Page last updated on Tuesday 06 July at 15.16
If your income is affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19) you may be able to claim Sick Pay or benefits to support you through this period. Your income may be affected due to working less, no longer working, self-isolating, or caring for someone who is sick.
Many employees and self-employed people will be protected as the Government has offered a package of support to businesses. Get more information here: www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
Help for your situation
If you are ill or self-isolating
From 28 September 2020, if you are on a low income and are required to self-isolate, you will be eligible for a Test and Trace Support payment of £500 if you meet all the following criteria:
- You have been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, either because you have tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
- You’re employed or self-employed
- You’re unable to work from home and will lose income as a result of self-isolating
- You’re currently receiving at least one of the following: Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Pension Credit
If you meet all the above criteria, apart from being in receipt of the mentioned benefits, and will face financial hardship as a result of not being able to work while you are self-isolating, you could still be eligible for a £500 discretionary payment.
The scheme was scheduled to end on 30 June 2021 but you may still be able to apply via your local authority.
If you fall into any of the following categories, and if your average pay is above £118/week, then your employer will pay you Sick Pay:
- You are too ill to work
- You are self-isolating because you or someone you live with has Coronavirus symptoms
- You are self-isolating because you’ve been notified by the NHS or public health authorities that you’ve come into contact with someone with Coronavirus
- Someone in your ‘support bubble’ (or ‘extended households’ if you live in Scotland or Wales) has Coronavirus symptoms
This applies whether you have a full-time, part-time or zero-hours contract. If your household income is low, and you have less than £16,000 in savings, you may qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support to top-up your Sick Pay.
You can also get SSP if both of the following apply:
- You live or work in an area with local restrictions in place, including advice to ‘shield’ (take extra precautions to reduce contact with others)
- You’ve been advised to shield because you’re at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus
You cannot get SSP if you’re self-isolating after entering or returning to the UK and do not need to self-isolate for any other reason.
If you are ill or self-isolating and you do not qualify for SSP as your income is below £118/week, you may be able to claim new-style ESA. If your household income is low and you have less than £16,000 in savings, you may qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support to top-up your new-style ESA.
More information on these benefits is available elsewhere on this page.
Use our Benefits Calculator to see how much you may get: betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
If you are not ill but your income is low
If your household income is low and you have savings below £16,000, you may qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support.
If you receive Universal Credit and have other income less than £7,400 (excluding benefits), you can receive free school meals for your children. Whilst children are not at school these may be paid in the form of vouchers and are worth £15/week per child. You need to apply for these.
More information on free school meals is here https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals
More information on these benefits is available elsewhere on this page.
Use our Benefits Calculator to see how much you may get: betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
If your employer cannot keep you on due to COVID-19
Many employees will be protected during this period as the Government has offered a package of support to businesses to help them to retain staff.
This support is called the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), also known as the furlough scheme, was extended by the government on 3 March 2021. You can be furloughed full time (as before) or work some days but not others. You will receive full pay for the days you work and your employer will receive furlough payments from the Government to assist with paying you at least 80% of your wages (up to a limit of £2,500/month pro-rata) for the days you are furloughed.
Your employer can claim for you to be furloughed if you were employed, and on their payroll, on 30 October 2020. Your employer will still have to pay National Insurance and pension contributions. The extension of the furlough scheme has been confirmed until the end of September 2021. Your employer will be asked to contribute 10% of your salary (up to a limit of £312.50) from July, and 20% of your salary (up to a limit of £625) in both August and September.
If you were working, and on your employer’s payroll on 23 September 2020, but have subsequently been made redundant or stopped working you can be re-employed (by the same employer) and placed on the furlough scheme.
There are some rules about who is eligible for this scheme.
- The scheme can apply to any worker paid through PAYE with a bank account in the UK.
- If you are in receipt of sick pay or maternity pay, your rights to these benefits remain the same.
- If you have a set salary the 80% is based on your salary.
- If your earnings vary (eg it is based on hours worked), then the grant will be based on 80% of your earnings for the same month in 2019, or your average earnings in 2019/20.
- If you have started a new job since April 2020, and your pay varies, the grant will be based on 80% of your earnings from the start date of your employment or 6 April 2020 (whichever is later) and the day before your furlough period begins.
- In calculating your salary, your employer can include additional regular payments that they are obliged to pay (e.g. they are in your contract). This includes wages, past overtime, fees and compulsory commission payments. However, discretionary bonus (including tips) and commission payments and non-cash payments are excluded.
If you lose your job and have paid sufficient National Insurance (N.I.) contributions in the preceding two years, you may be eligible for new-style Jobseekers Allowance. You can get new-style Jobseekers Allowance even if your partner is working or you have savings over £16,000.
If you have less than £16,000 in savings and your household has low income you may qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can apply for this if you are out of work, working, or furloughed. You should apply the day after you receive your last payment from your employer or as soon as possible after this. If you apply before you receive your last payment from your employer then your wages will be taken into account for the first month and you may not receive support for the first month.
If you receive Universal Credit and have other income less than £7,400 (excluding benefits), you can receive free school meals for your children. Whilst children are not at school these may be paid in the form of vouchers and are worth £15/week per child. You need to apply for these.
More information on free school meals is here https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals
More information on these benefits is available elsewhere on this page.
Use our Benefits Calculator to see how much you may get: betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
If you are ill or self-isolating or looking after a child who is ill or self-isolating
From 28 September 2020, if you are on a low income and are required to self-isolate, you will be eligible for a Test and Trace Support payment of £500 if you meet all the following criteria:
- You have been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, either because you have tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
- You’re employed or self-employed
- You’re unable to work from home and will lose income as a result of self-isolating
- You’re currently receiving at least one of the following: Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Pension Credit
If you meet all the above criteria, apart from being in receipt of the mentioned benefits, and will face financial hardship as a result of not being able to work while you are self-isolating, you could still be eligible for a £500 discretionary payment.
The scheme was scheduled to end on 30 June 2021 but you may still be able to apply via your local authority.
You may qualify for business support through the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. Support will be provided as a taxable grant. This will be based on your last 3 years’ profit (or less if your self-employment is less than 3 years).
There will be a fifth grant extension to cover the period 1 May 2021 to 30 September 2021.
The amount of the fifth grant will be determined, in part, by the amount a recipient’s turnover has reduced in the year April 2020 and April 2021. Those with a turnover reduction of 30% or more will receive 80% of their average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months’ worth of profits, and capped at a total of £7,500. Those with a turnover reduction of less than 30% will receive 30% of their average trading profits, capped at £2,850.
The fifth grant will take into account 2019 to 2020 tax returns and will be open to those who became self-employed in the 2019 to 2020 tax year. You can claim for the fifth grant even if you did not claim for the first two.
There are some rules about who will qualify.
- You must have submitted a self-assessment tax return for the year 2019/20. The deadline for this was 2 March 2021. You will not be eligible for support under this scheme if you did not return your self-assessment return by this date. This is because HMRC will use these details to contact you about the grant scheme.
- You must have been trading as self-employed in the tax year 2019-20, are trading when you apply, or would be except for COVID-19, and intend to continue to trade in the tax year 2021-22.
- If you pay yourself a salary or dividends through your company you are not eligible for this scheme but may be able to get assistance through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme if you are paid through PAYE.
- You must have reduced trading profit due to COVID-19.
- Your trading profits are less than £50,000/year in 2019/20 (or average less than £50,000/year in the three years 2016 – 2020)
- Self-employment must make up more than half of your taxable income. Income includes benefit income. HMRC state that they will look at income from earnings, trading profits, property income, dividends, savings income, pension income, miscellaneous income (including social security income)
The online claims service for the fifth grant will be available from late July 2021. If you are eligible based on your tax returns, HMRC will contact you from mid-July 2021 to give you a date from which you can make your claim. Payment will go straight into your bank account.
If you are not eligible for this grant, you will still be able to access other government support, including benefits and business support grants.
If you are ill or self-isolating and have paid sufficient NI contributions in the last two financial years, you may qualify for new-style ESA.
If your household income is low whilst you wait for a grant, or if you do not qualify for a grant, and you have less than £16,000 in personal savings, you may qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. If your savings are above £16,000 but these consist of personal savings plus amounts put aside for tax or VAT, you can still qualify for UC as long as your non-business savings are below £16,000. In general, the DWP would expect cash put aside in your business to be in a separate business account. If this is not the case and these amounts are held in a personal account, you will need to let the DWP know the amounts that are business related.
You should apply for Universal Credit the day after you receive your last payment from your employer or as soon as possible after this. If you apply before you receive your last payment from your employer then your wages will be taken into account for the first month and you may not receive support for the first month.
You should claim these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated.
If you receive Universal Credit and have other income less than £7,400 (excluding benefits), you can receive free school meals for your children. Whilst children are not at school these may be paid in the form of vouchers and are worth £15/week per child. You need to apply for these.
More information on free schools meals is here https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals
More information on these benefits is available elsewhere on this page.
Use our Benefits Calculator to see how much you may get: betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
If you are not ill but your income is low
You may qualify for business support through the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. Support will be provided as a taxable grant. This will be based on your last 3 years’ profit (or less if your self-employment is less than 3 years).
There will be a fifth grant extension to cover the period 1 May 2021 to 30 September 2021.
The amount of the fifth grant will be determined, in part, by the amount a recipient’s turnover has reduced in the year April 2020 and April 2021. Those with a turnover reduction of 30% or more will receive 80% of their average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months’ worth of profits, and capped at a total of £7,500. Those with a turnover reduction of less than 30% will receive 30% of their average trading profits, capped at £2,850.
The fifth grant will take into account 2019 to 2020 tax returns and will be open to those who became self-employed in the 2019 to 2020 tax year. You can claim for the fifth grant even if you did not claim for the first two.
There are some rules about who will qualify.
- You must have submitted a self-assessment tax return for the year 2019/20. The deadline for this was 2 March 2021. You will not be eligible for support under this scheme if you did not return your self-assessment return by this date. This is because HMRC will use these details to contact you about the grant scheme.
- You must have been trading as self-employed in the tax year 2019-20, are trading when you apply, or would be except for COVID-19, and intend to continue to trade in the tax year 2021-22.
- If you pay yourself a salary or dividends through your company you are not eligible for this scheme but may be able to get assistance through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme if you are paid through PAYE.
- You must have reduced trading profit due to COVID-19.
- Your trading profits are less than £50,000/year in 2019/20 (or average less than £50,000/year in the three years 2016 – 2020)
- Self-employment must make up more than half of your income. Income includes benefit income. HMRC state that they will look at income from earnings, trading profits, property income, dividends, savings income, pension income, miscellaneous income (including social security income)
The online claims service for the fifth grant will be available from late July 2021. If you are eligible based on your tax returns, HMRC will contact you from mid-July 2021 to give you a date from which you can make your claim. Payment will go straight into your bank account.
If you are not eligible for this grant, you will still be able to access other government support, including benefits and business support grants.
More information here: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme-cbils/
If your household income is low whilst you wait for a grant, or if you do not qualify for a grant, and you have less than £16,000 in personal savings, you may qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. If your savings are above £16,000 but these consist of personal savings plus amounts put aside for tax or VAT, you can still qualify for UC as long as your non-business savings are below £16,000. In general, the DWP would expect cash put aside in your business to be in a separate business account. If this is not the case and these amounts are held in a personal account, you will need to let the DWP know the amounts that are business related.
You should apply for Universal Credit on the day after you receive your last payment from your employer or as soon as possible after this. If you apply before you receive your last payment from your employer then your wages will be taken into account for the first month and you may not receive support for the first month.
If you receive Universal Credit and have other income less than £7,400 (excluding benefits), you can receive free school meals for your children. Whilst children are not at school these may be paid in the form of vouchers and are worth £15/week per child. You need to apply for these.
More information on free school meals is here https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals
More information on these benefits is available on this page.
Use our Benefits Calculator to see how much you may get: betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
The eviction ban has been extended until the end of May 2021. This ban prevents bailiffs from serving notices and enforcing evictions.
In addition, any notices seeking possession served after 29 August 2020 must give at least a 6 month notice period. This notice period can be shorter in extreme situations such as domestic violence, anti-social behaviour, or over 6 months worth of rent arrears.
You are still liable for your rent and should pay if you can. You will need to make arrangements for the repayment of any outstanding rent with your landlord at the end of COVID-19 measures. If you are struggling to pay your rent or think you are at risk of eviction, contact your local council for housing advice and assistance.
If you are struggling to pay your rent because your income is low and you have less than £16,000 in savings, you may qualify for Universal Credit. Your Universal Credit will include an amount towards your rent. The maximum support you can receive towards your rent is set at local limits (the Local Housing Allowance).
If you are renting your home and receive the housing element of Universal Credit you may also be able to get additional support towards your rent costs through Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs). These are intended to help you meet your rent if your Universal Credit housing element does not cover the full rent and are administered by your local Council (or your local Housing Benefit office in Northern Ireland). You will need to contact your Council (or your local Northern Ireland Housing Benefit Office), or go through their website, to apply.
If you are liable for Council Tax, you may also qualify for Council Tax Support.
More information on these benefits is available elsewhere on this page.
Use our Benefits Calculator to see how much you may get: betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
The Government has announced measures to allow those affected by COVID-19 to have a six month mortgage holiday. This means that you will not need to pay your mortgage for six months and the debt is added to future repayments or the mortgage extended. It is important to understand the implications for future repayments and you should contact your mortgage provider for more information. You can apply for a mortgage holiday up to 31 March 2021.
If your income is low and you have less than £16,000 in savings, you may also qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. For the first 9 months of claiming, Universal Credit does not include help towards your mortgage costs but can help with other day-to-day costs. After 9 months, Universal Credit can include a loan to help with mortgage payments.
More information on these benefits is available elsewhere on this page.
Use our Benefits Calculator to see how much you may get: betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Children who are eligible for Free School Meals due to low-income and who are unable to attend school due to school closure or self-isolation, will continue to receive meals or food vouchers. These are worth £15/week per child.
The government has confirmed that this measure will continue to be in place whilst schools are closed in the current national lockdown up until and including the February half term.
You need to apply for Free School Meals. You are eligible if you receive DWP benefits, or Universal Credit and have other income less than £7,400 (excluding benefits).
More information on free school meals is here https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals
Schools can choose to:
- continue to provide meals for children who can access the school or
- provide food parcels or
- provide supermarket vouchers
The most suitable approach will be decided by the school. If the school is issuing vouchers these will be sent directly to families. You should contact your child’s school for further information.
If you are facing hardship, you may be able to get a one-off hardship grant from the Turn2Us Coronavirus Hardship Fund. There are conditions you need to meet in order to be eligible – further information about this fund is available on this page.
For more information and to apply visit: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/Turn2us-Funds/Turn2us-Coronavirus-Grant-Fund
If you have a pre-payment meter but cannot top-up your meter due to illness or self-isolation, you can make arrangements with your utility company to ensure your supply is not interrupted. If you are in this situation you are advised to contact your supplier immediately to discuss this.
Utility companies have also agreed with the Government to help customers with reduced income as a result of Covid-19 come to make arrangements to pay bills.You should contact your supplier for further information.
If you are struggling to pay your utility bills because your income is low, and you have less than £16,000 in savings, you may also qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support.
More information on these benefits is available elsewhere on this page.
Use our Benefits Calculator to see how much you may get: betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
If you are responsible for paying Council Tax or Rates(Northern Ireland) and have savings below £16,000 you may qualify for Council Tax Support or Rate Rebate (Northern Ireland). These can be claimed in addition to other benefits.
If you have less than £16,000 in savings, you may also qualify for Universal Credit.
More information on these benefits is available elsewhere on this page.
Use our Benefits Calculator to see how much you may get: betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
If your income has reduced due to COVID-19 and you remain eligible for Working Tax Credit, you need to ensure that HMRC has been informed of your estimated income for 2020/21.
You are employed and receiving Working Tax Credit, but your hours have reduced
If your hours have reduced temporarily, or you have been furloughed, or you have been temporarily laid off and you expect to return to working your previous hours at some time in the future, HMRC will ignore your reduction in hours for as long as the Coronavirus Job Retentions Scheme (CJRS) lasts (even if you are not furloughed). Currently, this is until 30 September 2021. If a temporary change becomes permanent (for example, a temporary lay-off is made permanent), you should tell HMRC as soon as you know about the change.
Even if you can continue to receive WTC, you may be better off claiming Universal Credit if your income has reduced. You can only move to Universal Credit if you have savings under £16,000. It is worth noting that if you move to Universal Credit you will not be able to return to receiving Working Tax Credits and will remain in receipt of Universal Credit once your work returns to normal. You can use our calculator to compare how much you would get under both systems on your reduced income.
If you have a permanent reduction in your hours or you have been permanently laid off, you need to let HMRC know about the change in your hours as soon as you know the change is permanent. You may qualify for a 4-week run-on of tax credits. If you have under £16,000 in savings you should claim Universal Credit as soon as possible.
Use our benefits calculator to compare how much you would get under both systems on your reduced income www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
If you are made redundant and move to a new job
If you are made redundant and move to a new job within 7 days of your old job ending, and you still meet the hours rules for tax credits, you can continue to claim WTC. You will still need to inform HMRC of the change.
If you have more than a 7 day gap in employment, or your hours reduce permanently you should inform HMRC. Your eligibility to tax credits may end and you may need to move to Universal Credit.
You are self-employed and receiving Working Tax Credit, but your hours have reduced
If your self-employed income has reduced due to COVID-19 HMRC will ignore the change until 30 September 2021.
If you are no longer trading due to COVID-19 HMRC will ignore this and continue to treat you as self-employed until 30 September 2021 as long as you haven’t closed your business and intend to return to self-employment once you are able. If you have permanently closed down your business you need to inform HMRC.
If your income is severely reduced and you have under £16,000 in savings you may qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can use our calculator to see if you would qualify. It is worth noting that if you move to Universal Credit you will not be able to return to receiving Working Tax Credits and will remain in receipt of Universal Credit if you return to work.
You receive childcare support through Tax Credits
You may still have to pay childcare even if your child can no longer attend the childcare facility. Your childcare support is linked to your working hours. During the Coronavirus outbreak (until 31st October 2020) you will be treated as though you are working the same hours and will continue to receive childcare support.
Since July 2020, the DWP has resumed taking deductions from benefits to recover debts. If you are in rent arrears, get in touch with your landlord.
The eviction ban has been extended until the end of May 2021. This ban prevents bailiffs from serving notices and enforcing evictions.
In addition, since 29 August 2020 your landlord must give you six months notice before any eviction. This notice period can be shorter in extreme situations such as domestic violence, anti-social behaviour, or over 6 months worth of rent arrears
If you are in council tax arrears, get in touch with your local council.
- Find your local council here www.gov.uk/find-local-council
You can get free debt advice from charities:
- Visit StepChange www.stepchange.org/how-we-help/debt-advice.aspx
- Visit PayPlan www.payplan.com/free-online-debt-help
Credit payment holidays are available to customers who are facing financial difficulties due to COVID-19. You can request a payment holiday until 31 January 2021. If granted, this means that you won’t need to pay towards your loan or credit card until after this date. However, you will still be charged interest during the payment holiday. This means you’ll likely end up paying slightly more overall. It is important to understand the implications for future repayments and you should contact your loan or credit card provider for more information.
