to you what the gap is between what you can earn and your expenses, so thinking positively perhaps there won't be one. Is there a reason why your partner is earning but can't help you, the idea of not giving universal credit in your situation is the expectation that you have some shared finances?

Safety nets need to be in place to help a lot of people, but everyone who can work will ideally still be working and paying taxes - just because we can and that's what living in a society means. I'm working more, because I can and I'm pleased that I can pay tax towards this mountain of debt we're taking on as a country.

It so shit for so many people. Do you have savings or are you barred from UC because of a partner (nor clear from your post).

If you have savings, I would count myself lucky to have some rainy day money - many don't. If you cannot access help because your partner is earning, why do you have no access to money then? Is he financially abusive?

I would think you would have to get other work? Can you get a job somewhere?

If you can't get universal support. That means you must have more than 16,000 in savings right?

Can your partner help at all?

Are the savings personal or part of business assets. If they are business (for example money set aside for tax payments) it may not count for UC. Otherwise lots of people are finding that welfare benefits are not generous at all.

If you were recently on PAYE you could look at whether you might qualify for job seekers allowance based on that - based on NI so savings/partner earnings not relevant but not sure if having the business excludes you

www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/eligibility?step-by-step-nav=e7b3ea75-05d5-4341-b27a-be3b767b1e3f

No partner. I have a bit over £16k in savings (not massively over) - but those have been hard won over many years, and were meant to be a house deposit rather than a rainy day fund. I'm renting, with a dog (definitely didn't plan to get a dog - long story) so it's very hard to find a new place to live if evicted; I really need to be able to buy somewhere and gain that security. Spending my savings on living expenses may mean I'm unable to ever get on the housing ladder.

Employees on furlough are getting in 80% regardless of their savings. Someone who is earning £30k per year as an employee and has £100k in savings would get 80% of their salary, but I can get nothing because I have rather more modest savings. Indeed, an 18 year old living at home who started their first ever job in February would be getting more money than me right now. This feels deeply unfair.

I would think you would have to get other work? Can you get a job somewhere?

Unfortunately my physical health isn't compatible with the sorts of jobs currently hiring (lots of lifting and bending - I can do a bit but I can't do it all day). One of the reasons I am self employed is so I have that flexibility. Another friend who was made redundant shortly before lockdown is struggling to find work and is frequently being told she's "overqualified". I've got a degree and before I went self employed I had a series of "career type" jobs (IYSWIM) so I'd struggle in the same way. The sector my former career was in is definitely not hiring at the moment.

I'm still getting some orders in, but it's a question of whether or not this way of working (home deliveries) can sustain me.

All this because I happened to go self employed in the year prior to COVID hitting :(

Another issue to add to all the current joy - I'm also having trouble sourcing the raw materials I use to make my products.

Should also add that, unlike some businesses, it's not possible to post my products so I am restricted to only being able to trade within the local area.

OP I think the package has been very odd, covering some groups much better than others.
I’m really sorry, I wish I could say something helpful.

I’m in a similar position due to what turned out to be a poorly timed choice. It’s shit, I know.

You still aren't clear as to whether your way of working now will earn you enough to pay the bills, which suggests it might. I really don't think it's helpful go look enviously at people who have been furloughed, you can only be positive if you focus on yourself and what you can achieve. My mum's local fishmonger added deliveries of veg from farms, they might end up making even more money than usual.

In relation to UC.
We are expected to use our savings.
Absolute shit.
Short of investing your savings in gold or a fancy new car I don't think there's much can be done as we wave our housing deposit away....

Once you spend part of your savings to be under £16k you’ll be able to access UC surely. While savings might not have been intended as a rainy day fund, daily living comes before aspirations I suppose. As shit as it is, you can feed yourself and pay rent albeit from savings.

It’s hard but you are in a fortunate position to have savings to use. I understand that you have earmarked it for something else but ultimately you are able to support yourself so should.

As soon as your savings dip below the amount preventing you claiming UC you should claim it and hopefully not make too much of a dent in your savings and fingers crossed that you can pick up some business soon.

The government (to their credit which took some pride swallowing to type!) are trying to ensure people don’t become homeless or hungry. You have to come to terms with the fact that you can’t expect to ring fence your resources. You need them now so use them.

Hi OP I’m in a very similar situation but with NO savings & only entitled to £23.44 a week under UC because I’m still working because I have no choice.
I’ve been SE since last August & was employed before that for 30 years.
I’ve been working today (painting) because I literally have no choice.
Under the SE grant I would have qualified for about £350 per week. Instead I’m breaking my back & doing whatever work I can get . I’m exhausted & pissed off.
After a really really shit few years I was finally getting on an even keel & now I feel very bitter

Someone who is earning £30k per year as an employee and has £100k in savings would get 80% of their salary,

Well only whilst they are still employed.

I'm not really sure what the government expect people like me to live on - thin air?

Your savings. I get that it's annoying but that's what savings are for.

There are a lot of unfair situations out there. Anyone honest enough to declare £50k sole trader earnings who never set up a limited company eg doesn't get a penny of the self employed scheme whereas employees even had they been earning £10m under PAYE get the furlough money of £2k before tax if on furlough.

You can guess who will be paying for all this money others get next year too - the original poster and I through our taxes.

If your savings drop below 16k you would be able to claim Universal credit which would give you a standard element and a rent element. Any savings over 6k would reduce your monthly Uc payment by £4.35 per £250 over 6k but if you have little or no earnings it's likely you would still get some Uc payment each month.

Also on Universal credit the minimum income floor which normally applies to self employed people after the first 12 months of self employment has been temporarily lifted due to the current crisis and the standard element of Uc which everyone gets has been raised by about £83 a month, all designed to help self employed people in the short term.

Use your savings until they're below 16k and then claim UC.

Universal basic income would have been a much better solution than all the patched together schemes that are producing huge disparities in support levels. But since it’s not happening you’ll either have to live off savings or get another job. Are you near a 111 centre? They’ve been recruiting.

Life's unfair. I don't see why the taxpayer should give you money so you can protect your savings when a lot of taxpayers are unable to save at all.

This is why we need a universal basic income. Much fairer.

You can guess who will be paying for all this money others get next year too - the original poster and I through our taxes.

Wow that's a heavy burden for just the 2 of you!

You can guess who will be paying for all this money others get next year too - the original poster and I through our taxes

Really? Not one bit of perspective gained from this whole event?

I’m incredibly fortunate in that mine and my DP’s jobs look pretty safe although mine is debatable once the recession/depression kicks in. I don’t feel particularly fortunate to have to continue to work throughout this outbreak in an NHS role and the risks that brings...

I still don’t feel the need to bitch about paying for what’s needed right now even though it may yet emerge things have been done wrongly because this is an unprecedented situation that requires tough calls to be made without the luxury of time to fart arse around. But then I don’t think I’m better and cleverer than everyone else so I imagine that makes a difference.

I'm not sure why you think you should get help with £16, 000 in the bank.

Its meant to be a safety net for those in need. Which you clearly aren't