Claiming SEISS 2 question

[shreddednips]

I'm just wondering whether anyone can help me please as I'm so confused and I think my circumstances are a little unusual.

I am self employed as a freelance writer and was before I had my DS. I had him in January 2019 and then took 6 months' maternity leave. I then started doing some casual freelance work but had no childcare so income was far lower than it was before I had him. In January 2020 I found a childminder to cover around the same hours I was working before having DS and started trading again. My income significantly increased at this point but it was a work in progress as I needed to build my client base again. Then coronavirus happened and I claimed SEISS 1 as I no longer had childcare so it was easy to evidence.

I'm very confused about whether I am entitled to SEISS 2. Since DS was able to go back to the childminder my income hasn't increased much despite having childcare (I had to send him back or we would have lost the place). This is because I write marketing copy for small businesses and people weren't spending money on marketing. Business has suddenly picked up in the last couple of weeks. My issue is that I believe had coronavirus not happened I would have been back to my pre-DS income by July, but I was prevented from rebuilding my client base by COVID as the work just wasn't there. But I only had 3 months between going back to my pre-DS hours and coronavirus so I'm not sure how I can really evidence this.

Sorry for the long post. I only brought in about £650 in July so we really need the money but don't want to claim unfairly or end up in trouble with HMRC. Does anyone know what I should do?

There's a thread about this, you'll get a clearer answer there:
Self-Employed HMRC update www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3900207-Self-Employed-HMRC-update

It represents loss of income due to Covid so..if businesses aren't using you due to Covid and your income is down, you are eligible. I think they're trying to scare off all the fake Furlough claims with their pronouncements this time round.

Also, think about what you were earning last July?

Yes, I think you can. You said “ This is because I write marketing copy for small businesses and people weren't spending money on marketing“, and one of the reasons HMRC say you can claim is “you have fewer or no customers or clients”. Eligibility criteria is here: www.gov.uk/guidance/decide-if-your-business-has-been-adversely-affected-for-the-self-employment-income-support-scheme

Thanks so much. I'm just worried as my income isn't down THAT much from when I went back to work in January, but it is down massively from pre-DS when I was working the same hours. My argument is that if coronavirus hadnt happened, I would be earning the same as I was previously by now, but I have no way of proving that without doubt.

I see you were limping along without childcare in July 19 but in a typical month?
At the end of the day, the SEISS is based on.3 yrs tax returns, divided by 36, then 70% of that.

Last July I was on maternity. But I suppose I could compare it to the July before...

Thanks so much for the replies. I'm just a bit scared that they're going to ask for loads of evidence and I won't be able to say much other than I didn't have any work requests.

I think you should rest assured that if theyre calculating average income on a 3 year basis , then so can you. My SEISS was lowered by an early year of self employment. That's how it goes. I was very grateful of the SEISS.

Thank you all so much, I feel a bit better about it now. I've just been through my accounts and it clearly shows a decent income for Jan and Feb (when DS went into childcare) and then a big drop until August now that business is OK again. So hopefully that will be good enough.

Just claim it. You've got the evidence to back it up if you're ever asked, which I highly doubt! The Seiss grant isn't purely based just on income it also covers you if you couldn't work due to caring responsibilities etc.