If you have no recourse to public funds
If you are a non-EU citizen and your visa states that you do not have recourse to public funds, then you are not entitled to most UK benefits or homelessness assistance.
If you have a partner who is a UK citizen or has recourse to public funds, then they can claim means-tested benefits (such as Universal Credit and Council tax Support) but will receive a lower amount as if they were a single person. Your partner can also apply to the local authority for homelessness assistance if required.
You can claim non-means tested benefits that rely on previous work or National Insurance Contributions such as Sick Pay (from your employer), new-style JSA, and new-style ESA.
Rights to benefits is complex and you are advised to get specialist support.
More information can be found here https://migrantfamilies.nrpfnetwork.org.uk/
New measures in response to COVID-19
Certain new measures have been introduced in response to Covid19. If you find yourself in crisis, the following support is now available:
- The Government has announced that if you are sick with Coronavirus you will not be charged for testing and treatment in an NHS hospital. You will also not be asked your immigration status whilst being tested or having treatment. Further information on NHS support for non-UK citizens can be found here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-entitlements-migrant-health-guide
- The Government has also provided local authorities with funds to support those who are homeless or destitute due to COVID-19. If you cannot receive benefits you should contact your local council for information on possible sources of support.
- If you have been informed that you are in a high risk group and have been advised to shield you can receive Government assistance whilst you are shielding. This assistance is not a public fund for immigration purposes. Apply for this support here https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable.
- Government schemes to help workers such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-employed Income Support scheme are both available to those without recourse to public funds. If you were previously employed or self-employed you can see the conditions for eligibility for these schemes on this page.
If you are a European Economic Area (EEA) national
If you have settled status or are working you can access most benefits including Universal Credit.
If you were previously working you may have retained worker status which means you can access means-tested benefits. If this is the case, you will need to provide the DWP of proof of your stay in the UK and previous work. This can delay any claim for means-tested benefits so if you are claiming Universal Credit you may need to wait longer than 5 weeks. You can also claim non-means tested benefits that rely on previous work or National Insurance Contributions such as Sick Pay (from your employer), new-style JSA, and new-style ESA.
If you are a jobseeker, have not previously worked in the UK, and do not have settled status you will not be able to access means-tested benefits including Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. If your partner has the right to access benefits, they can make a claim but will receive a lower amount as they will be treated as a single person.
Access to benefits is complex. If you do not have settled status you are advised to seek specialist support.
More information can be found here https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/claiming-benefits-if-youre-from-the-EU/
Access to NHS treatment
If your country has a reciprocal health agreement you can access NHS treatment free of charge.
More details can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/nhs-visitor-and-migrant-cost-recovery-programme
New measures in response to COVID-19
Certain new measures have been introduced in response to COVID-19. If you find yourself in crisis, the following support is now available:
- The Government has announced that if you are sick with Coronavirus you will not be charged for testing and treatment in an NHS hospital. You will also not be asked your immigration status whilst being tested or having treatment. More information on NHS support for non-UK citizens can be found here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-entitlements-migrant-health-guide
- The Government has also provided local authorities with funds to support those who are homeless or destitute due to COVID-19. If you cannot receive benefits you should contact your local council for information on possible sources of support.
- If you have been informed that you are in a high risk group and have been advised to shield you can receive Government assistance whilst you are shielding. Apply for this support here https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable
- Government schemes to help workers such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-employed Income Support scheme are both available for those previously working in the UK. If you were previously employed or self-employed you can see the conditions for eligibility for these schemes on this page.
The Scottish Government has revised rules for five social security benefits to allow for late application following April 7, where COVID-19 prevented timely application.
Pregnancy and Baby Payment
Applications could be made up to the day a child turns one, or one year and six months for an application from a kinship carer.
Parents or carers under the age of 18 are automatically entitled to this payment. People could still be eligible after their 18th birthday if COVID-19 meant that they couldn’t get their application in on time.
Early Learning Payment
Eligibility could increase up to a child’s 4th birthday
Parents or carers under the age of 18 are automatically entitled and could remain eligible after their 18th birthday if COVID-19 meant that they couldn’t get their application in on time.
School Age Payment
Parents or carers under the age of 18 are automatically entitled to this payment. This could be extended beyond their 18th birthday if COVID-19 meant that they couldn’t get their application in on time.
Young Carer Grant
Clients could remain eligible after they turn 19.
Funeral Support Payment
Applications can normally be made up to six months following a funeral. This can be extended for clients applying late if the reason for the delay is in relation to COVID-19.
More information on these five areas of support can be found here: https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/news/making-sure-people-impacted-by-covid-19-get-our-support
Extra Hardship Payments for Students
£5 million of emergency financial support is now available for university and college students who are struggling financially due to COVID-19. Students will be able to apply for any emergency discretionary payments directly to their own institutions.
Further measures include:
- a three-month suspension by SAAS of all new debt recovery actions with respect to grants and bursaries, for students whose circumstances have changed. A revised repayment plan is also available, where students wish to continue paying.
- an eight-week extension of the Care-Experienced Accommodation Grant from early April allowing eligible students to access support of a non-repayable grant of up to £105 per week.
More information on support for students in Scotland can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/news/extra-hardship-payments-for-students/
If you are ill or self-isolating
The Department for Communities has put in place a non-repayable grant payment to help with short-term living expenses for families where someone has been infected with COVID-19 or told to self-isolate. If you’re eligible to receive an award, the amount you’ll receive will be calculated based on your circumstances. You must meet certain eligibility criteria to qualify.
- you must have an extreme, exceptional or crisis situation which places you or your immediate family’s health, safety or wellbeing at significant risk
- you must live in Northern Ireland
- help cannot be provided if your crisis occurs outside Northern Ireland
- you must be either:
- over 18 years old
- at least 16 years old (if you do not have any parental support)
- your annual income, including the income of your partner, must not be above the national living wage of £20,405 per year. This is based on the National Living Wage for over 25 year olds (currently £8.72 per hour and £8.91 per hour from April 2021) over a 45-hour week and is automatically adjusted whenever this rate increases
- you or a member of your immediate family has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or
- you or a member of your immediate family has advised to self-isolate in accordance with guidance published by the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being
You can apply for the grant here: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/claim-discretionary-support
If you are claiming Universal Credit
You may be eligible for the Universal Credit Contingency Fund. This is a non-repayable grant available to people within the first Universal Credit assessment period following a new claim for Universal Credit. To receive the grant, you must meet certain eligibility criteria:
- you must have an extreme, exceptional or crisis situation which places you or your immediate family’s health, safety or wellbeing at significant risk
- you must live in Northern Ireland
- help can only be provided within Northern Ireland, help cannot be provided if your crisis occurs anywhere else
- you must be over 18 years old or at least 16 years old if you do not have any parental support
- your annual income, including the income of your partner, must not be above the national living wage of £20,405. This is based on the National Living Wage for over 25 year olds (currently £8.72 per hour and £8.91 per hour from April 2021) over a 45-hour week and is automatically adjusted whenever this rate increases.
You can apply for the grant here: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/claim-discretionary-support.
Note that only one grant for Universal Credit Contingency Fund Living Expenses or Discretionary Support Living Expenses can be paid in any 12-month period.
If you are renting
The government has made an agreement with all social housing landlords in Northern Ireland to ensure that any social housing tenant facing difficulties paying rent during COVID-10 will not be evicted.
If you pay domestic rates:
If you are responsible for paying domestic rates you may be able to claim Rate Rebate. This will reduce your Rates bill. It is administered by Land and Property Services (LPS).
More information here: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/homeowners-and-tenants-applying-rate-rebate
If you are a student
In Northern Ireland, the Government has extended support to full-time students who are suffering financial hardship as a direct result of COVID-19 pandemic. Full-time students can now apply for Discretionary Support.
You can find more information about this earlier on this page, or on the NI Direct website: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/extra-financial-support#toc-1
If you are a cross border worker
If you’re a cross border worker from Northern Ireland who had been working in the Republic of Ireland, you can make a claim to Universal Credit at www.universal-credit.service.gov.uk
If you’re a cross border worker from the Republic of Ireland who had been working in Northern Ireland, you can make a claim via your local Intreo Centre – applications can be made online at www.mywelfare.ie
Benefits you may be able to receive
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), also known as the furlough scheme, was extended by the government on 3 March 2021.
You can be furloughed full time (as before) or work some days but not others. You will receive full pay for the days you work and your employer will receive furlough payments from the Government to assist with paying you at least 80% of your wages (up to a limit of £2,500/month pro rata) for the days you are furloughed.
Your employer can claim for you to be furloughed if you were employed, and on their payroll, on 30 October 2020. Your employer will still have to pay National Insurance and pension contributions. The extension of the furlough scheme has been confirmed until the end of September 2021. Your employer will be asked to contribute 10% of your salary (up to a limit of £312.50) from July 2021, and 20% of your salary (up to a limit of £625) in both August and September 2021.
If you were working, and on your employer’s payroll on 23 September 2020, but have subsequently been made redundant or stopped working you can be re-employed (by the same employer) and placed on the furlough scheme.
There are some rules about who is eligible for the furlough scheme.
- The scheme can apply to any worker paid through PAYE with a bank account in the UK.
- If you are in receipt of sick pay or maternity pay, your rights to these benefits remain the same.
- If you have a set salary the 80% is based on your salary
- If your earnings vary (eg it is based on hours worked), then the grant will be based on 80% of your earnings for the same month in 2019, or your average earnings in 2019/20.
- If you have started a new job since April 2020, and your pay varies, the grant will be based on 80% of your average earnings from the start date of your employment or 6 April 2020 (whichever is later) and the day before your furlough period begins.
- In calculating your salary, your employer can include additional regular payments that they are obliged to pay (e.g. they are in your contract). This includes wages, past overtime, fees and compulsory commission payments. However, discretionary bonus (including tips) and commission payments and non-cash payments are excluded.
If your wages are reduced, your income may be low enough to qualify for Universal Credit to top-up your wage. You should apply the day after you receive your last payment from your employer or as soon as possible after this. If you apply before you receive your last payment from your employer then your wages will be taken into account for the first month and you may not receive support for the first month.
You may qualify for business support through the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. Support will be provided as a taxable grant. This will be based on your last 3 years’ profit (or less if your self-employment is less than 3 years).
There will be a fifth grant extension to cover the period 1 May 2021 to 30 September 2021.
The amount of the fifth grant will be determined, in part, by the amount a recipient’s turnover has reduced in the year April 2020 and April 2021. Those with a turnover reduction of 30% or more will receive 80% of their average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months’ worth of profits, and capped at a total of £7,500. Those with a turnover reduction of less than 30% will receive 30% of their average trading profits, capped at £2,850.
The fifth grant will take into account 2019 to 2020 tax returns and will be open to those who became self-employed in the 2019 to 2020 tax year. You can claim for the fifth grant even if you did not claim for the first two.
There are some rules about who will qualify.
- You must have submitted a self-assessment tax return for the year 2019/20. The deadline for this was 2 March 2021. You will not be eligible for support under this scheme if you did not return your self-assessment return by this date. This is because HMRC will use these details to contact you about the grant scheme.
- You must have been trading as self-employed in the tax year 2019-20, are trading when you apply, or would be except for COVID-19, and intend to continue to trade in the tax year 2021-22.
- If you pay yourself a salary or dividends through your company you are not eligible for this scheme but may be able to get assistance through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme if you are paid through PAYE.
- You must have reduced trading profit due to COVID-19.
- Your trading profits are less than £50,000/year in 2019/20 (or average less than £50,000/year in the three years 2016 – 2020)
- Self-employment must make up more than half of your income. Income includes benefit income. HMRC state that they will look at: income from earnings, trading profits, property income, dividends, savings income, pension income, miscellaneous income (including social security income)
The online claims service for the fifth grant will be available from late July 2021. If you are eligible based on your tax returns, HMRC will contact you from mid-July 2021 to give you a date from which you can make your claim. Payment will go straight into your bank account.
If you are not eligible for this grant, you will still be able to access other government support, including benefits and business support grants.
More information here: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme-cbils/
You can apply for Universal Credit whilst you wait for your grant or if your income is low when you receive the grant.
From 28 September, if you are on a low income and are required to self-isolate, you will be eligible for a Test and Trace Support payment of £500 if you meet all the following criteria:
- You have been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, either because you have tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
- You’re employed or self-employed
- You’re unable to work from home and will lose income as a result of self-isolating
- You’re currently receiving at least one of the following: Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Pension Credit
If you meet all the above criteria, apart from being in receipt of the mentioned benefits, and will face financial hardship as a result of not being able to work while you are self-isolating, you could still be eligible for a £500 discretionary payment.
The scheme was scheduled to end on 30 June 2021 but you may still be able to apply via your local authority.
You may be eligible for Sick Pay if you fall into any of the following categories:
- You are too ill to work
- You are self-isolating because you or someone you live with has Coronavirus symptoms
- You are self-isolating because you’ve been notified by the NHS or public health authorities that you’ve come into contact with someone with Coronavirus
- Someone in your ‘support bubble’ (or ‘extended households’ if you live in Scotland or Wales) has Coronavirus symptoms
You will need to be employed and earning more than £118/week, even if you had a zero-hour contract. Sick Pay is paid by your employer and the statutory level is £94.25/week, increasing to £96.36 from April 2021. Some employers pay an addition to this and you should discuss this with your employer.
You will receive sick pay from the first day you are ill with Covid19 or when you self-isolate. This will be paid in the same manner as your wages.
Depending on your household income, you may be able to receive Universal Credit and Council Tax Support (or Rate Rebate in Northern Ireland) in addition to your sick pay. You can use the calculator to see if this is the case.
More information here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-those-affected-by-covid-19/support-for-those-affected-by-covid-19
Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit that tops-up household income. If your income is affected by COVID-19 it is important to claim as soon as possible after your last pay has been received into your bank account as there is a 5-week delay to payment (although advances are possible) and your claim takes effect from the date of claim.
The Universal Credit standard allowance was increased by £20 per week from April 2020. This increase was originally set to be removed in April 2021 but will now be extended until 30 September 2021.
You can claim Universal Credit if you are self-employed, working, not working due to illness, or not working due to unemployment. You will not be eligible for Universal Credit if you have savings over £16,000. If you are self-employed and your savings are above £16,000 but these consist of personal savings plus amounts put aside for tax or VAT, you can still qualify for UC as long as your non-business savings are below £16,000.
Universal Credit can be claimed in addition to ESA or JSA based on your N.I. contributions, Sick Pay, or Council Tax Support.If you pay Council Tax you need to make a claim for Council Tax Support (or Rate Rebate in Northern Ireland) in addition to Universal Credit.
You should apply for Universal Credit the day after you receive your last payment from your employer or as soon as possible after this. If you apply before you receive your last payment from your employer then your wages will be taken into account for the first month and you may not receive support for the first month.
Claim Universal Credit online here https://www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit
If you are too ill to work or are self-isolating and do not qualify for Sick Pay (for example because you are self-employed or your income is below £118/week) you may be eligible for new-style Employment & Support Allowance (ESA).
In order to qualify, you will need to have paid sufficient National Insurance (N.I.) contributions in the financial years 6 April 2018 to 5 April 2019 and 6 April 2019 to 5 April 2020 (from 6 April 2021 these dates will change to 6 April 2019 to 5 April 2020 and 6 April 2020 to 5 April 2021). During this period you will have needed to have worked and paid Class 1 or Class 2 contributions in one of the years AND have paid, or been credited, 50 weeks worth of contributions over the two years.
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is usually paid at the rate of £74.35/week.
You can receive new-style ESA even if you have a partner who is working or if you have savings over £16,000.
If you think you may be eligible you should claim as soon as possible as your award will date from the day of your claim. There are special rules relating to COVID-19 outbreak which means you won’t need to have a Work Capability Assessment to qualify for support. Depending on your household income, you may be able to receive Universal Credit and Council Tax Support (or Rate Rebate in Northern Ireland) in addition to ESA. You can use the Benefits Calculator to see if this is the case.
More information about how to apply and a link to the online claim form can be found here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance-detailed-guide#how-to-claim
If you are not ill and are not self-isolating but have been made redundant due to COVID-19, you may be eligible for new-style Jobseekers Allowance (JSA). You will need to have paid sufficient National Insurance (N.I.) contributions in the preceding two years.
In order to qualify, you will need to have paid sufficient National Insurance (N.I.) contributions in the financial years 6 April 2018 to 5 April 2019 and 6 April 2019 to 5 April 2020 (from 6 April 2021 these dates will change to 6 April 2019 to 5 April 2020 and 6 April 2020 to 5 April 2021). During this period you will have needed to have worked and paid Class 1 or Class 2 contributions in one of the years AND have paid, or been credited, 50 weeks worth of contributions over the two years.
Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) is usually paid at the rate of £74.35/week, rising to £74.70 from 12 April 2021.
You can receive new-style JSA even if you have a partner who is working or if you have savings over £16,000.
If you think you may be eligible you should claim as soon as possible as your award will date from the day of claim. Depending on your household income, you may be able to receive Universal Credit and Council Tax Support (or Rate Rebate in Northern Ireland) in addition to JSA.
More information here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-jsa.
If you are responsible for paying Council Tax you may be able to claim Council Tax Support. This will reduce your Council Tax bill. It is administered by your local Council and you need to claim using your Council’s claim form. You are not eligible for Council Tax Support if you have savings over £16,000. Some councils have lower savings limits so you would need to check your council’s scheme.
Visit your Council’s website to see how to claim, or follow the links in the Policy in Practice Better Off Calculator. You should claim this as soon as possible as it cannot usually be backdated.
Access the Benefits Calculator here: betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Tax Credits are not available to those making a new claim. If you are making a new claim for support you need to claim Universal Credit.
You should inform HMRC of any reduction in your income as this may be able to be taken into account for this tax year.
Claim Universal Credit online here: www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit.
If you are responsible for paying domestic rates you may be able to claim Rate Rebate. This will reduce your Rates bill. It is administered by Land and Property Services (LPS).
More information here: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/homeowners-and-tenants-applying-rate-rebate
Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are intended to help you meet your rent if your Universal Credit housing element does not cover the full rent and are administered by your local Council (or your local Housing Benefit office in Northern Ireland). You will need to contact your Council (or your local Northern Ireland Housing Benefit Office), or go through their website, to apply.
Access the Benefits Calculator here: betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
NOTE: the fund is now currently closed due to the number of applicants but please keep checking back.
The charity Turn2Us has set up a grant fund for those who are facing severe economic hardship as a result of Coronavirus. The fund provides one-off hardship grants, worth £500. In order to get this grant you need to meet all the following conditions:
- You can clearly demonstrate a loss of income due to COVID-19 (evidence will be required showing at least a 50% reduction in earnings, they can accept bank statements, letter from employer outlining change in employment)
- You are a resident of the UK / Republic of Ireland
- You are not currently in further or higher education
- You are over 18
- You have less than £1,000 savings (single person) or less than £2,000 savings (couple/family)
- You have not received a Turn2Us grant in the last 6 months
For further information and to apply go to: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/Turn2us-Funds/Turn2us-Coronavirus-Grant-Fund
NOTE: the fund is now currently closed due to the number of applicants but please keep checking back.
