To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to make financial support available for (a) freelancers and (b) other self employed people who have been ineligible for existing covid-19 support packages.
Answered on
8 February 2021
The Government recognises that some of the rules and conditions vital to ensuring that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) worked for the vast majority meant that some people did not qualify for these schemes.
However, the National Audit Office has acknowledged that the SEISS and CJRS have been successful in helping to protect the livelihoods of millions of people and are just two elements of a comprehensive £280 billion package of support
Those not eligible for the SEISS and CJRS may still be eligible for other elements of the support available. The Universal Credit standard allowance has been temporarily increased for 2020-21 and the Minimum Income Floor relaxed for the duration of the crisis, so that where self-employed claimants' earnings have fallen significantly, their Universal Credit award will have increased to reflect their lower earnings.
In addition to this, they may also have access to other elements of the package, including Bounce Back loans, tax deferrals, rental support, mortgage holidays, self-isolation support payments and other business support grants.