Source: BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52053914
Self-employed workers will be able to apply for a grant of up to £2,500 a month to help them cope with the financial impact of coronavirus, the chancellor has announced.
The money will be paid in a single lump sum, but will not begin to arrive until the start of June at the earliest.
Rishi Sunak told the self-employed: “You have not been forgotten.”
Plans for 80% wage subsidies for staff kept on by employers were announced last week.
The chancellor spoke after the total number of people in the UK to die with Covid-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, reached 475.
The government had faced criticism for failing to provide support for self-employed and freelance workers in its earlier huge package of economic measures.
Mr Sunak said the steps taken so far were “already making a difference” but it was right to go further “in the economic fight against the coronavirus”.
Self-employed people will be able to apply for a grant worth 80% of their average monthly profits over the last three years, up to £2,500 a month.
Mr Sunak said the grants would be available to people across the UK for at least three months, and longer if necessary.
The scheme does not cover people who only became self-employed very recently – they will have to look to the benefits system for support.
But in all, the chancellor said 95% of people who earn most of their income via self-employment would be covered.
“We have not left you behind, we all stand together. ”
SBN Tax & Accounts Services Ltd 