1627 Comments.
Hi, I was made redundant from my job 26th May due to covid-19, I was paid my last wage including holiday pay from that job June 15th. I moved out of the area I was living in and used my last wage to pay a deposit and first months rent upfront. In July I received a payment of £309 from universal credit which doesn’t even cover half the rent on my new home (moved due to feeling depressed) I also have a child. I have had no help from universal credit and my local council cannot help me with crisis support or discretionary housing payment due to having not lived in the area for more than 3 months. What help can I get to pay my rent and council tax?
Hi,
It sounds like you are in a very difficult situation. Firstly, your inital UC payment may be reduced due to the date you received your final earnings. You should check to see how much UC you will get in the future to see if you can manage the rent long term. You can use our benefit calculator to check this out (www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk). The 3 month rule for a DHP or crisis support must be a local rule.
There is no reason that your council cannot support your rent in the meantime and councils are charged with being flexible in their approach. You may need to find someone to support your claim to the council.
I would suggest you contact your local CAB to see if they can make the case to the council on your behalf.
I wish you all the best.
Hi. I AM WORKING FOR NHS as a bank staff on 0 hours contract. I went to visit my parents abroad and not been able to return to UK due to airport closures. Last shift I worked was end of Apríl. I was not able to return back to work. I am pregnant and asked to go on Maternity leave 1.July.Baby is due on 13.September. Flights just started Last week. MY QUESTION IS IF I AM ENTITLED TO ANY Maternity pay from my NHS employer as I was stuck abroad and COULD NOT work ANY shifts in April, May or June due to Covid 19 as I know it is normally calculated from your earnings for the last few months before going to Mat. LEAVE.
Hi,
as long as you have paid Class 2 NI contributions for 13 weeks in the previous 66 weeks you should still be eligible.
You can contact the Maternity Allowance helpline to see if you qualify. The number is 0800 055 6688.
Best wishes.
Hi there. Unfortunately our family is going through a very rough time and my husband has been diagnosed with bowel cancer. I’m just finished my maternity leave and was due to go back to work this work but I’m now using some of my annual leavr. Can my employer put me on furlough as our family now need to shield as my husband is medically vulnerable? There are other people at my work that are furloughed due to shielding. My boss previously told me I couldn’t be when my husband was first in hospital 10 days ago. I know the extension for people returning from mat leave is extended. Thanks
Hi Lorna,
I am so sorry that your family are going through such a hard time.
Unfortunately if you have not been furloughed so far the deadline for furloughing additional employees has now passed so you cannot be placed on furlough.
I am sorry that this leaves you in a very difficult situation.
Hi, I have just been informed by my employer that at of the 29th June I am required to return to work full time and will be taken off furlough. I would love to go back to work however I have a 9 year old daughter, who isn’t back at school and I have no other child care options. I have offered to work from home, but they have said it isn’t viable. I have offered to work from 3 till 6 when I can drop my daughter to her dads house once he finishes work. My employer has said that if they accept that offer of my hours or work I will still be taken off furlough as they have work for my full time so I won’t qualify for furlough. Is this that case? If so what are my best options as it probably won’t be financially beneficial for my to only get paid 15 hours a week once I pay for fuel and the bridge toll to get to work?
Hi I’ve been on apprenticeship & 2 weeks before my apprenticeship finished I had to go off on shielding because i am in 1 of the extremely vulnerable categories because I was on apprenticeship I have not paid any tax or national insurance so the small family run business looked into this but can’t get any help to pay me I have had advice and been put on universal credit but don’t get any money till the 20th june but told it will only be £300 by then I will have already done 12 weeks with out pay how I’m I supposed to live on that and what about the 12 weeks I haven’t received anything by the looks of things I will have to keep shielding for longer but with no money can anyone help
Hi,
I wonder if you can help
The company that I am currently working for have put me on furlough for the 2nd time up until the end of July, and there are also rumours of redunancies within the company, which I may be part of due to lack of business. I want to know if whilst on furlough, I can work for another company, and still get furlough payment from my current job, or will the furlough be affected? and/or if I can claim any benefits alongside my furlough, such as JSA as I have savings?
Also
If I am to be made redundant from this employer, do I sign up for benefits straight away, whilst I look for new work, even though I will have my final months salary from them?
Many thanks
I’ve been unemployed for for 7 months and my 6 months contribution based JSA has run out and I don’t qualify for Income based JSA. I want to apply for National Insurance Credits which it would appear I’m eligible for. However the website refers me to the Job Centre which is shut and there seems to be no number to contact within any relevant site. I’ve spoken to HMRC and they’ve said its a job centre query but they couldn’t find any contact details, web chat etc. This doesn’t appear to be a new benefit claim which is all the phone numbers I’ve been through seem to talk about. Has anybody any ideas who I would speak to?
Hello,
I am an Agency worker. In the lull after Christmas, I was laid off and told that I would be called up when work was available.
I accepted this, and thought I would be OK for a short while by tightening my belt, and waiting for the call to say work was available again.
Then, the whole Covid 19 thing began, and I was placed on the extremely vulnerable list (ie. I received the letter).
This obviously means I have to sheild – so I can’t seek work at the moment.
I have just listened to the Govt. statement, saying sheilding must continue, and will be reviewed again on 15th June.
My situation seems to be a gap in the Govt. thoughts.
I appear not to be able to claim Universal Credit – been through all that – I seem to have dropped off the Radar!
I feel the whole thing is very difficult to understand and get stressed and anxious. I may be entitled to financial help, bit I just can’t suss it out.
I’m sure there will be other Agency workers in the same situation as me.
Am I condemned to survive on my low pension? This could go on for a long time.
Thank you – please advise
I have an occupational pension of approx. £850 per month, but I find this hard to survive on
Hi John,
I’m sorry to hear this.
I would recommend entering your details into our free online benefits calculator: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. You can double check if you are eligible for Universal Credit – if your income is low, you are under pension age, and you have savings under £16,000, you are likely to be eligible. If you are over the pension age threshold (you can check here: https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-age) you may instead be eligible for Pension Credit. You may also be eligible for Council Tax Support.
As well as Universal Credit/ Pension Credit, you may also be eligible for New Style ESA. This is a benefit for people who have been working in the last 2-3 years and who are now unable to work, including those who have been advised to shield. You can find out more and apply on this page: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance#if-youve-been-affected-by-coronavirus-covid-19
All the best.
Hi.
In your breaking news you have put the following.
Self Employed Income Scheme: In assessing whether self-employment makes up 50% of your income the Government has amended the advice from 50% of taxable income to 50% of all income, including benefits.
Will this include a car that is used for driving lessons and put as capital allowance be deemed as a benefit?
I have not been able to claim for the gov scheme for self employed due to the fact I receive a pension and my self employed earnings are just below my pension earnings.
If I can claim the car as benefit that would change how hmrc look at my claim.
Thank you.
Phill.
I am self employed, my trading income is a lot less than £50,000 a year (more like £12,000) average over last 3 years, have filed accounts for last 3 years but am not entitled to government grant due to None Trading related income in 2016/2017 tax year from my previous employment before I became self employed.
I don’t see why HMRC has included these earnings from employment (as None Trading Income) that was earned before I was made redundant and became self employed in the tax year 2016/2017.
Hi,
I am currently stuck abroad for 3 months now due to Covid19 and am not able to get back to the UK because of airline closures also have a 4 month old baby with me. I receive Universal credit and carers allowance. Should I let them know I am abroad and is my benefits going to be cut off? This is my only source of living. Please advise me on what to do.
Hi Omar,
It is always best to let UC know about your change in circumstances. You should let them know why you are stranded abroad and that you are under extenuating circumstances.
The rules under Universal Credit state that you can only receive payment during a temporary absence if the absence is no more than 1 month long. At the moment there are no exceptions to this rule that explicitly refers to being stranded abroad or COVID-19 – but there has been verbal confirmation from staff at the Department for Work and Pensions saying that if you travelled abroad before the 17th March, your benefits shouldn’t be stopped. This communication was reported by CPAG and you can find it here: https://cpag.org.uk/policy-and-campaigns/briefing/early-warning-system-latest-findings-20th-24th-april.
I hope this helps and best of luck.
Hi,
I am a single mum with a 3 year old son, I was working full time for a private hospital. I am on Universal Credits and private renting just about managing to keep up with my rent. My daughter was part time nursery and looked after by my parents. However they are in an at risk group and the nursery is now closed till September. I have managed to secure 3 days a week at another nursery but its a lot more expensive and charges in addition to the 30 free hours and im waiting to find out of UC will help with this. As such I have had to reduce my days at work to 3 days a week and even with UC can not afford my rent. I cant get onto the housing association list above a band 6 ( 1-2 bed flat only) and the council refuse to add me to the housing list saying I am sufficiently housed. I cant find cheaper private rent as they all seem to say no DSS and many now say no Children !!! I feel completely stuck.
I am in a small amount of rent arrears as my employer did not pay me while off as they remained open and It took a while for me to arrange a key worker nursery, they counted this as childcare issues.
Hi Sammy,
There are two main things for you to: first is to contact your Work Coach as soon as possible to explain that your circumstances have changed. If you are only able to work fewer hours then your Universal Credit will usually increase to reflect this (unless you become affected due to the benefit cap, but this seems unlikely given your employment history and the fact you are still taking some hours). In addition, the standard allowance part of Universal Credit has increased, and so has the way that the housing element is worked out (to help with your rent), from April so you should have seen an increase to your monthly payments from April (again, provided you’re not affected by the benefit cap). You can use our online calculator to check how much support you can get, here.
The reason that your Council says you are ‘sufficiently housed’ is probably because your two children are generally expected to share a room (until one of them turns age 10). So by sufficiently housed they might be referring to a home with 2 bedrooms (rather than one bedroom each, which is what I think you have been searching for). This means you might be expected to look for a property with 2 rather than 3 bedrooms. However if you are struggling to meet rental payments in the meantime it is a good idea to look on your council’s website about getting some support via a Discretionary Housing Payment. Mention to the council that you are already in arrears and Universal Credit is not enough to meet costs. Applications are generally made via the council website.
I hope that this helps and best wishes.
Hi, my husband has just been fired while on furlough for not meeting sales targets that were set after lockdown and then he was furloughed so couldn’t work. He is being made to use his holiday for part of his notice of I month and so will get 2 weeks furlough and 6 days holiday pay. He has only worked there for nine months so we cannot claim unfair dismissal and we were going to try for constructive dismissal but then they suddenly fired him. No warning, no meetings, just called to attend a zoom meeting called an employment review which started with the H R lady reading a statement saying he is fired.
I get about £800/ month furlough money as PAYE. But know that it will not be topped up and my job will go the moment the scheme does.
Is there any help for us? We have no savings and not enough NI to get benefits. Both British and in our fifties.
Hi,
I am a self employed contractor and have suffered a drop in my earnings due to a reduction in the availability of work linked to COVID-19 as well as increased daring responsibilities as I have two school-aged children. Although my earnings have reduced I have still been able to maintain ~50% of my average income. It appears I would qualify to receive a grant for 80%, but this would leave be better off than before. I do not want to profit from the situation. Is there a way of only claiming part of the grant? Thank you.
Hello
I started a new job march 10th 2020
However I left my old job march 27th 2020.
Still working at my new job now as i’m a carer. Today (22 may 2020) i realised ive been paid by my old employer, my last pay from them should’ve been on 23 April20,
Does that mean ive been place on furlough even though I’ve left the my old job in 27 march? Is that possible?
And if so would i need to pay them back as im no longer with their company?
What will happen?
Just alittle confused
Hi Francene,
I would recommend checking this with your old employer – they’ll be able to tell you whether or not you have been placed on furlough.
You won’t necessarily have to pay this money back – it is possible to be furloughed by one employer whilst working a new job. However, again, I would check this with your employer since it will depend on your job contract.
If your employer does not explain this to you or you think they are not acting correctly, I’d recommend getting in touch with the employment rights organisation ACAS: https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus
All the best.
Hi, I started on the 24th February and was placed on furlough but now have been taken off the scheme, is this correct? As my cut off date for my payroll was after the 19th March does this make me no longer eligible?
Hi there,
Yes unfortunately if you were not on your employer’s PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020, you wont be eligible. Your employer should be able to confirm this for you.
If you’re not eligible for the furlough scheme, you may be eligible for benefits instead. If you’ve been working and paying national insurance for the last 2-3 years, you may be eligible for New Style JSA. You can find more info here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-jsa. You may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support, though this will depend on your savings and income. You can use our online benefit calculator to see what you’re eligible for: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
All the best.
i claim uc i dont work i also claim for my 19 year old who attends college 12 hours or more a week can she work part time without it affecting my uc claim for her thanks
Hi Belinda,
For Universal Credit, the amount usually deducted for nondependents is £75.15 per month, regardless of the nondependent’s income. However, there is no deduction if the non-dependent is aged under 21, so your daughter beginning work should not change how much UC you are eligible for.
You can also use our benefits calculator to see how her beginning work might affect your benefits: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free Although it shouldn’t affect your UC award, her starting work may impact how much council tax support you can claim.
Best wishes.
Hi
I am on PAYE of the TV production company as a freelancer and not working for anyone else. I have had a dramatic reductions in the job offers. Three days in April. 1 day in May….I have just received an email last night from my team-leader with cancellation of further 21 days which were pre-booked and covered June , July. All in all I have a couple of days of job offer, which does not cover even the minimum of survival. So my situation is unique to most of people.
I have asked my manager whether I can be furloughed and was told that they need someone to be available for coming jobs, but 2 days a month will not keep me above the water. What else I can do to get financial support through next 2-3 months?
Thank you
M
Hi Michael,
I’d recommend using our benefits calculator to see what support you might be eligible for: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
If your earnings are lower than usual you may well be eligible for Universal Credit (and possibly some other support). If you put your circumstances into the calculator it will let you know. As your earnings may fluctuate month to month, if you just put your expected earnings in (as best you can), that should give a good estimate. Once you apply for Universal Credit, they will base your award on how much you earn in each month, so this will take into account any changes in your earnings month-to-month. We’d also recommend applying for Universal Credit as soon as you can, as your first month assessment period will begin when you apply, and your first payment won’t arrive until after this period (usually 5 weeks).
Best wishes.
Hello there,
I don’t know if anyone else has experienced this?
I recently received an automated renewal for Working Tax Credits that showed the governments COVID increase and that I didn’t have to do anything if everything checked out ok.
Today I received a letter advising that they are reviewing the Disability Element of working tax credits because they’ve been notified that Personal Indepentant Premium / Disabled living allowance has been stopped?
I’ve never claimed those benefits!
I migrated from ESA to Working Tax in 2017, which qualified for the disability element each claim year, until this letter dropped on the door step.
Other than returning the form with a cover letter asking for an explanation, I’m not sure what to do?
Have they made a technical error or are they underhandedly trying to get people off the disability element to save money?
Hope you can help?
Cheers
Hi Stuart,
Thanks for getting in touch and sorry to hear about this. You can call HMRC to try to understand why they’ve made the decision and whether they might reconsider. You can find details on how to call them here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/tax-credits-enquiries
I’d also recommend getting in touch with a specialist adviser as the rules around eligibility for the disability element of working tax credits can be very complex. Usually you need to be receiving a qualifying benefit such as Personal Independent Premium or Disabled Living Allowance to qualify, but there are also some cases where you can qualify without receiving these, so a specialist adviser will be able to talk through your case with you in detail and see how these rules might apply. You can find details for contacting Citizens Advice here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/ or find a local adviser here: https://advicelocal.uk/
If HMRC are unwilling to reconsider when you call, can also find more details for how to contest the decision here: https://www.gov.uk/tax-credits-appeals-complaints/disagree-with-a-tax-credits-decision
I’d recommend speaking to a specialist adviser as soon as possible because if you do need to contest the decision further you would need to request ‘mandatory reconsideration’ within 30 days of receiving the letter.
Best wishes.
thank you, they’ve sorted it.
Hi,
I worked in a cafe earning £500/month. The cafe isn’t registered for PAYE but I did a tax return as we also have some rental income. I class myself as self employed but HMRC have said not. I have appealed. If I’m not classed as self employed, how can I claim some benefit for the loss of earnings ?
Thanks
Hi Caroline,
Sorry to hear that. If you are not self-employed according to HMRC, it may be worth checking the criteria for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to see if you’re eligible for that instead – the main one you’d need to meet would be being paid via PAYE: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
If you are not eligible for either scheme, hopefully your rental income will continue to provide one source of income, and you may also be able to apply for benefits support. You can use our calculator to see what you might be eligible for: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free You may also be eligible for new-style JSA if you have made enough national insurance payments over the past few years – you can find more details about JSA here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance and check your NI payments here: https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record
Best wishes.
I work in sales and I’m only getting 100% my basic wage which is £450 a month less. As it is a face to face job I’m not going back to work anytime soon. Is there any other help I’m entitled too?
Hi Michelle,
Universal Credit is the main means-tested benefit that you might be eligible for, if your earnings are low and your savings are less than £16,000. Your eligibility will depend on your specific circumstances so the best thing to do is complete our online calculator with your current details: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. If you’re eligible you will be able to click on a link to apply.
You may also be eligible to claim Local Council Tax support (if you pay council tax). The calculator estimates this for you but you can also check your local council website to see if you are eligible (they usually have their own online assessment/calculator).
Best wishes.
Hi. My husband is self employed taxi driver. He usually works his own hours part time in winter and extra in summer. At the end of tax year he submits his income. Since the lock down he has been out of work. We are already receiving tax credit and working tax credits including for 4 children so we are getting by. My question is are we supose to let HMRC know about this? When conditions get better and there is demand for Taxi hire he will return to work. But at the moment there is no work for him. Second question should we apply for Universal credit or stay on the benefits we already recieve? Thank you x
Hi Ali,
Yes, he should let HMRC know about this. They wont be taking this change into account in the short term (so you’ll still be able to receive the same amount of tax credits), but they will take it into acount for your future payments. That means that because they’ll know he’s earning less than usual at the moment, your award of tax credits next year is likely to be higher.
Regarding Universal Credit, this will depend on your exact situation. Please do not make a claim for UC without checking first, since as soon as you claim, your tax credits will be stopped. If you havent already, I’d recommend entering your household information into our benefits calculator (https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free) where you can compare your income under tax credits to under UC. If you are at all unsure about claiming UC, please get some specialist advice (Citizens advice offer this: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/search-for-your-local-citizens-advice/) before making a claim.
All the best.
I am able to work from home, and have been since 10th March. We have two children (5 and 10) which are not in school and unable to attend their before & after school club.
My husband was furloughed on 6th April. His company is open with skeleton staff and he has received a call asking for him to return to work on Monday. Our personal circumstances were confirmed, regarding childcare issues and health risk for 5 year old 5 with Asthma. Unfortunately, his employer was less than willing to help. They requested a decision on the call, with two options:
– Return to work on Monday
– Do not return and go unpaid, the next ‘number’ on the list will be called in
In complete shock and dismay, he confirmed he will be unable to return, as the risk is too high. This now leaves his wage going from £320 standard, to £270 furlough, to £94 sick pay (if accepted on the basis of shielding)
We had already applied to Universal Credit around 4 weeks before the pandemic started, as the benefits calculator showed we were eligible. As of yet, we have not been eligible for any payments.
