Millions of workers might be eligible for a new £6.5k grant from the government

Self-employed people can apply for a new coronavirus grant that will help support them through the pandemic. 

The Self-Employment Support Scheme was created to help those whose businesses have been impacted by the pandemic, and will see grants of up to £6,570. 

This sees the second round of grants for self-employed people, with applications being taken now. 

This is the final grant from the government for self-employed people, and will cover the three months to the middle of October.

Around 2.7 million self-employed people have applied, with £7.8billion being sent out so far.

The scheme has received a mixed response from the public and from other political parties. 

One user wrote on Twitter: “Just did my 2nd grant and very straightforward. Thanks for the help. Much appreciated in these difficult times. I feel really sorry for all those SE who cannot get the grant.”

While another wrote: “Got nowt last round even though I’ve been working and paying taxes for 40yrs. Just because I moved from Ltd company to sole trader last year. No way to treat loyal supporter.”

Labour has warned that workers face a ‘cliff-edge’ when the payments stop. 

Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds said: “The Chancellor now plans to cut off support for every self-employed worker in the country from October – no matter whether they’re back at work or back under local lockdown.

“Just like his one-size-fits-all wind down of the furlough scheme, he’s pulling the plug at the worst possible time.

“Without flexible, targeted support beyond the autumn, hundreds of thousands more self-employed workers will lose out and Johnson’s jobs crisis will get much worse.”

The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed said that the government will need to consider a second extension if there is a second spike in Covid-19.

The association’s chief executive Derek Cribb said: “It is now clear from the sharp drop in the number of self-employed in the UK that this vital part of the workforce has had nowhere near enough support compared to employees.

“Two-and-a-half million people claimed for SEISS between May and June – just half of the total five million self-employed in the UK. Now, as the number of self-employed has fallen sharply for the second quarter in a row, we are seeing the consequences.

“With the risk of a second wave looming, government must be ready to not only reopen SEISS, but also extend it to the desperately struggling forgotten self-employed. Historically, self-employed people have been essential for kickstarting the economy in recessions, but they cannot do this if they are driven out of business before they can play their part.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “Our self-employment income support scheme has already helped millions of people, whose hard work running their own businesses is crucial to our economy.

“It means that people’s livelihoods across the country will remain protected as we continue our economic recovery – helping them get back on their feet as we return to normal.”