Government praised for launching Self-Employed Income Support Scheme early

The government’s scheme to support the self-employed is now open for claims, weeks ahead of schedule.

Millions are expected to benefit from the scheme with the payments – to be paid in a single instalment covering three months and capped at £7,500 – expected to land in bank accounts within six working days of each claim.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said, “We’re working ahead of time to deliver support to the self-employed and from today, applications open for the millions of people eligible for the scheme.

“With payments arriving before the end of this month, self-employed across the UK will have money in their pockets to help them through these challenging times.”

The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) has thanked the government for ‘heeding its calls to support the self-employed’.

However, it does highlight that there is still a lack of support for groups such as limited company contractors and the newly self-employed.

Derek Cribb, CEO of IPSE, commented, “For the self-employed, Coronavirus is not only a health crisis, but also a pressing income crisis. That is why it is welcome that the government heeded our advice and created the admirable and vital Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). It is also excellent that the government has been able to open this early to many self-employed people in need.”

Cribb added, “As the SEISS scheme rolls out to the self-employed, however, it is essential that we do not forget the groups that have not got the support they need out of this – such as the newly self-employed and those working through limited companies. We continue to urge the government to open out support schemes to these struggling groups.

“While most of the country is pulling together to support each other through these trying times with measures like SEISS, there is an unscrupulous minority trying to exploit the situation. Self-employed people should be careful when accessing SEISS not to be taken in by opportunistic ambulance chasers. We have seen reports of individuals and companies offering to enrol self-employed people onto the support scheme for a cut of their payments. Self-employed people must apply for the scheme themselves, not through an agent: check the IPSE site for further guidance.”

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