Is there any other support available, or advice on dealing with an unreasonable employer. Government guidelines state they SHOULD take into account childcare etc, not this is not a rule and it seems the company are taking advantage of this.
Hi Jade,
I’m really sorry to hear that. In terms of your husband’s employer, I would recommend looking on this ACAS page which gives advice about his rights as an employee: https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus
I would recommend doing another benefits check now that your household income has reduced, since you may now be eligible for Universal Credit. If so, you should make a new claim as soon as possible. Your husband may also be eligible for ‘New Style JSA’ if he has been working and paying National Insurance for the last 2-3 years. This does not take into account your income or any savings you may have. He can find more info and make an application here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance
All the best.
Hello
I am EEA national. I have applied for Universal Credit but they have informed me that I cannot receive any payment until I am given a National Insurance number. I did not have a National Insurance number and when I try to apply it says “You cannot currently apply for a National Insurance number because of coronavirus (COVID-19).”
I told this to Universal Credit in my journal but they say that they cannot pay me any money until I have National Insurance number. So what am I to do? No Universal Credit because no National Insurance number. No National Insurance number because Coronavirus. I am stuck. Please can you advise me.
Hi Lars,
Really sorry to hear about this. I would recommend getting back in touch with the DWP via your journal asking them to apply for a National Insurance number (NINO) for you. This is what the DWP have recommended should be happening – there is an internal DWP process to get a NINO for you even during the Covid-19 situation. You could reference this page – http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-insurance-number-allocations-staff-guide- which explains the process.
If you do not get a positive response, I’d recommend getting in touch with your local Citizens Advice who will be able to give you specialist advice about this. You can find your local office here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/search-for-your-local-citizens-advice/
All the best.
My son has not been payed his 80% this week by his boss wot can he do
Hello Derris,
I am sorry that your son is not being paid by his employer. He needs to get an answer from his employer as to why he has not been paid. If his employer is claiming furlough pay for him and not paying him, they can be reported for fraud. As we cannot give legal or employment advice, he should contact both his employer and his local Citizen’s Advice (CAB) to get the answers he needs. He can find his local CAB here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/search-for-your-local-citizens-advice/
I hope this helps
Before the current situation I was already registered as both employed and self-employed (I file tax returns). I am on furlough from my employment (which was my main source of income) whilst continuing my existing self-employed work. Am I limited in my ability to pursue new or forms of self-employed work do you know (which would then be included or listed in next year’s tax return)?
Hi Peter,
There do not appear to be restrictions on working elsewhere or taking on new work for furloughed workers (as long as your own employment contract with your employer does not say otherwise).
Best wishes.
Hi I have registered as self-employed in February 2018 and filed a self-employed return for 2017/2018 tax year. The profit I made between February and April 2018 was just below £2000. But while calculating the average income for the Self-employed Income Support Scheme the government takes this amount that I had made within two month as the representation of my income for the whole tax year. It ads this amount to my profit in 2018/2019 tax year (which is about £9000) and divides it by 2 reducing my average income as well as the support I should receive by almost the half of it should be in reality. I explained this to HMRC and asked them to review it. Do you have any Idea if they might change the way they calculate the average income? Thanks
I am a self employed and work has dried up completely due to the virus. . I pay my partner £300 pm to do odd jobs. He only gets a £200 pension apart from this. I can claim on the self employed scheme but what help can he get? I don’t give him wage slips and he is way below any tax threshold. I don’t earn that much myself.I do however have 2 properties which pay the mortgages with nothing left. I have minimal savings (under £2000) what can we do. At the moment the only income is his pension
Am PAYE and also work self employed am currently receiving furlough payments from my PAYE job can a also claim the self employed grant thats being offered
Hi Wayne,
If you filed a tax-return for 2018/19 and at least half of your taxable income is made through self-employment (though no more than £50,000 per annum profit), you can claim the self-employed support funding while you also receive furlough payments through your PAYE work.
Best wishes.
Hi,
I’m working in the London over 15 years. have 0 hours contracts with 2 employers. No shifts since March, no income. I received message from DWP today, that I’ll get payment 148.70 £ every 2 weeks for New Style JSA. So how can I survive in the London with 300 £ per month, if I have to pay 500 £ rent for small room ?
It will be great, if you will send me the link, where can I ask for help, thank you. T.
Hi Tadeus,
You may be eligible for Universal Credit as well as ‘new-style’ JSA. This is designed to cover both your housing costs and your personal costs. The criteria for Universal Credit is that you have no more than £16,000 savings and a low income, and you have either settled immigration status or are a UK citizen. The application site for UC is: https://www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit
You can assess your eligibility for UC and other benefits on our benefits calculator at the following link: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. If you are eligbile for support, the results page of the calculator will direct you to the relevant application sites through the ‘Apply here’ buttons.
Best wishes.
I am self employed with 2 parts to my tax return 1…. Domestic cleaner (affected by loss of business during the pandemic) and 2… online crafts which has actually increased during the outbreak. I’ve been invited to apply for the grant which I’m told I will get. Will I still be entitled to it if my overall earnings have not dropped? Just the cleaning side? I wasn’t asked to differentiate on the application thanks , Jacqui
Hi Jacquelyn,
You can claim the SEISS funding despite continued income through your second income. The qualifying criteria is simply that you filed a tax return for 2018/19 and that the majority of your taxable income is made through your self-employment, though you do not return more than £50,000 per annum profit.
Best wishes.
hi I have been furloughed and now where I work have said they are opening back up but I am the sole parent of an infant and I don’t have child care what are my rights please
Hi Dawn,
The government updated advice on 4th April to say that individuals who cannot work due to childcare responsibilities can be furloughed by their employer, even if work is available for them/their colleagues. This means that your employer can continue to claim the Job Retention Scheme funding on your behalf while you continue to look after your infant. However, this is unfortunately to the discretion of your employer so I would advise speaking with them as soon as possible about whether this is an option.
If they do not agree to continue paying you through the scheme, you can likely claim Universal Credit if your savings are not above £16,000. You can assess your eligibility for support on our benefit calculator at the following link: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
hi
i am a nurse. I have been isolation for two weeks, following which i was on sick leave for next two weeks. I got only sick pay for the month . Could i get any support to pay my rental arrears for the month
Hi Anandha,
Universal Credit payments are unfortunately not backdated and you can only apply for payment based on your current circumstances. If you continue to be on a low income and your savings are less than £16,000 you might be eligible for Universal Credit or Council Tax Support. You can check this with our online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free .
You should speak with your landlord, agency or association (whoever you pay rent to) to discuss alternative arrangements for paying your rent, for instance if it would be easier for you to pay arrears back gradually now that you are feeling better. Another option can be to search for whether there are any grants available: https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/
I hope this helps and best wishes.
Hello,
My partner has been told to shield by the nhs due to an ongoing health condition during the co-vid 19 pandemic. We have 5 children aged 8 months-15 years old and before this situation he had became a self employed courier and was doing well. We have now unfortunately been subjected to the benefit cap and had more than £1000 of income removed. We have tried to recieve some clarity regarding whether or not my partner should be in receipt of ESA. I understand that the benefit cap is a legal requirement and it is there to encourage people into work, he has been told NOT to go to work by the government. Our rent is £850 and we have been left with £250 to feed our children and pay utilities per month. We would not be subject to the cap when he returns to work as he earns over £600. We cant even access a food bank as we cannot physically leave our home. Is there anything that can be applied in these unprecedented times? We have been trying to get some clarity regarding our situation with our case manager but they don’t seem to actually know how or if co-vid would impact our case.
Hi Kim,
I’m sorry that you’re in this situation. Many organisations, including Policy in Practice, are urging the Government to reconsider the benefit cap due to the reasons that you raise here.
The first thing for you to do in this situation will be to check whether you can access additional support toward meeting your housing costs via a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) (or any other support available from your local council). Your local council’s website will have more information on this, you can check your council here: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council. DHPs tend to be targeted to households such as yours where benefit income is insufficient to cover housing costs and that are affected by welfare reforms (the benefit cap is one of them, as is the two-child limit – you are affected by both). You can also search for local support via grants https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/ and by contacting your local food bank – they might be able to arrange food to be delivered to you so that you can keep to your obligation to shield.
In the meantime it is worth discussing with your Work Coach why the cap has been applied if your partner was working previously. For the first 9 months that you claim Universal Credit, there is what’s called a grace period during which you will be exempt from the benefit cap. To qualify for the grace period you and your husband will need to have earned at least the equivalent of 16 hours each week at the National Living Wage over the last 12 months (£8.21 if you’re both aged over 25, which would come to around £1,138.45 per month). This rule applies to the self-employed and employed. Those in receipt of ESA and placed in the higher support groups (called ‘Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activity’) are also exempt but this doesn’t include individuals that are shielding. If you want to pursue a reconsideration further, Citizen’s Advice can provide advice and assistance. You can contact them here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/.
I hope this helps and best wishes.
Hi, I came for holidays to pakistan on 18 march and I am working for an agency on a construction site my holidays was finished on 10 april but I am stranded abroad because of flight suspension due to corona virus, I spoke to my agency and they are not putting me on furlough because our job was still running, I dont even know when these flights will start again and I didnt have travel insurance
Hi Raja,
I’m sorry to hear about this situation. Unfortunately the decision to furlough is done at the employer’s discretion so they can choose who to furlough and can only do this if their business has been affected by Covid-19.
In terms of support while you’re abroad – the Government advice on this is that you contact the UK embassy in Pakistan. There are two: Islamabad (https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-high-commission-islamabad ) and Karachi (https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-deputy-high-commission-karachi).
More generally you can stay up to date on news relating to travel from Pakistan here: https://www.gov.uk/world/pakistan/news.
I hope this helps and best wishes.
Hi,
I work as a supply teacher for an agency and have done for the past 7 yrs, last year I was ill and lived off my savings, so they are now depleted. I am paid by an umbrella company so spent 2 working days applying for UC in March after the schools closed. It was a long time later when we found out that we could be furloughed.
I didn’t qualify for UC because partner wage and had £0 income since 20th March.
When I didn’t get the UC they advised I applied for JSA. I signed up to be furloughed and misunderstood that unlike UC which you can get at same time JSA was different. I applied for JSA, then within 10mins of sending it realised my mistake.
I contacted the agency and asked them to make sure no changes were made to my employment as I was cancelling the JSA.
Then I got confirmation from local job centre that JSA was cancelled, so I thought this meant no application would be processed.
Today I received a P45 and P60 and letters detailing benefits. I spent a frantic hour 10mins on hold and contacted job centre UC team and employer (agency again rather than umbrella) after several hours the job centre got back to me assured me it was all cancelled on day it was claimed (28thApril) and the P45 was from them.
Meanwhile my agency were contacting umbrella co. I signed into umbrella co. Online and discovered they have issued a P45!
I am very concerned as at no point did I think I had left the company and presume this means that I will not receive the scheduled furlough payment for May, putting me back at £0.
I am genuinely sick with fear and don’t know what to do.
Have contacted agency and umbrella co. And had no response from either.
Please help.
Hello,
It sounds like you’re in quite a stressful situation, and I am sorry that you are not able to get answers from your employer.
Unfortunately, we cannot provide employment law advice- you should definitely reach out to your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau to see if they can advise you further if you haven’t heard from your employer. Link: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/search-for-your-local-citizens-advice/
As far as I am aware, filing a JSA application should not cause your employment to be terminated. To understand whether or not you have been made unemployed or whether you are on furlough or not, you have to get that answer from your employer.
If it turns out for unrelated reasons they have made you redundant, you can then try again to apply for New Style JSA if you fit the other criteria.
Just so you know, you can be on furlough and claim JSA if both the following apply:
– you usually work less than 16 hours a week
– you meet the other eligibility requirements for JSA
Link: https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/eligibility?step-by-step-nav=e7b3ea75-05d5-4341-b27a-be3b767b1e3f
If your partner’s income has changed, or if you both have not yet received furlough pay, you can apply for Universal Credit and possibly Council Tax Support if you have less than £16,000 in savings. You might find our free calculator useful to see what your eligibility for support might be if things change: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
Take care.
Hello,
I am currently on maternity allowance but it is due to stop next month. I do not feel this is a good time to go looking for work and out my 6 month baby into childcare. I no savings and will have no income. What am I supposed to do with bills to pay and put food onto the table.
thank you.
Hi Tori,
It is a very difficult time for everyone- let alone for someone with a new baby!
You may be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can use our free calculator to see how much you may get and what other help you may be eligible for: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Your Maternity Allowance is taken into account in full for Universal Credit, so keep that in mind when filling in the calculator.
Hope this helps.
I had been working under PAYE and self employed but became fully self employed in November 2018. As the government grant is based on the tax year 2018/2019 and I earnt most of my income from PAYE, I am not eligible for the self employment grant. All I have been told is to apply for universal credit, which I am also not eligible for due to having savings for my childrens university funds. My self employment work totally folded just before lockdown and is now unlikely to build up again so I am at a total loss as to what I can do
Hi Nicole,
I am sorry for your situation. It seems that you have fallen into a strange gap.
As you are already aware, if you have savings exceeding £16,000, you cannot claim Universal Credit.
I am really sorry to say that the only advice I can unfortunately give in your case is that if you have to rely on these savings to get through this crisis, once your total savings dip below £16,000 you will then be able to apply for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support.
Take care.
Hi,
Sorry I know you must be very busy but I’m a little confused about ESA and worried as to whether I should or shouldn’t be able to claim it.
I don’t qualify for UC as partner is working from home. I’m self employed and not able to work because I work in a tattoo studio and it’s unlikely we are allowed to open until at least July.
I am eligible for the grant but needed some money to help towards rent and food in the meantime so I applied for ESA. I’d seen that if you’re self employed and can’t claim SSP or UC then you can claim it.
I had a call from them to ask if I had a shielding letter due to the health conditions I’d listed and I have NOT had a letter. They only asked me about asthma, and naturally I am self isolating through choice as my asthma is seasonal and quite bad at the moment as I’m on two inhalers, so I am more at risk.
Is this enough for me to claim it? She said I’d have to get GP to provide a letter to confirm my medical conditions which is fine.
I’m just worried they’ll end up demanding I pay it back because I didn’t get a shielding letter and I’m really worried. Am I allowed to claim it? And at what point do I stop? When I’m allowed to return to work? Thank you so much!
Hi Ellen,
Thanks for getting in touch. It sounds like your case could be quite complex so first of all I’d recommend seeking specialist advice from Citizens Advice so they can give you more information on the specifics of your case: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/
The government currently state there are three coronavirus-related reasons to claim new-style ESA: 1) you or your child might have coronavirus or you’re recovering from it, 2) you or your child are self-isolating because you came into contact with someone who might have coronavirus) or 3) you have been told to stay at home for at least 12 weeks by the NHS because you’re at high risk of severe illness. So unfortunately (assuming neither of the first two apply) it seems you would need to be told to shield by the NHS to be eligible.
You can request that your doctor adds you to the shielding list (and it sounds from what you’ve said like the doctor’s letter may work similarly, but again I’d recommend speaking to Citizens Advice about this) if you feel you meet the criteria detailed here by Asthma UK: https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/shielding-advice-high-risk/#Who
They also provide advice on how to request you are shielded here: https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/shielding-advice-high-risk/#NoLetter
Generally, if you can provide a fit note (sometimes called ‘sick note’ or ‘doctor’s note’) you will also be eligible for new-style ESA, so if your doctor is able to provide that (this will depend on their assessment) then it may be an alternative.
If you are not advised to shield by your doctor and the DWP do decide you were not eligible for ESA, it is worth bearing in mind that currently because of the pandemic, benefit overpayments do not have to be paid back as the government has paused its efforts to recover them until July 2020 at the earliest. So you should have until at least July (and potentially longer if that is extended) if they do decide you were not eligible for ESA.
If you were eligible for new-style ESA, once you receive your self-employment grant it is likely this may take you over the permitted work limit so you would no longer be eligible, but I’d also recommend speaking to Citizens Advice about precisely how your earnings would be calculated for this purpose.
Best wishes.
Good afternoon
Its not very clear about payment. My normal salary it’s 1800£ after tax, I started my job 17th of February and I ve been furloughed the 20th of march. At the end of April I receved the payment of furlough in 250£. So I asked the accountant and she said that it’s based in average of my working shifts. That’s why my payment was very low. There’s any conflict with people furloaghed in short-time hired before 28th of February?my partner started her contract on 10th March and she received her 80% of salary
Many thanks
Marcos
Hi Marcos,
It might help to read through the options on this page, as there are lots of different ways they can choose to calculate it, based on what they think fits your circumstances best: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/work-out-80-of-your-employees-wages-to-claim-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#work-out-80-of-your-employees-usual-wage
If you think they should have used one of the options here it might be worth suggesting this to your employer to see if they’ll change it for future months.
If you are paid a salary, their advice is to calculate the amount using the following steps: 1) Start with your employee’s wages, which is their last pay period before 19 March. 2) Divide by the total number of days in the pay period. 3) Multiply by the number of furlough days in the pay period. 4) Multiply by 80%. But there are several other options which you might feel are more appropriate.
Best wishes.
Hi My Partner was furloughed by his firm 7 weeks ago and has not yet received any money from them and they keep saying that they are waiting for the money from the government and cant afford to pay. I have now been furloughed and we have been living off my wages and using our savings to stay afloat. Can we claim any benefits? We do not think his firm will stay afloat and it may fold and not pay any wages and they may have received the monies but used them for themselves as its a family firm.
Hi Janet,
I am very sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately, the government’s regulations for the Job Retention Scheme do not require employers to pay furloughed employees before receiving the reimbursement.
In terms of benefits, you may be eligible for Universal Credit if you have less than £16,000 in savings. You can claim Universal Credit whilst furloughed (the support you receive through UC will be adjusted if you eventually start receiving furloughed wage payments). You can use our (free) online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free to check your eligibility for Universal Credit and see how much support you would receive. If you are eligible for Universal Credit you will also usually be eligible for Council Tax Support. Council Tax Support requires a separate application to Universal Credit, but you can find out more information about it on the calculator.
If you are renting and having difficulty meeting your rent payments, you may also be able to apply to your local council for a Discretionary Housing Payment to help cover your housing costs in the short term. If this is the case, you should contact your local council directly to find out what they offer.
Finally, if you or your partner do lose your jobs, you may be eligible to claim contributory Job Seekers Allowance if have made sufficient National Insurance contributions over the past two years. You can claim this on top of Universal Credit.
I hope this is helpful. You can find some more information about these types of support on our dedicated COVID-19 FAQ page here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19. Please also do let us know if you have any other questions we might be able to help with.
