Skip to main content

Self-employed: Government Assistance

Question for Treasury

UIN HL2851, tabled on 23 March 2020

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to freelance workers, and in particular, to those who work in the music festivals sector.

Answered on

6 April 2020

The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced new support for the self-employed on 26 March 2020.

The new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme will help those with lost trading profits due to COVID-19. It will allow eligible individuals to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next 3 months. This may be extended if needed and is one of the most generous self-employed support schemes in the world.

To qualify, an individual’s self-employed trading profits must be less than £50,000 and more than half of their income comes from self-employment. 95% of people who receive the majority of their income from self-employment will be eligible for this scheme.

HM Revenue & Customs will contact individuals if they are eligible for and invite them to apply online using a simple form. HMRC are working on this urgently and expect people to be able to access the Scheme no later than the beginning of June.

More information about the Scheme, including the full eligibility criteria and how to claim, is available on GOV.UK.

The Scheme supplements the significant support already announced for UK businesses and employees, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and deferral of tax payments.

More information about the full range of business support measures is available on GOV.UK.

Answered by

Treasury