Hi,
I was furloughed from my job due to decrease of business and because I have a 1 year old and the nursery was closed. My husband is working full time from home and cannot work flexible hours, his workplace has been classed as essential. My child’s nursery is closed and we have no alternative childcare. I have been furloughed for the past month and my employer has requested I come back to work today and no flexibility was offered – I cannot work from home and there are set hours. Other employees with the same job role have not had the same request to return. As I have no childcare I had to refuse and was told I may have to take unpaid leave or use annual leave. Without my wage we will struggle financially. As I qualify for furlough, can my employer reasonably continue to furlough me and is it reasonable for me to ask them to do so?
My partner is a keyworker (refuse collector) on a zero hour contract. We have six children and due to circumstances he has not had a lot of work this month so his income was only 280. Universal credits has now applied the benefit cap to our claim and we are not going to receive any money from them at all this month. I have had a job for six years which I lost to redundancy a year ago and due to having a baby I stayed at home and my partner worked. I was about to start a new job but as schools closed I have been unable to due to childcare. The real frustrating part is my partner has travelled to work for 6am waiting around to see if he can get work and left with none during this month. So as well as putting himself at risk he has been trying to earn money and because he has been unable to we now have to live on nothing. We are homeschooling five children and our internet bill is not going to be paid nor our other bills or rent. I have queried with UC and they have said we get child benefit. This is ridiculous as there are 8 of us in our household and can not survive on this amount of money for a month. My partner has to get a train to work so if he cannot travel he will not be able to work this month either. I just don’t know what to do.
Hi Kerry,
I am very sorry to hear about this. Firstly, the Benefit Cap should not remove all of your benefits, rather limiting them to £15,410/year outside of London and £23,000/year if you are living in London. If the DWP are stating you will not receive any benefits due to the cap, this sounds wrong. To add some context, you should be receiving about £90.80 per week from child benefits. This is a long way between the weekly cap amount (£296.35/week outside of London, £442.31/week inside London) so it does not make sense that you are only receiving child benefit.
Second, there is a grace period from the Benefit Cap which you may be eligible. To be eligible, your household needs to have been earning more than £569.23/month from work before your change of circumstances (i.e. before the Covid outbreak began). If your households earnings were above this then you will not be affected by the Benefit Cap for 9 months.
I would recommend going back to Universal Credit to find out exactly why the benefit cap has been applied in this way, it does not sound correct to me. If they retain their decision you may be eligible for support from your Council via Council Tax Support and a Discretionary Hardship Payment. You will have to make a claim for both of these on your council website.
I hope this helps, and please do get in touch if you have any other questions. It may also be worth contacting your local Citizen’s Advice. They will be able to offer you more long-term support.
I wish you and your family all the best.
Hi, My accountant has me set up as a Ltd Co for the last 16 years, with myself as the only employee/ director of my own taxi company. I have not worked since lockdown and have been trying to register as being furloughed. He has finally got a reply from HMRC stating I am not eligible as I dont comply with the system. He does the returns at end of year and puts me through at minimum wage but because it is not “paid” monthly, I cannot be furloughed as the computer system doesn’t recognise it. They have suggested that they are aware of the problem but dont know how to rectify it. They suggested Universal Credit instead. Does anyone have any suggestions. I have not worked elsewhere either as I was sure I would be able to qualify for being furloughed!
Hi Robert,
To be eligible for furlough you will have needed to have been paid through PAYE, which can be done annually. If your existing setup via your accountant means you are not paid through PAYE then you will not be eligible for the furlough scheme. I would recommend checking the “Company directors with an annual par period” section of this page: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.
In the meantime I would recommend filling out our benefits calculator (linked to at the top of this page) and making any possible claims to help you through in case HMRC continue to state that you are not eligible to be furloughed. The calculator will show you any benefits you are eligible for and how much you can be expected to receive.
I hope this helps.
I started a new job on the 24th February but as this was past the company payroll cut off date my wages for Feb were rolled over into March. As the pay date is the 28th of each month my company didn’t register my RTI until after the 19th March. Originally I was told I was furloughed and did receive April’s pay at the reduced rate agreed in the job retention scheme but on the 6th May I was told I now don’t qualify for the scheme and have been temporarily laid off but with a note saying they want me back on a date of their choosing and 7 days notice of me back to work. Please advise what can be done as my rent is due next week?
Hi Paul,
Really sorry to hear about your situation. Since you have now been laid off, you should be able to claim benefits during this period.
if you have been working and paying National Insurance for the last 2-3 years, you may be eligible for New Style JSA. The rules are complex, but if you’re worked and paid National Insurance for 26 weeks in either of the last 2 financial years, you should qualify. More info can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-jsa
Depending on your household income and savings, you may also qualify for Universal Credit. You can use our online benefit calculator (linked above) to check if you’re eligible.
All the best.
Hello my wife and I sold our guesthouse in November’18 and we have been looking for another business to buy without success. We have a small amount of funds in our account which we are living off each year. This year we decided to look for work locally to where we live as the sale of a business we were interested in fell through. We applied for a job but unfortunately covid 19 came about and we are back to where we started. I was just wondering if there would be any benefits that we would be able to claim? I appreciate that before covid 19 we were not entitled to any, however when the virus came out, this has prevented us from getting any work.
Kind regards
Jonathan
Hi Jonathan,
I’d recommend entering your household details into our online benefits calculator (https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free) – this will show you if you’re eligible for any benefits. The main benefit you might be able to claim is Universal Credit, however this depends on your level of income and savings.
All the best.
My situation is if not unique then certainly unusual.
I have a full-time (employed) job with a large-ish company, and also self-employed (SE) earnings. The SE earnings are much lower than my employed salary, but not insignificant. However, I also rent an office, at my *own* expense, for both the job *and* my SE earnings. This office is subject to business rates and relief. As such, I have therefore been invited by my local council to apply for a grant via the Small Business Grant Fun (SMGF).
I’m not currently using the office, because of lockdown, but am still paying the rent. As well, my SE earnings have dropped a little. As a result, I am losing a few-hundred pounds each month.
So my question is… I have no idea if I am entitled to claim for a grant under SBGF? I could do with some of the money, if not all of it, but it seems like it’s an all-or-nothing offer?
Any advice appreciated!
Phil
Hi Phil,
I’d recommend checking this with your local council. However, since they have reached out to you about the SMGF, it sounds like they have deemed you eligible for support. As far as I can tell, the fact that you’re not currently using the office shouldn’t matter since you are still paying the rent. The official eligibility criteria for the fund is that your property, as of 11 March 2020, was eligible for Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) Scheme; it sounds like you meet this condition.
Best wishes.
Hello,
I hope everyone is well. I have this problem. I applied for JSA when I was made redundant. However, a few weeks after, my employer found out about the Grant Scheme from the Government and put me on furlough. By this time, I had been paid my JSA. I have been trying to call the Job Centre to report the change, but no one is answering the phone. Do you have any idea what can I do in this case?
Thank you in advance.
My son is a seasonal worker making a product and selling at events such as country fairs for six months of the year and working abroad volunteering for the winter. He does not pay tax as he earns under the tax threshold. He owns a house which he rents out to cover the mortgage but the tenants have left so he has a three month mortgage holiday, when he returns next week he will live in his house but will have no income. Please can you help with what benefits he is entitled to.
Hi Julie,
If your son’s capital savings are below £16,000 (this excludes main home of residence, but would include the value of other assets such as a second home), he might be able to claim Universal Credit and/or Local Council Tax Support. He can check this using our online calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit and it is not conditional on employment history but is reduced when the person claiming receives income from other sources (there are some exceptions to this rule). It is assessed based on current circumstances, so if your son doesn’t have a source of income he will need to report this as zero (and update this information if it changes).
I hope this helps and best wishes.
My employer won’t furlough me and says if I want time off I have to take unpaid leave. Can I claim Universal Credit while I’m on unpaid leave?
Thanks
I can provide more information if you tell me what you need. Thanks
I am the Director of my own PLC, but I am the only employee. I work in retail selling products for an Agency who hire my company. I have been out of work since the UK went into Lockdown. My annual income is less than a taxable amount. My accountant tried to claim furlough pay for me but was told I am not eligible because he works out my income annually rather than monthly. I am not earning anything since early March now. What should I do please?
Hi Silas,
If you are not eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or ‘furlough’ scheme, but your savings are below £16,000 you may be able to claim benefits such as Universal Credit or Council Tax Support. To check this you can use our free online calculator here:https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
I hope this helps and best wishes.
I was a student and therefore only worked a couple of hours a week until September, when I then took on a significant increase in hours due to needing to pay bills without a student loan.
I am a swimming teacher. Have 3 employers.
I usually earn £1,200 ish a month.
Employer 1: £550, Employer 2: £300, Employer 3: £350
Employees 2 & 3 don’t meet any of the schemes (not PAYE etc) so we just aren’t getting paid which means I’m already £650 down.
Employer 1 I used to do so few hours due to being at university my average salary was substantially lower until September, when it started building up. Since Jan this year I’ve averaged £550 a month. But my average over the year has worked out at only £200 a month which is actually less than 40% of my current income.
So I’ve gone from £1,200 to £200.
This is clearly no where near enough for my bills.
What does someone like me do? I increased my hours for a reason – to be able to pay my bills! Yet I’m being penalised for hours I did over a year ago when I was still a student. I don’t meet the self employed requirements as I was a student during the tax years they’re using.
Any suggestions?
Hi Linda,
Really sorry to hear about your situation. The best thing to do will be for you to complete our online Better Off Calculator with this information: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. Essentially, if your savings are below £16,000 and your income is low enough (and £200 would certainly be considered low), you will be eligible for benefits like Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. Once you’re done with the calculation you will be able to click on ‘claim benefits’ to apply directly for benefits (for example, Universal Credit which is done online).
Hope this helps and best wishes.
Hi I’m self-employed if I’m entitled to the grant and carry on working technically I’m getting paid twice is that correct i.e. 7 1/2 grand for three months from the e government and whatever I can earn in the three months myself please advise
Hi Leigh,
The grant is intended for those that have seen their business affected by COVID-19 and is taxable, but you can still work if you are able to during this time.
If you apply for the grant after being deemed eligible you will need to declare that your business has been affected – some examples include when this is due to shielding, self isolating, caring for those shielding/self isolating, being on sick leave (or caring for someone who is), as well as business interruptions like supply chain impacts (eg reduced business), less demand from clients and staff being unable to come to work. You can find more detailed guidance and check eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme
Best wishes.
Hi, I’m a full time employee but only work from September to May each year but my salary is paid in 12 equal instalments throughout the year. My employer has advised me they want to furlough me but given I am about to finish my work until September anyway can they still furlough me and make their claim even though it will be for work I’ve already done?
Both myself, and my partner are self-employed (I work online and my partner is an artist). Due to selling tickets for venues my income has dropped to virtually zero. My partner’s income has gone down but not fallen off a cliff.
Today (4th May 2020), I logged on to check to see if we would be eligible for this 80% – my partner is and I am not… I now have to wait until the end of May to find out why I am not eligible – meanwhile, I am earning the best part of nothing from my online business. The only reason I can think of is that I have a small pension from being a teacher (I took the pension early) and because of this I am not eligible – unless there is some other reason.
Any suggestions?
Hi Neil,
It may be because you didn’t file a tax return for the year 2018/19? To be eligible for the Self-employed Income Scheme, you must have filed a retun for 18/19 and the majority of your taxable income must come from self-employment (though your profits cannot exceed £50,000).
If you and your partner have savings below £16,000, you may eligible for Universal Credit, depending on how much your partner’s SEISS payment amounts to. You can assess this on our benefits calculator, at the following link: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
Ive been a self employed apprentice for a month, now not working due to covid what can I claim ????
Hi there,
If your savings are below £16,000 then you can likely claim Universal Credit, so long as you are a ‘recognised’ apprentice under DWP guidelines, as follows:
– have a named training provider
– be working towards a recognised qualification
– be paid at least the NMW for an apprentice
UC is an in-and-out-of-work benefit, so your claim will continue while your earnings fluctuate in the coming months, provided they don’t exceed the threshold.
I hope this helps.
Best wishes.
My nephew is on a zero hour contract. His employer told him he can’t get wages for him because of the zero hour contract. Of course that’s not right. But my nephew doesn’t want to question him. Is there a way to find out if his employer is in fact claiming it for him while not passing it on?
Hi Claudia,
Sorry to hear about that. As you say there is no reason being on a zero hour contract should prevent your nephew from being eligible for the Coronavirus Job Protection Scheme. I’m not certain what steps he might be able to take, but I’d suggest talking to colleagues to try and understand whether they are in a similar situation. If he does suspect they are abusing the scheme, he could report the fraud to HMRC, who will then be able to investigate further, using the links detailed here: https://www.cipp.org.uk/resources/news/scams-fraud-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.html
I’d also recommend talking to either a trade union (if he or colleagues are members) or employment rights specialists, ACAS, to get further information about his rights and how to respond to this situation: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
While he’s not receiving his wages he may also be eligible for other support such as Universal Credit, so I’d recommend sharing our benefits calculator to double check he is getting all the support he is eligible for: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
I work for a civil engineering company we have PAYE and Sub Contractors doing the same work our company has the PAYE on furlough but recently were allowed to carry out work on sites but they have taken back the Sub contractors and left the PAYE still sitting at home.
Is this legal and good practice
Hi James,
Without knowing the full details of this case it’s difficult to say, so I’d recommend getting in touch with employment rights specialists ACAS if you want to know more: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
Generally, anyone who the employer has placed on furlough should not be working for that employer. If you are concerned your employer is abusing the scheme you can find details for reporting fraud here: https://www.cipp.org.uk/resources/news/scams-fraud-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.html.
It’s worth bearing in mind though that some workers can be furloughed while others are not, so if those on PAYE and furloughed are not doing work, but others who are not on furlough (presumably in this case the sub contractors) are still working, that is not necessarily anything illegal. There might still be health and safety concerns for those who are in work though, so again ACAS or a trade union may be able to advise on rights regarding that.
Best wishes.
My daughter was paid £200 weekly until the accountant set up her wage monthly on electronic payment however her first electronic pay went into her bank the day after the government cut off date so she is not getting any furlough money, she does have bank statement too prove her weekly wage is there anything she can do.
Hi Marilyn,
The date when her payment arrived in her bank account should not be the crucial factor. What should matter is when her employer first made an RTI submission notifying payment for your daughter to HMRC. Often that submission would go in around a week before your pay actually arrives, so it may be that this was before the 19 March deadline, even if the pay only arrived just after. I’d recommend trying to clarify the date of that RTI submission with her employer, as that should be the crucial factor. Here’s the key section from the government’s guidance for employers, which she may want to share with her employer: “You can only claim for furloughed employees that were employed on 19 March 2020 and who were on your PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020. This means an RTI submission notifying payment in respect of that employee to HMRC must have been made on or before 19 March 2020.” https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Unfortunately, it will ultimately be up to her employer whether to claim for furlough pay. If her income is now lower, she can use our benefits calculator to see what support she might also be eligible for: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
Hi, I have been placed on furlough
My pay day was Friday 24th April, to which my boss messaged myself and colleagues to say that we would only been receiving half of the 80% furlough money and once he had received the money from the government he would pay the remaining, we are still waiting for this! When looking at my pay slip on pay day it states the full 80%
Is this right??
Hi Kelly,
It sounds like your employer received the furlough funding on time for your April 24th payment and paid the full amount as a result. Your employer will likely continue to pay you 80% of your wages following your normal payment times, though they can choose to stop furlough payments at any time after the initial 3 weeks, depending on the circumstances of the business. Do let me know if I have misunderstood the question.
Best wishes.
Hi
I’m was working in abeauty salon I started in fab time and by boss didn’t give me any contact but I was getting payed with payslip I was working 20-25 hours a week but place had to shut because of covid19 but he is not paying me 80percent can u help me find out if he is flaming those money and not giving me or I’m not getting payed
Many thnx
Hi Ayesha,
Unfortunately, your employer is not obligated to use the employee furlough scheme, so he may choose not to pay you during this time. I would recommend asking him to furlough you as he has not yet done so.
In order to receive the funding from the government, your employer and yourself would need to confirm in writing that you have been furloughed. So if he has not made you sign this, it is unlikely he has deceitfully claimed on your behalf.
If you cannot be furloughed, then you may be eligible to claim Universal Credit. Your savings must be below £16,000 in order to claim. You may also be eligible for Council Tax Reduction, which you would need to apply for from your local authority. You can use our benefits calculator to assess your eligibility across all benefits, at the following link: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
hi my dad recently got furloughed, however due to the date the government made he did not qualify, the date then changed to were he would qualify however the company had then let him go sent a p60 so he could sign on to universal credit for an income during these difficult times, he is 57 and worked all his life as well as raising me alone, he is looking for work but very disheartened and suffering severe hardship due bills, housing ect and like us all jjust worrying what the future has to hold for us all. hope you could maybe help thank you.
Hi Jen,
Your dad may be able to discuss with his previous employer being taken back as an employee and put on the Job Retention Scheme if the changed date means that he is eligible for the scheme. His employer could, in that case, apply for the funding to cover 80% of your dad’s wage (up to £2,500 per month), though this is to their discretion.
If his employer does not rehire your father, it sounds like applying for Universal Credit is an option, so long as he and his partner (if he has one) have no more than £16,000 savings. In this case he would also likely be eligible for Council Tax Reduction, for which he would need to apply straight from his local authority. There is a five-week wait for Universal Credit from the date a claim is made, so I would recommend that your dad apply as soon as possible.
If your dad has paid Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance payments over the past two years, he may also be able to apply for ‘new-style’ Jobseeker’s Allowance while he is out of work. He can claim this at the same time as receiving Universal Credit. There is usually a two-week wait for the initial payment in this case.
Best wishes.
Hi I’m currently self employed and filed my tax return for last year. Hopefully I will be entitled to some for my loss of earnings in June.
My situation at home as changed drastically and I’ve asked my partner to leave the home. What I want to know is can I apply for Universal credits if I’m not actually working at the moment and due to get something back in June for loss of earnings.
Hi Louise,
To receive the Self-employed Support Scheme, you must have filed a tax return for the year 2018/19.
If this is not the case, you can claim Universal Credit so long as your savings are no higher than £16,000. You can enter that you are self-employed but not currently earning, and your award will be based on your income rather than your employment status. There is a five-week wait for the initial payment in Universal Credit. You can apply for an ‘advance payment’ (which is effectively a no-interest loan), though this would be repaid through deductions to your future payments.
If you are eligible for UC, you are likely also eligible for Council Tax Reduction, for which you can apply on your local authority website.
I hope this helps!
Best wishes.
Hi,
I’ve resigned in March and my new employment starts on 1/5/20. Will I be able to get any help from the government for the month of April?
Hi there,
You may be eligible for support before your new job. If you have been working and paying National Insurance for the last 2-3 years, you may be eligible for New Style JSA. The rules are complex, but if you’re worked and paid National Insurance for 26 weeks in either of the last 2 financial years, you should qualify. More info can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-jsa
Finally, depending on your household income and savings, you may qualify for Universal Credit. You can use our online benefit calculator (linked above) to check if you’re eligible.
All the best.
Hi
Doed the furlong scheme start from date of letter in my case 24 april , I’m shielding for 3 months due to chemo or can employer stop it at end of June as that is current time limit.
Thanks x
Hi Jo,
The furlough grant will start on the day you were placed on furlough. It will last for a minimum of 3 weeks, but the exact length will be decided by your employer. I would recommend checking with your employer about this – they should communicate this with you in writing.
All the best.
I’ve still not been paid furlough money is there a way of checking to see if my boss has been given it?
Hi Paul,
The decision about when to pay you the furlough money rests with your employer. The scheme opened to employees on April 20th, so we’d expect your first payment to be paid fairly soon after this date. if you haven’t heard anything, I would recommend getting in touch with your boss who should be able to clarify this for you.
All the best.
I hope everyone is staying safe and well.
My son was phoned by the doctor in march, telling him to stay home as he is on the high risk list as he has Crohn’s. A sick note was given to cover him until his letter arrived. It came in the second wave of letters sent out. His employer is b&m and are refusing to backdate the letter to march so are saying any time he was off prior to the letter was self exclusion not NHS high risk. Are all employers supposed to backdate the 12 week high risk letter?
Thank you and stay safe.
Hello Maria,
Unfortunately, we can only advise you on benefits and not on labor laws, but from our reading of the regulations, the government has been clear that if an employee self isolates from March 13 onwards because they have been advised by a GP or NHS 111 to self-isolate, then they are deemed to be incapable of work and therefore are entitled to SSP from day 1 (subject to meeting the eligibility criteria (i.e. Lower Earnings Limit of £118 per week).
You may want to seek legal advice for your son or contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) to see how to move forward on this issue. Here is a link for more information on his rights and self isolating after March 13: https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus/self-isolation-and-sick-pay
You can find your local CAB here for more specific advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/search-for-your-local-citizens-advice/.
Hope this helps.
Hi,
I switched workplace at the beginning of this year. I started to work for a company through an agency. It meant to be a temp to perm work after 13 weeks but because of the current circumstances they can not take me on but I could keep working for them through the agency. The company was running with a reduced crew (the rest of the workers stayed at home and got 80% of their salary) in the last 5 week. I was working too. Today the company said they have to close down completely till 1 June.
Are there any possibilities to get any payment from the agency or the company during this time?
Thank you
Attila
he 13 week period just need this week. The company said
Hello Attila,
I am sorry to hear about your situation. You can be furloughed no matter what type of contract you have, even if working for an agency, as long as you are on PAYE, however it is up to your employer whether or not to put you on furlough. If they will not furlough you, and they are no longer giving you work and as a result you are not getting any (or low) income, you could otherwise apply for Universal Credit, council tax support and other benefits. You can use our calculator here to see your eligibility (enter your income as 0 or what it would be if they reduce your hours).
Link: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Hope this helps and best of luck.
Hi,
I am an hourly paid tutor and the institution where I teach closed on 19 Marcj and cancelled all short courses until the end of June so far. Im on PAYE and I received my last salary at the end of April but this was for teaching carried out in March before 19 March. I told my employer that they should place me on furlough many times and they said they are still working on it. If they manage to put me on furlough would I be entitled to receive furlough payment from 1 April since my April salary was for work carried out in March? Also, if they continue doing nothing about it will I be able to claim JSA and backdate it to 1 May since it was my employer who didn’t act promptly and didn’t decide whether to furlouh me or not?
Many thanks for your help.
Tony
Hello Tony,
This may be a useful resource to see how your employer will calculate your furlough pay (use the link to the calculator on this page): https://www.gov.uk/guidance/work-out-80-of-your-employees-wages-to-claim-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
If you are not clear whether your employer will pay you or apply to furlough you, you should consider applying for Universal Credit and council tax support (if eligible) to ensure that you can get the help you need should you find yourself with no income. There is a five week wait for Universal Credit to take into account.
Regarding claiming JSA and backdating it if your employer does not furlough you or pay you, this is a useful resource to consider first: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/jobseekers-allowance-jsa/before-you-claim-jsa/how-to-claim-jsa/ (scroll to ‘backdating JSA if you couldn’t apply earlier’)
Hope this helps.
Hello,
I am a full time student, however I am also registered self employed and have been since 2016. I have submitted a self assessment tax return for 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 – will I be eligible for the self employed grant or will my student status effect this?
I work part time as a self employed administration assistant to support myself through University and have lost all of my income due to the Covid 19 pandemic. My partner, who is also self employed full time and is not a student, received an email shortly after the grant was announced to tell him that he would be eligible and that he would be contacted again in May or June, I however did not receive this email and I’m anxious that my student status jeopardises my eligibility. I will not be able to survive financially without this support.
Many thanks, Sophie
Hi Sophie,
Thanks for getting in touch. Your student status does not negate any eligibility for the Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS), provided that you meet the other criteria, and HMRC should be in touch in the coming weeks. However, you can check your eligibility online here: https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/self-employment-support/enter-unique-taxpayer-reference. This first contact from HMRC will involve directing you/your partner to the eligibility checker above, after which – if you are deemed eligible – you will be given a date on which to claim (this will be from the 13 May onwards).
It is concerning that you say your partner received an email shortly after the announcement (SEISS was announced on 26 March). They should be cautious with this because HMRC has warned that contact made before this date is likely to be a scam. Your partner may need to report the email he received as they may have been subject to phishing. More information from the Government about this is available here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme. There is also more detailed information on spotting a scam email here (see section 2) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/genuine-hmrc-contact-and-recognising-phishing-emails/genuine-hmrc-contact-and-recognising-phishing-emails . Importantly, HMRC emails will never:
– notify you of a tax rebate
– offer you a repayment
– ask you to disclose personal information such as your full address, postcode, Unique Taxpayer Reference or details of your bank account
– give a non HMRC personal email address to send a response to
– ask for financial information such as specific figures or tax computations, unless you’ve given us prior consent and you’ve formally accepted the risks
– have attachments, unless you’ve given prior consent and you’ve formally accepted the risks
I hope this helps and best wishes.
I am a supply teacher who is employed by an umbrella company. 5 weeks into lockdown I and other employees of the company have received no furlough payments because the company is concerned about holiday pay. I have been told they can claim a grant to cover 80% of our pay including our holiday pay, but they are saying that they have to top up the holiday payments to 100% out of their own pockets. They say that they cannot afford this and that until it is sorted, they cannot furlough us. Is this true and if so, is there any chance of this wrinkle being ironed out soon so we can get paid?
Hi Linda,
The key thing to note is that the decision to furlough is one that is taken by the employer – the employee receives the furlough payment but the employer applies for a grant to ensure that 80% of wages can be covered for selected and eligible workers. Employers can top this up, say to 100%, themselves.
Taking holiday during furlough complicates this because employers need to provide 100% paid leave for 28 days for most workers (including bank holidays), and this means that if you go on leave during furlough the employer will need to pay you 100% of your wages. This would mean that the employer would have to cover part of your wages without the Government grant. And this is a disincentive for some employers to consider furlough. We are not aware of any intention from the Government to change this (for instance a waiver on the rule on holiday pay).
Strictly speaking it is not fully accurate for the employer to say they cannot furlough you (from an eligibility perspective), since they are still permitted to top up wages. However from a practical viewpoint they may not consider this to be viable.
You should however take this up with your employer to try and come to an arrangement. You could agree, for instance, to not take any holiday while on furlough, and this would prevent your employer from having to top up the 80% wage.
I hope this helps and best wishes.
I’m unable to go to work because I have to stay home and care for my children, but my employer won’t furlough me and says only that I can take unpaid leave. Will I be able to claim Universal Credit while on unpaid leave? I have no other income and rent to pay.
Thanks
Hi Dee,
Thank you for getting in touch. Your situation doesn’t stop you from being able to apply for or claim Universal Credit, but it will have bearing on what is expected of you once you start to receive Universal Credit payments in terms of fulfilling ‘work-related requirements’.
‘Work related requirements’ is the phrase used describe the actions that you will be expected to take in order to find (or improve) your employment situation. It will be a good idea to discuss with you Work Coach (assigned to you once you apply for Universal Credit) how your caring responsibilities mean you are unable to continue to work. What this means for your work related requirements depends on the age of your children: the guidance on the topic indicates that under normal circumstances, those caring for children below the age of 13 would be expected to work 25 hours per week. Similarly if the children are aged 3-4, this would typically be 16 hours. If any child is below 1 you will not be expected to engage in any work or work-related activity.
Your work coach might mention that part of Universal Credit can cover the costs of childcare (up to a maximum of 85%) so you might want to check whether there are open and viable (i.e. affordable) options for you and make a note of (if) this is not possible.
Depending on these factors it might be expected of you that you consider taking on a different job, or take steps towards this, but there is some discretion involved with this and advisors are urged to make such decisions on a case by case basis.
Best of luck and kind regards.
Hi Dee,
I just wanted to add to my previous message a note in relation to temporary measures related to work-related requirements: for 3 months from 30 March 2020, work-related requirements have been eased due to the outbreak of COVID-19. This means that there should not be a work search requirement imposed about you over this period and that you won’t be expected to search or take up paid work during this time. Of course this will only apply for 3 months (it may be extended but we are not aware of this intention).
Best wishes.
Hi,
Looking for advice for my elderly father.
He works on a zero hours contract, (but usually does around 15 hours a week) and has been told to self isolate by NHS due to severe COPD.
He gets his pension, but is struggling with paying the rent and bills etc.
Would he be entitled to any help?
Hi V,
Thanks for getting in touch. As his income has reduced, it is possible that he will be eligible for Pension Credit along with other benefits such as Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support. If you would like some detailed information about Pension Credit, Age UK have a good explanation: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/pension-credit/
I would suggest filling out our calculator on your father’s behalf. This will give the best indication of what he is eligible for and how much he should be able to receive.
All the best.
If you are on an unpaid sabatical from work are you able to claim Universal Credit or any other benefits? The reason for the sabatical would be to avoid redundancy. ie keep your job and go on unpaid sabatical, or be made redundant.
Hi there,
Yes, you will be eligible for Universal Credit if your savings are below £16,000. Universal Credit is both an in and out of work benefit so will continue to cover you should your income drop.
I would check with your employer regarding the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. If eligible, the Government will cover 80% of your normal wage so it may be possible that you do not need to take an unpaid sabbatical. There is more information about the scheme at the top of this page.
All the best.
Hi,
I made redundant Feb 2020 , I’m not not able to apply for for the Universal credit as have 16,000 pounds in saving. My savings will run out in few months due to mortgage payments and to cover family expenses. Due the to covid-19 situation, I’m not able to find new job as companies are not initiating new projects (I was working in IT sector) or hiring new people. What kind of help will be available for the people in my situation? Any changes made in universal credit eligibility criteria to help with people in my situation? also, if I cannot find a job in few month time am I able to apply for universal credit by back dating to 1st March 2020? Appreciate your advise /
Thanks.
Hi there,
Unfortunately, as you mentioned you will not be eligible for Universal Credit until your savings fall below £16,000. There have not been any changes to the eligibility criteria for Universal Credit so until your savings fall below the threshold it is unlikely you will be able to claim. If this does happen you won’t be able to backdate to March. There are cases when backdating by a month is allowed but this is generally to do with illness so again it is unlikely that you will be able to backdate your claim.
In the meantime you should be eligible for a mortgage holiday from your bank if you are struggling to pay. You will need to get in contact with your lender for this. Which have a good explanation of what a mortgage holiday is: https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/04/coronavirus-how-to-apply-for-a-three-month-mortgage-payment-holiday/
I hope this helps and all the best.
Hi my husbands company has furloughed their staff, today they have decided to open his depo but only with 3 staff members. They have told the staff that this is completely on voluntary basis, this would mean that the staff who volunteered to go back got full pay plus an extra £10 bonus per day, whilst the remainder with continue you get their furlough pay. He was told by his boss that because 3 people did not volunteer he was being chosen to go back, he refused due to me having an auto-immune disease and lung disease, his manager told him that if he didn’t then everyone would lose their furlough pay and they would have to claim for statutory sick pay.
He is not volunteering he being forced to go back even though non of the other members of staff where told that. Is this blackmail and harassment by his boss legal??
Hi Sara,
Thank you for getting in touch. This sounds more like an employment rights question than one of benefits, for that reason it may be best to get in touch with ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) who can support you if you believe your husband is being treated unfairly. They have a fairly useful help page about not working due to shielding: https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus/vulnerable-people-and-high-risk.
I hope this helps and all the best.
Hi,very sorry to trouble you,i did send a question before but i dont know if you received it or not, My wife receives WTA, recently every year its been going down in the total, this year from the begining of April its gone down by £5.61 pm,But because of Covid19 as we know the Gov has increased all benefits go up by £20pw , my wife gets paid every 4wks and she has just received the next payment this morning and its the new amount inc the minus £5.61 ,but then they haven’t increased the amount of an extra £20pw that we were told that everyone who’s on benefits will get,my wife has claimed WTA for many yrs and there hasnt been any change re job/hrs because of covid19 as she’s a Key worker ,could you plesse advise us re this, many thanks, PS please stsy safe and well 🙂
Hi Gary,
Thanks for getting in touch, I hope you and your wife are well too. We have heard reports that some people are not yet seeing the rise in working tax credits yet. This may be because the payment covers a period prior to the rise on April 6, but if the payment is for a period after April 6, we recommend contacting HMRC to understand why your payment has gone down rather than up. You can also use the government’s tax credit calculator to see what amount you should expect: https://www.gov.uk/tax-credits-calculator
Best wishes
hello we have recently bought a house on mortgage due to move in a couple of months still needs renovation doing i.e painting flooring kitchen the wholelot my buildrrs still need paying im not workin due to my work being closed my partner not workin due to sickpay is there anychance I could apply to help me financially .I work partime through public sector .
Hi Sara,
You might be eligible for Universal Credit or other benefits. You can use our calculator to see what you might get: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
It’s worth bearing in mind that your new house may count as savings because you do not yet live in it, which might mean you were not eligible for some benefits such as Universal Credit. However, the value of a new home which you intend to live in can be disregarded for 26 weeks after you bought it. It can also be disregarded for 26 weeks when carrying out essential repairs or alterations in order to make the premises fit for occupation. You can read more about how savings impact benefits here: https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/how-do-savings-and-lump-sum-pay-outs-affect-benefits
It might also be that either you or your partner could be eligible to be furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (you can read more about this above). If you’ve not already done so, it could be worth talking to your employers to see if this might be possible.
You might also be eligible for a mortgage holiday – you can read more about how to apply for one here: https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/04/coronavirus-how-to-apply-for-a-three-month-mortgage-payment-holiday/
Best wishes.
Hello,my name is Karen,i have been told to shield as i am classed as vulnerable,my employer said i am only entitled to ssp,is this correct?i have asked about being furloughed but they insist ssp is what theyre paying me.
Hi Karen,
You could be eligible to be furloughed, but the decision on whether to furlough you will be up to your employer. As it sounds like they are not sure if you are eligible, you could point them to this advice from the government, which states that “Employers are also entitled to furlough employees who are being shielded”. You can find that advice under the heading “If your employee is self-isolating or on sick leave” here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Your employer will have to choose between giving you SSP or furloughing you (subject to the other eligibility criteria, which you can see above), but it’s likely that being furloughed would be better for you, so they may be willing to if you show them that you are eligible.
While you are receiving less income, you may also be eligible for Universal Credit – you can use our benefits calculator to see how much you might get: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free There’s a section where you can input SSP under “Other income”.
Best wishes.
Hello, I recently became unemployed in December and was current,y looking for work before the lockdown. I applied for new style jsa but due to not paying enough national insurance credits while being at uni in 2018 I was unable to receive payments. My partner works full time as a skilled engineer and due to his wages I’m not entitled to UC. Is there anything I can get to support myself as my partner is paying for all bills and he also has debts which eats up a lot of his money so we are struggling as I am trying to find work even in this time but it is very hard. Thank you.
Hi Rebecca,
I’m really sorry to hear about your situation – you seem to have fallen through the net. Unfortunately you are not eligible for the main sources of support. I’d recommend checking if you’re eligible for council tax support – this will vary depending on your local council.
I would also recommend checking if you qualify for any grants- this Turn2us tool may be able to help: https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/
Finally, I’d recommend looking at the advice at the top of this page about help with paying for your rent or mortgage and advice around debt.
All the best.
Hi,
I have been placed on furlough and on my pay date (25th April) I didn’t receive all of my 80%, I only received about 40% of my wage. The company hasn’t contacted me we’ve had to get in contact ourselves and they said they would pay the rest by the end of today (29th April), but it’s not fair as people have bills to pay and the stress of not knowing when we will received our pay is horrible. Is there anything I can do about this, do I have any rights in regards to not being paid correctly or on time.
Hi Jessamyn,
Sorry to hear about your situation. Your employer should be paying you 80% of your wages soon after they received this grant from the government (on 20th April). If they have still not paid you or confirmed when you will receive the money, I’d recommend contacting employment rights specialists ACAS – https://www.acas.org.uk/advice
All the best.
For the past three tax years I was on both PAYE and self-employment but the self-employment income was less than 50% of total income in all those three years. My PAYE job finished in October 2018 and I have been self-employed since then until my freelance contract terminated early on 9 April 2020 due to Coronavirus. Am I entitled to the 80% self-employment income support?
Hi Patricia,
Unfortunately it’s unlikely you’ll qualify if your self-employed income was less than half of your total taxable income in the tax year 2018/19 (or on average in the three years 2016 – 2019). HMRC has launched a tool to check if you are eligible – you can use this to confirm your situation. The tool is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme
All the best.
Hi. I Am self employed and have a small business with 2 f/ time and 1 p/time employees . They have been furloughed. I was hoping to cain some money through the 80% taxable grant. Problem is due to expansion and investment in my business my returns for 16-17,17-18 show a loss. 18-19 I returned to profit of nett £27 k. Will I receive anything from the scheme. Further more I am 60 years old and have had sarcoidosis & am shielding and not expecting to be able to return to work in the near future if ever. I am now facing redundancy payments which I cannot afford unless I return to work. Is there any help from the government.
Many thanks. Please reply.
Hi Paul,
Unfortunately if you’ve been trading since 2016, your support will be based on an average between 2016-19. In your case, these losses will be taken into account. You can see worked examples from HMRC here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-hmrc-works-out-total-income-and-trading-profits-for-the-self-employment-income-support-scheme#threeyears and use their eligibility checking tool here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme
If you are shielding and have been told to stay at home for at least 12 weeks by the NHS, you may be eligible for New Style ESA. This is a benefit based on national insurance contributions, so doesnt depend on your income or savings. You can find more info here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance
Finally, I’d recommend using our online benefit calculator (linked above) to see if you qualify for any other support.
All the best.
Hello
In a situation where husband and wife are both self employed and cannot conduct their businesses due to Covid-19, are they eligible to apply for the ‘New Style’ JSA?
They do not qualify for Universal Credit.
Both qualify to claim Carer’s allowance, but haven’t in the past due to their level of earnings.
They are currently home schooling 3 children, one of whom is in receipt of DLA.
They will qualify for the Self Employment Income Support Scheme, so need to be careful not make any benefit claims that might affect that.
Thank you for your guidance, the Government website is unclear on the subject of the self employed and the New Style JSA
Hi Pat,
Unfortunately they cannot apply for new style JSA – this is only available to employees who have paid Class 1 National Insurance contributions.
I’d recommend filling out our online benefit calculator (https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free) to see exactly what they’re eligible for. If they are eligible for carers allowance now they have lower earnings, they can apply here https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance
All the best.
Hi I have been shielding from end of march (12 weeks due to poor immune system) and I work at a Gp practice as a receptionist and my employer is saying the cannot furlough me as they are publicly funded. I have read that if wages are fully funded they should “continue to pay staff in the usual fashion” but what does this mean? They have put me on sick pay. My contract says I’m entitled to 1 month full pay and 1 month half pay (which is less than SSP) and I had 2 days sick paid in the last 12 months so that also comes out of my allowance. After which I will be placed on SSP. Is the right?
Hi Nicola,
As SSP has been extended to those who are shielding, you may be able to receive this for the duration of your time shielding, after your full payment. This is something to discuss with your employer, as the extension was only announced over the past week and it may not be applicable to your contract.
Best wishes.
Hey, what happens if you work in a mixed NHS & Private dental practice and have been furloughed? How do we claim please?
Hello,
If your employer has put you on furlough, it is up to your employer to claim the government grant and you should be paid by your employer as normal, getting up to 80% of your salary. If you have not been notified of the details of your furlough, you should refer to your employer to find out what to expect. You can see if you are also eligible for council tax support or other support due to having a lower income by entering the amount you will be paid while on furlough into our calculator. Link: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Hope this helps.
Hi,
I am applying for UC due to being out of work at this time and I have to complete a joint application with my partner due to us living together. With my partner’s normal salary I would not be eligible for UC however he is currently furloughed due to covid so is not receiving any pay at this time and is yet to receive the 80% furlough payment. The form asks how many hours a week he currently works and what his normal salary is, as he is currently furloughed should we put that he currently works 0 hours and earns £0 per month or should we put his normal hours and salary when not furloughed? I am worried that putting his usual salary and working hours, which he is not getting at the moment, will mean the application is rejected.
I hope you can help and thanks!
Hello Liz,
I am sorry about your situation. If your partner is not getting paid at the moment, when you fill out your application for Universal Credit you can list his normal working hours but 0 salary. The income that Universal Credit generally takes into account is all income from five weeks on from the date you apply.
Hope this helps.
Miss p I have stopped self employment from beginning of march doing permitted work, for the last 2 yrs and claimed 2 tax returns in the last 2 years, wil I be entitled to the 50% grant bnow extended to 50%of all income including benefits.. Please advice
ss
Hello,
I believe you are referring to the self employment support scheme – however it is not a 50% grant, if you are eligible you would receive up to 80% of your previous income. From the information you have given me, it sounds like you are most likely eligible. You can find the full details of this scheme on this page under the ‘If you are self-employed’ tab and on the Government, website as well here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme
Hope this helps.
Hi, I’ve recently started a new job within the last 3 months and I’m wondering if I’m entitled to being furloughed? My partner is a key worker on night shifts and is in high demand during these times, she sleeps during the day which leaves me having to stay home and care for young child. The company is still in business and other employees are continuing to work even though it is, to my knowledge not classed as ‘essential’. Also it is not possible to work from home. Does my employer have to place me on furlough? My worry is if they don’t have to so chose not to, knowing I’m unable to work, I will struggle financially
Hi Anthony,
Unfortunately, the decision on whether to place you on furlough will be up to your employer. It might be worth explaining your situation to your employer and letting them know if you think you are eligible to be furloughed. All of the costs should be covered by the government’s grant so they shouldn’t lose out from furloughing you, and you would of course be more likely to continue working there after the pandemic if they furloughed you now, so it might be in their interests to furlough you.
Whether you are eligible will depend on when you started working. You need to have been employed on 19 March 2020 and also on their PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020 (you’d usually be added around a week before your first payment if you are paid monthly). Because you have caring responsibilities resulting from COVID-19 you are eligible to be furloughed if you meet the other criteria. You can check the full criteria above and in more depth here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme If you think you meet all the relevant criteria, it may be worth sharing this with your employer.
In the meantime, I would recommend using our benefits calculator to see what support you might be eligible for: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free If you are eligible for Universal Credit, we’d recommend applying ASAP as this will mean your first payment will arrive sooner (5 weeks from the date you claim).
Best wishes.
I’m a seasonal worker in the UK, i usually work March – August with a single employer then go away travelling for the rest of the year.
My Furlough pay has been calculated by avaraging my income over the last 12 months, the issue is i’m only working 6 months of the year, so when my pay is avaraged over 12 months the avarage is left very low, especially after an extra 20% is removed.
Is there any way my avarage pay can be calculated from only the months i was employed and in the UK?
My employer is happy to do this IF the Government mentions that its a possible avanue for us to take.
They said they will keep their eye out for any new infomation on my suituation but if i do find something to send it their way.
Let me know if you know anything, stay safe!
Hi Bob,
You can direct your employer to this government page which explains various different ways the pay can be calculated: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/work-out-80-of-your-employees-wages-to-claim-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#work-out-80-of-your-employees-usual-wage
One scenario which seems like it might work better for your situation would be the option to claim for 80% of the same month’s wages from the previous year (up to a maximum of £2,500 a month). Without knowing the full details of your case it’s hard to say precisely which scenario might work best, but hopefully there’s now enough information there for you to recommend an option for your employer – I hope that helps.
Best wishes.
Hi am I entitled to 80% of my wages if my employer doesn’t have me on his books or sick pay ?
Hi Carol,
Without knowing the full details of your situation or why you are not on your employer’s books, it’s difficult to know what your rights are, I’d recommend getting in touch with ACAS to ensure you are getting all your rights at work: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact I’d also recommend reading the advice here if you think your employer might not be paying Income Tax or National Insurance: https://www.gov.uk/report-cash-in-hand-pay
More generally, to be eligible to be furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme you will need to have been on your employer’s PAYE system on or before 19 March 2020. If you are classed as an employee you should be eligible for SSP, if you also earn enough and have been ill, self-isolating or ‘shielding’ for at least 4 days in a row (including non-working days): https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay/eligibility You can read about who is classed as an employee here – unless you are self-employed, you are most likely an employee: https://www.gov.uk/employment-status/employee
Best wishes.
Can I claim uc whilst receiving weekly furlough payments will this effect any wages or any repercussions for my employer who are applying for the jrs
Hi David,
Yes, the two can be claimed together. The two claims will be totally separate – one claimed by your employer and the other claimed by you. All you need to do is report your income when you apply for Universal Credit. If the furlough pay is your only source of income, you can just report that (80% of your usual wages) as your income and it will be topped up with Universal Credit – you can use our calculator to calculate how much you might be eligible for http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Your employer should not take any other sources of income (such as Universal Credit) into account when applying for the job retention scheme – it is solely based on how much they pay you.
Best wishes.
Hi im currently receiving furlough payments weekly could I apply for universal credit whilst on the jrs or will benefits effect my employer being able to claim back wages
Hi Sophia,
Claiming Universal Credit will not affect your employer’s ability to put you on furlough. You will, however, need to let your work coach know of this change as your Universal Credit will likely be increased because of this.
Best wishes.
I was hired by a charity to do support work for the elderly in February and I began training but had not begun a first shift before the coronavirus hit. My contract is casual and where I have not began my work I have no previous hours behind me and so am not sure what, if anything, I could be entitled to. My employer has told me that the support workers cannot work unless providing emergency help (a category which I do not fall under) and are not entitled to pay. Please help.
Hi Chloe,
Eligibility for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is at your employer’s discretion, provided that you meet the criteria of having been a PAYE employee with them on 19th of March. You should speak to your employer about this.
When it comes to benefits, eligibility for the main benefit Universal Credit, this is not conditional on your work history. It is only certain contributory benefits (which run alongside Universal Credit) that depend on your work history. To see what help you might be able to get through benefits, the best thing to do would be to complete our online calculator (you want to choose the option for ‘Universal Credit’ (unless you are in receipt of a Severe Disability Premium)).
I hope this helps and best wishes.
Hi there,
I have quite important question, not asked yet, I think:
I’m gladly receiving 80% furlough pay from my employment, but I am self-employed as well. As a self-employed I’ve started selling my products recently (about a week ago) – small profit but it is something.
I was employed and self-employed and I was getting my needed salary from both sources.
Is it fine to continue getting 80% furlough pay from employment and getting small profit from self-employment? (profit around £1000)
Money from both sources are crucial for my business survival, rent, loan etc.
Please help.
Thank you!!!
Hi Alex,
Thank you for your question. There is nothing in the regulations relating to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme that says you cannot undertake other forms of work. However of course, your other employment will need to be permitted by your current employer (i.e. the employer that has placed you on furlough).
Hope this helps and best wishes.
Hi
I have worked as a school exam inivgilator for the last 15 years. It is a major part of my income. Obviously all exams have been cancelled. Can i claim
Hi Nicola,
Were you on a PAYE payroll? If so, your employer may be able to place you on furlough and pay 80% (or more) of your normal wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. I’d recommend asking your employer about this. You can find more information here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
If this is not possible, you may be eligible for benefits. If you’re now out of work, but have been working and paying National Insurance for the last 2-3 years, you may be eligible for New Style JSA. The rules are complex, but if you’re worked and paid National Insurance for 26 weeks in either of the last 2 financial years, you should qualify. More info can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-jsa
Finally, depending on your household income and savings, you may qualify for Universal Credit. You can use our online benefit calculator (linked above) to check if you’re eligible.
All the best.
Hi
I work 32 weeks a year. But am paid my wages over 52 weeks. I work at a university. I was due to be off 27 March to 20april which my wages cover. But my company furloughed me on 1 April. Are they allowed to do this, as I have already had my wages reduced while I am in to cover me for my time off. But yet they are claiming this off the goverment.
Hi Jack,
Before your employer can place you on furlough, they should contact you and confirm it with you in writing. If they have not done so, I’d recommend getting in touch with them to ask for clarification.
If they do place you on furlough, they will receive money from the government to cover 80% of your normal monthly wage, up to £2500/month. You can find more information about how the furlough scheme works here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
All the best.
I’ve been on ssp for approximately 2 months and now they decided to furlong me due to shielding ,is it back dated or from now and how will this affect my mortgage protection as they were paying mortgage.
Hi Jo,
You must stop receiving SSP before you receive the furlough support, so I think the furlough is likely to start now rather than be backdated.
The government also announced measures to provide mortgage owners with a three-month holiday from payments, so I would recommend speaking with your provider about this option if you are concerned about your mortgage payments.
Best wishes.
I retired from working full time in nhs (admin) in September 2019 (after 39 years) and returned in November 2019 on a zero hours contract. I have been working continuously (I pay national insurance also) since beginning of November 2019 for 12 hours per week until 30th March 2020 which was the day I received my government letter asking me to shield for 12 weeks as I am immunosuppressed. Terms and conditions in my health trust have told my manager I will not be eligible for SSP or any other payment whilst I am off. I would earn over the threshold of £118 per week in relation to SSP. health trust are not furloughing any staff. Can you offer any advice. Kind regards. Jane
Hi Jane,
I would recommend clarifying with your employer why they do not think you are eligible for SSP. From the information you’ve shared, it sounds like you would be eligible – the key criteria would be that you are classed as an employee, earn over £120 per week on average and have been shielding for at least 4 days in a row. It is worth bearing in mind that the government’s advice now says those shielding could start getting SSP from 16 April 2020, so it may be that your first few weeks of shielding would fall outside that: https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay/what-youll-get
The government’s advice if you do not think you are getting the right amount of SSP is to first talk to your employer, and then if you’re still not happy, to call the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) enquiry line: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/national-insurance-enquiries-for-employees-and-individuals
I would also suggest getting in touch with employments rights specialists ACAS as they may be able to give you more detailed advice on your rights: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
While you are not receiving sick pay, I would recommend making sure you are getting all the benefits, such as pension credit or attendance allowance, you might be eligible for. You can use our calculator to see what you might be eligible for: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
I hope that helps – let us know if there is anything else we can help with.
Best wishes
Hi
I am a self employed taxi driver an my work an earnings have been massively affected by this … I know I have to wait for HMRC to get in touch etc my question is
If I take up a full time empolyed role with a company will this affect my grant money I would receive from the government???
Hi Peter,
Yes, you can take on extra work elsewhere while you wait for the self-employed grant. You must have filed a tax return for 2018-19 to be eligible for the self-employed income support, however. More details are available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme
I hope this helps!
Best wishes.
Hi there, I hope you can help me, I’m looking for information on my difficult, complicated situation,
I was previously employed for 7 years as a Dental Hygienist and Therapist working in a mixed dental practice carrying out treatment on the NHS and privately. However on December 12th 2019 the practice was taking over as my employer had sold the practice to another practitioner.
The new owner explained to me that she could not afford to keep me on as an employee and that I would need to go self employed to keep my job.
Unfortunately I was now only seeing private patients since January this year in the practice, my diary wasn’t getting booked up for one of my days, therefore I applied for another job for this day, I got the job to work one day a week in another practice. I was supposed to start work at my new job on the 20th of March 2020. This didn’t happen as all non emergency dental treatment and any aerosol was revoked due to Covod-19 outbreak.
Me and my partner had planned to travel and take a 6 week trip to America Las vegas to elope and get married the end of April 20, My new employer agreed to let me take this time off as it was already planned with my previous employer.
However when I informed her that I had taken another job for one day due to my bookings being low at my current practice. I was told me she could not keep my Job open for me on my return from American. Even though it was her Idea for me to look for something else on that day!
My issue is I have effectively only been self employed for 2 months so I have not completed a tax return, when I have tried to see if I am entitled to any benefits It says that I am not on the benefit calculator. I can not get through to HMRC on the phones.
Obviously because of Covid – 19 I can not work because of the nature of my job being in dentistry.
I have some savings and my partner still has a job thankfully, however once my mortgage holiday ends we are going to be in difficulty.
I know many people out there have fallen into this category.
TIA
Kindest regards
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
Really sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately you have fallen through a gap in the provisions since as you have only been self-employed for 2 months, you do not qualify for the self-employment support scheme.
However, you are likely to qualify for New Style JSA. This is a benefit for people who have been working and paying National Insurance for some of the last 2-3 years – it sounds like this is the case for you. You can qualify for this even if you have savings. You can find the exact eligibility criteria, and a link to apply, here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance
You may also qualify for Universal Credit, though this will depend on your and your partner’s income and savings. You can use our benefits calculator (linked above) to find out if you’re eligible.
I wish you all the best.
I am currently furloughed through my employment. I am also self employment and within the limits to receive SEISS. Can I receive both?
Hi Simon,
So long as you meet the criteria that 50% or more of your income is made through self-employment and that you filed a tax return for the year 2018/19, you will be invited to apply for the self-employed income support by HMRC. You can be furloughed for more than one job, which extends to self-employment and PAYE employment.
Best wishes.
Hi there, My employer has said that the furlough maximum payment is £500 per week.From this my income tax and national insurance and pension is deducted.He arrives at this figure by saying the maximum
monthly cap of £2500 is then multiplied by 80% which gives the figure of £2000 which divided by the 4 weeks gives a sum of £500 per week.I say he’s wrong as it is £2500 gross which is the figure and dividing that by 4 is £625. Whose is right?
Hi Peter,
£2,500 per month is the maximum gross figure. You do not need to apply a further 80% deduction if this is 80% of your normal monthly salary (or lower).
Best wishes.
I am self employed but also have a small PAYE contract that i work on. I have been told on PAYE i will be furloughed and I am not sure if I should just be claiming the self employed element as this is the bulk of my work and if being furloughed will affect this.
Hi Tracy,
So long as you meet the criteria that 50% or more of your income is made through self-employment and that you filed a tax return for the year 2018/19, you will be invited to apply for the self-employed income support by HMRC. You can be furloughed for more than one job, which extends to self-employment and PAYE employment.
Best wishes.
Hi iam a dental nurse my employers are asking me to sign a new contract stating I may have to go to work in Hospitals I live in Letchworth and will have to travel to London I’m my own bread winner have no husband and don’t drive they are a private run dental surgery and said they won’t pay my wages if I don’t do this the practice was taken over by new owners 2 years ago where do I stand on this I’ve worked there 15 years
Hi Jackie,
I’m very sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s anything in any of the new COVID-19 measures that would prevent your employer from doing this. If you do find yourself out of work as a result of this action by your employer, you may be able to claim contributory Job Seekers Allowance if you have made sufficient National Insurance contributions over the past 2 years. You may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if you have less than £16,000 in earnings. Also if you are renting, your local council may be able to provide you with a Discretionary Housing Payment to help cover your rent costs. We have information about these forms of support on our Covid-19 FAQ page here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/.
I’m sorry that we cannot be of more help in the immediate situation with your employer. If there are any other questions you have that we might be able to help with please do let us know.
Can i claim loss of wages i went travelling and was on unpaid leave was due to stat work again on 30 th March but unfortunately got stuck in India and had to wait for a repatriation flight returned home on then doing 14 day self isolation so have lost 4 or 5 weeks wages
Hi Deborah,
You may be able to claim Statutory Sick Pay for the period in which you were self-isolating. You are eligible for SSP if you are earning more than £118/week, and it is paid by your employer at the statutory level of £94.25/week (though some employers choose to pay more).
As for the remaining lost wages due to waiting for a flight, I’m afraid I don’t think there is anything in the set of COVID-19 measures that would cover earnings lost in this way. If you are having financial difficulty as a result, you may be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax support if you have less than £16,000 in savings. If you are renting and having difficulty covering rent costs, you can also contact your local council about the possibility of receiving a Discretionary Housing Payment to help with this. We have some information on these types of support on our COVID-19 FAQ page here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/.
I hope this helps, and am sorry I cannot offer more direct suggestions regarding your earnings lost due to flight delays. Please do let us know if you have any further questions we can help with.
Hello
I’ve been an agency care worker for the last 4 months and have had regular work
(3/4 shifts) a week. I have no work this week and am worried this will continue as Corona sadly hits Care homes.
Am I entitled to any financial help from the Govt if I have weeks of no work?
Thank you.
Hello Fiona,
Thank you for your important work in our care homes. I am sorry to hear that you are having your hours cut back. If your employer does not want to furlough you (this would mean you cannot work for a minimum of three weeks while on furlough) you can try to see what benefits you may be eligible for while your income fluctuates. You can enter your new income or anticipated income into our calculator (https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free) to see if you can get a reprieve on your Council Tax or Universal Credit.
Hope this helps.
I submitted the tax year 2018 2019 as self employed . I started as self empoued in december 2018.
Is it going to devide for 12 or for 4 as i worked that tax year 4 monthes
Hello James,
I’m very sorry about the unfortunate timing of you starting your business. If you have not submitted Self Assessment tax returns for all 3 years, the 80% of your average trading profit will be based on the tax year 2018 to 2019 only, and divided by 12 despite you starting in December.
You may need to see what other support you can get, such as Council Tax Support and Universal Credit, due to the large drop in your income. You can use our free Benefits and Budgeting Calculator (LINK) to do so. If you are eligible for help we advise applying as soon as possible.
Hope this helps.
Hi,
Can you apply for job seekers allowance if you are being furloughed?
Thanks
Hi Jess,
You cannot receive JSA while furloughed, as you are technically employed. You could, however, claim Universal Credit if your furlough payments are low enough and your savings (combined with the savings of your partner) are below £16,000. You may also be eligible for Council Tax Reduction if you are eligible for UC. You can test your eligibility across all benefits by using our benefit and budgeting calculator: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
I hope this helps!
Best wishes
I worked for a charity who receives funds for staffing from public money. I left the role on 14th if March to start a new job that has fallen through. The charity are wary of being accused of fraud if the re employ me and furlough.
Hi Adam,
There’s a section on the government’s website which now directly addresses these circumstances, so I’d recommend directing your employer to this for reassurance. If you look under the section “If you made employees redundant or they stopped working for you after 28 February” on this page you can see their advice: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
As you stopped working for them after 28 February, if they re-employ you you should fall into this category, assuming you also meet the other main criteria.
Best wishes.
I work as a exam invigilator and my college is unable to furlough me as my role does not meet the DfE furlough rules i.e exam work is publicly funded. I do not qualify for other benefits. Should the college still pay me for work agreed out of their budget as they have already received this funding? Do I have any legal rights?
Hi Debra,
I’m not sure of the precise circumstances of your college, but I’d recommend reading through this to see what it says in regard to your situation: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care It looks like in many cases, the recommendation is that they “expect schools to ensure any employees funded by public money continue to be paid in the usual fashion from their existing staff budgets, and correspondingly not furloughed, in line with the HM Revenue and Customs guidance for public sector organisations.” I’d recommend discussing this with your employer – it sounds like they are right to not furlough you, but the expectation from government may be that they would continue employing you instead. I’m not certain of what your rights will be without knowing more about the situation and your contract, but it may help to get in touch with employment specialists ACAS as they can give more in depth advice on the specifics of your case: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact.
Best wishes.
Hi. I work for a Local Council as a sports coach, working different hours as the work comes in from schools. We have been told by the council boss that non of the casual staff will be furloughed and they cant even offer another jobs in other departments. My issue is that I was scheduled to do a set amount of work for the next 4 months, paying National Insurance and being on PAYE, so think I should be furloughed. Is this the case or can the Council just lump us all together as some casuals were not working at the time or even scheduled for work? Any advice gratefully received thanks.
Hi Shaun,
It is up to the employer who they apply to place on furlough, so generally they will have the final say on whether you are furloughed or not. As your employer is a council though there is a chance the government’s advice to them might be different – their page for employers status that if “employers receive public funding for staff costs, and that funding is continuing, we expect employers to use that money to continue to pay staff in the usual fashion – and correspondingly not furlough them. This also applies to non-public sector employers who receive public funding for staff costs.” https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme It might therefore be worth raising this with your employer to see how they are taking this advice into account, as though they may not be expected to furlough you, they might still be expected to employ you. There is also a whole page here about specific advice for certain circumstances of those working in education, some of which might apply to your situation: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care#sector-specific-guidance Again it may be worth discussing any of this with your employer, though the decision on furloughing is likely to be up to them in the end.
It is also worth bearing in mind that to be furloughed you would need to have been on their PAYE payroll before 19 March 2020, so your eligibility would depend on whether your contracted work over the next 4 months was a continuation of ongoing work (so you would already be on their PAYE system), or new work.
While your income is lower you might also be eligible for some benefits, so I’d recommend using our calculator to see what you might be eligible for: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
I hope that all helps, do get in touch if you have any more questions.
Best wishes.
Sorry for the delay. Thank you for the reply and advice.
Shaun
Hi I’m on weekly pay and haven’t been paid for 4 weeks. When I recieve the 80% do I have to wait another month to get paid again or will I get paid weekly? I’ve had to borrow left right and centre and will have to pay bills once I recieve payment. Don’t want to go another month borrowing off family. Surely I should be getting paid weekly as I’ve always been. Really hard times. Thanx!
Hi Gillan,
This decision rests with your employer – I’d recommend getting in touch with them to ask about how they plan to pay you the furlough money. They should confirm the details of the furlough scheme with you in writing.
In the meantime, you may be eligible for Universal Credit, depending on your income and savings. You can use our online benefit calculator (linked above) to check your eligibility.
Best wishes.
Hi,
I am 68 years old Norwegian citizen and I have been in the UK for a bit over 2 years. I started a part-time job in January but I left work in late March to self-isolation due to my vulnerability to COVID-19 and I dont have an income now. Will I be eligible to Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme? if so, how can I apply? Will the money come directly to me or does it have to go to my ex-employer? Also will I be eligible for pension even when I have only worked 2 month?
I don’t have much expenses as I live with my son, who pays everything.
Hi Karim,
As long as you were on your employer’s payroll on 19 March 2020 and were paid through PAYE, you may be eligible. However, you would need to discuss this with your old employer and ask for them to put you back on their books. We’d recommend that you write to your employer asking them to rehire you. Explain that the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme says if they rehire you, they can treat you as a ‘furloughed worker’ and claim money to pay you. The scheme works through your employer – they would apply for the money, then you would receive money from them like when you were in employment.
I hope this helps – all the best.
my question is. I claim income suport on the old system before UC i have not been moved over yet by dwp because iv had no change in circumstance. But i was informed by dwp that us on the old legacy benefits will not recieve the coronvirus payment of the extra £20 pw only people who claim UC old and new claiments will recieve this! How is this even right and will this be revisisted by the goverment? Its utterly disgraceful
Hi Elise,
Yes, currently the £20/week increase is included only within Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit claims. Those claiming the old style housing benefit have benefited from the increased local housing allowance. However, if you are only claiming income support then unfortunately neither measures will benefit you.
It might be worth checking if you would be better off claiming Universal Credit, which you can check on our benefits calculator, here: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
However, do also consider that there is a five-week wait for the initial payment of Universal Credit, during which your income support would not be paid.
I hope this helps! Best wishes.
Hi! I I asked my employer if we are possible to apply for furlough as I can’t do it by my self. And I never know they already applied And waiting for paid. If I didn’t ask them they might not be telling?
Hello Lena,
You are correct that you cannot apply to be furloughed yourself. It is up to your employer to furlough you and to pay you your wages for the period that you were furloughed. However it sounds like your employer has not been paying you and not been clear with you if they have furloughed you or not. You need to check with your employer to see what to expect. In the meantime, you should not wait to apply for Universal Credit and council tax support if you are eligible to be sure that you can get some kind of support if you do not get furloughed and paid by your company. There is a five week wait for Universal Credit payments so you can always cancel your claim if your employer decides to furlough and pay you. You can use this calculator to see what help you may be eligible for.
Hope this helps.
Hi, I’ve recently been put on furlough, and as I understand, I can make a claim for universal credit to help cover the costs. Upon going through the universal credit claim form, however, there is no option to state that I am a furloughed worker. What should I do? Do I put in or out of work, as technically I am employed?
Hi Bex,
Yes, as you say, you should enter that you are employed as the furlough payments will be treated as earnings while you remain technically employed.
Best wishes.
Great, thank you so much! 🙂
Hello, I have the same situation. May I ask also when it asks how many hours do i usually work would this be the 100% figure or 80% (furloughed amount of hours)?
Hi Pandora,
You should enter the 100% figure for hours you usually work. It will just be your income where you have to enter the 80% amount.
Best wishes.
I am in the extremely high risk group and cannot get out. I normally shop and look after my 93 year old mother. I have now had to employ a full time carer for her rather than the care that she had before which was just three hours a day through an agency plus myself. Can she claim anything towards the cost of this?
Hi Carole,
Attendance Allowance is designed to support those over state pension age who require care. You can read more about this support and how to apply here: https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance
Your gran may also be eligible for pension credit, housing benefit and council tax support, depending on her circumstances. It is likely worth checking her eligbility for all benefits on our calculator, using the following link: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
The results page of the calculator will direct you to the relevant application processes, through the ‘click here’ blue buttons.
I hope this helps but do get back in touch with any follow up questions.
Best wishes
I have been an exam invigilator at a local Academy for 2 years now. I was booked in to work from end March through to end of June. With the cancellation of all exams I am told I am no longer needed. Can I be furloughed?
Hi Yvonne,
Unfortunately we’ve not seen specific advice for seasonal workers, but it is likely to depend on your contract. To be eligible for the scheme you need to have been employed by and on your employer’s PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020. So if your contract ended last year, and you then sign a new one each year, which begins after 19 March, it’s likely that unfortunately you wouldn’t be eligible. If however, your contract is rolling and you remained on your employer’s payroll, you might still be eligible.
The decision to apply for furlough is up to your employer, so I would recommend speaking to them to see if they think you will be eligible.
Best wishes.
hi I work 15 hours lunchtime supervisor my school has closed I get child tax my partner is in sick leave due to injury we are struggling to pay mortgage and bills are we entitled to anything .
Hi Sally,
Your employer may be able to furlough you. You can see the full criteria for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme above, but it sounds like it would be worth you discussing with your employer to see if they will place you on furlough.
Beyond that, you might also be eligible for Universal Credit and several other benefits – you can use our calculator to see what you might get: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free You should bear in mind that once you move to Universal Credit you will not be able to move back to claiming child tax credits, so you may want to use our calculator to compare how much you’d get on the legacy system (ie tax credits) and on Universal Credit (the results page will help you make this comparison).
Depending on his national insurance contributions over the past two years, your partner might also be eligible for contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). There are details on this in the calculator, and you can also read more about it above.
I hope that helps – if you have any more questions after using the calculator please do let us know.
Best wishes.
Hello. I was working for 5 months in a temporary job in a business paid via PAYE through a large agency. My contract there finished on 20 March. I’ve signed on for New Style Jobseekers’ Allowance. The agency I worked for is currently looking at whether I could be furloughed and receive the CJRS. If I do eventually get paid the CJRS, I assume that I’ll have to pay back the Jobseekers’ Allowance? Also, I have just been offered a new temporary role starting 29 April working for a different agency, Could I get the CJRS after my new job starts, or would I have to then drop out of receiving the CJRS at that date? Thanks, Dave.
Hi Dave,
You will need to report any change in your circumstances, such as returning to employment, as soon as they happen. You can find details for how to do so here: https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/report-a-change-of-circumstances?step-by-step-nav=e7b3ea75-05d5-4341-b27a-be3b767b1e3f
Currently, because of the pandemic, benefit overpayments do not have to be paid back as the government has paused its efforts to recover them until July 2020 at the earliest. However, depending on whether your furlough pay will be backdated for the period of your employment, it may be that you will eventually need to repay this once the government resumes recovering payments. For more detailed advice on your situation I’d recommend contacting Citizens Advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/
You might still be able to get CJRS after your new job starts – it will depend on your contract with your current employer. If your contract allows you to take on other jobs, there shouldn’t be any conflict with the CJRS scheme. Whether to continue claiming for your CJRS will also be up to your employer (after the minimum 3 weeks, if they have already applied for you to be furloughed), so you may want to consider their likely response too (as well as what your contract states). You can see the “Working for a different employer” section of this page for full details: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Best wishes.
Hi Alannah,
At first stage my company made me redundant, then I applied for Jobseeker’s Allowance. One week later it was reverted and I was placed on furlough.
I totally forgot about my application to the job scheme, and now I just received the first payment. It is legal to keep this 70 pounds a week or I should contact them?
Kind Regards
Hi Luis,
You do need to report any change in your circumstances, such as returning to employment. You can find details for how to do so here: https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/report-a-change-of-circumstances?step-by-step-nav=e7b3ea75-05d5-4341-b27a-be3b767b1e3f
Currently, because of the pandemic, benefit overpayments do not have to be paid back as the government has paused its efforts to recover them until July 2020 at the earliest. However, depending on whether your furlough pay will be backdated for the period of your employment, it is possible you will eventually need to repay this once the government resumes recovering payments. For more detailed advice on your situation I’d recommend contacting Citizens Advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/
With your reduced furlough income you might also be eligible for Universal Credit – you can use our calculator to find out: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
Hi – I am a full time single parent and over the last few years have only brought in income through short term lets of a flat in Scotland as I’ve been busy parenting. I had used it part of the year so had been paying council tax, not business rates – I didn’t even realise until this situation happened I maybe could have been paying business rates and getting rates relief. I’m now in the situation where I have no income from short term lets for the foreseeable future, large expenses to keep pay for the empty property, and don’t seem to be eligible for any help from the government, not even universal credit. I ended up having to restart my self employed work a few years ago after escaping an abusive relationship and totally relied on the small income from the flat. Within a couple of weeks I will have no money to feed my son or pay any bills, in fact will be in growing debt, as I don’t earn huge income anyway from the lets, just enough to get by and raise my son. I really don’t know what to do and would appreciate any advice please.
Hello Tom,
I am very sorry to hear about the difficult situation you find yourself in. Unfortunately, the value of your rental property does count as savings, so you will not be eligible for Universal Credit. As the flat is currently empty, you may be eligible for different rates of Council Tax, so it is worth getting in touch with the local council to explain your situation and seeing what rates you may be eligible for.
You mentioned being self employed at one point, but it is unclear if this is ongoing. If you are self employed but not currently trading due to Coronavirus, you could be eligible for the self-employment support scheme. The details and criteria for eligibility can be found higher on this page.
In order to be eligible for Universal Credit or other support as you are not working, you may need to put your rental flat up for sale to free up your savings. While you are waiting for your property on the market to sell, its value can be disregarded for 26 weeks if you need to apply for Universal Credit in the meantime.
Hope this helps.
i am a sole trader i run my own cleaning business of which i have lossed a great deal of money due to not being able to enter peoples homes ive had countless cancellations aswel my business has been running over 7 years what am i entitled too ?
Hello Dean,
I am sorry to hear your business is struggling. You may be eligible for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. You can find out the full criteria and more details higher on this page under the ‘If you are self-employed’ tab. You must have submitted a self-assessment tax return for the year 2018/19 and have been trading as self employed in the tax year 2019/20. These grants will be available from the beginning of June.
In the meantime, while you wait, if you have less than £16,000 in savings you may be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can use our calculator (LINK) to see what help you may be eligible for. We advise applying as soon as possible as there is a five-week wait for Universal Credit.
I hope you find this helpful.
I am a frontline worker, 3 children and receives tax credits. Due to COVID-19 I need to work extra hours to help care for covid patients. This is due to the volume of patients. Will my tax credits be affected this year or next year?
I dont want to be penalised for doing my job or struggle financially once this is over.
Hello Amy,
You are in a very difficult situation and I sympathise. The only good news I can give is that for the moment, to acknowledge the fact that many people’s changes in working hours are temporary due to the crisis, Tax Credit hours and self-employed rules are suspended for 8 weeks. So you do not need to report your change in hours for eight weeks (rather than four) since they changed. This period may be extended, but we don’t know whether it will be yet.
I hope this helps.
Hi I’m just wondering how do I find out if my employer is being honest about not being able to pay me during this pandemic, I’m a zero hour contact worker, I work for a small independently run company and my contract started on the 1st of March
Hello Lin,
I am very sorry to hear your employer won’t furlough you. Employees of any type of contract, including zero-hour contracts, can be furloughed. The cut-off date for being on a PAYE payroll has also very recently been changed from February 28th to March 19th. You should point out these changes to your employer to see if they will agree to furlough you in light of these developments.
If your employer will not furlough you, and your income drops as a result of not having any work, you should see what benefits, such as Council Tax Support and Universal Credit, that you may be eligible for using our calculator (https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free). We recommend applying as soon as possible if your income has reduced and if you find you are eligible.
Hope this helps.
Hi there I was working for an agency for 9 months , and obviously got laid off the middle of March because of copid 19, so I applied for job seekers allowance,but never heard nothing for 4 weeks , my agency has rang me and told me they are doing the furlough and I’ve been accepted as I will b going back to the job when the time is right, but today a payment from jsa has gone in my bank ,so I need some advice what do I do , I obviously want furlough but don’t know if that’s been gonna mess up cus jsa gave me a payment do I cancel jsa now ?? Thank you
Hi Clinton,
The best thing to do in this situation is to get in touch with the Job Centre to let them know of your change of circumstances. You will likely be asked to repay all or some of the JSA payment credited to your account, since it is not possible to claim furlough and contribution-based JSA at the same time (this is because technically you are still employed as a furloughed employee). The exact situation will depend on your circumstances – if you were unemployed when you applied for JSA you will be able to keep the amount credited to your account. In any case it will be best to confirm with the Job Centre: https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/report-a-change-of-circumstances.
Best wishes.
I am a 65 yo director of my own Ltd Co. I work from an office at home. I cannot furlough myself because of obligations under the Financial Conduct Authority which mean i must respond to clients. The company’s income in March dropped to £50 (but I was paid) and in April will be £0 and I won’t be paid. It would appear I cannot claim the Small Business Grant of £10,000 because I work from home and we pay domestic rates only. I have accum;lated £20,000 in savings but still have a mortgage. Is there any support I can get ?
Hi Richard,
You are right that there are restrictions to most furloughed employees which means they cannot undertake work for the company. Since the scheme was announced, however, there has been further clarification as to what this means for company directors. Specifically:
“Where furloughed directors need to carry out particular duties to fulfil the statutory obligations they owe to their company, they may do so provided they do no more than would reasonably be judged necessary for that purpose, i.e. they should not do work of a kind they would carry out in normal circumstances to generate commercial revenue or provides services to or on behalf of their company.” (see the section titled ‘Company Directors’ in this link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme).
In terms of benefit support, if your savings are above £16,000 you will unfortunately not be able to receive benefits support. If your savings drop below £16,000 you might be able to claim benefits if your household income is low (something you can check with our online calculator, here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free)
Best wishes.
Hi,just asking a quick question i started my new job in 13th of march and the boss said to me on the 18th after i work the night said because of whats going on their going to have to let you go.not just me a couple of people and they have been there longer…..just want to know if i can get furlow?
Hi Chris,
Your employer can claim furlough for you if you were on PAYE on or before 19th March 2020. The decision to furlough is at your employer’s discretion, however, so you will need to take this up with them.
In the absence of furlough if your savings are below £16,000 and your income is low you may be able to claim Universal Credit or Council Tax Support (you can check this using our online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free).
Best wishes.
I applied for Universal credit as I lost my job, no longer work since 16 of March. Been waiting for payment as of today for the period from 16 March-17 April. The UC said your payment is 0 for this period as they calculated as if I was still at work and getting salary paid. I informed them that I no longer working and had interview on the phone. The appeal for the decision info page given me a phone number to call, I was not able to get through although calling all day long today. Totally frustrating. Cant pay rent or buy food.
Hi Anna,
I am very sorry to hear about your situation. One thing that you could try is contacting your local council about getting a Discretionary Housing Payment. These are allocated by the council to help people cover their rental costs, so could potentially help with your situation. We have some basic information about DHPs on our COVID-19 FAQ page here https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/, but you can also contact your local council directly about this. If you are able to get through to UC, you may also be able to take out an advance loan to cover your costs while you wait for your first full payment. However, since would need you to actually get through to UC, a DHP via your local council might be your best bet.
I hope this helps, but let us know if we can help further at all.
I have received a letter from the NHS. The NHS has identified me as someone at risk of severe illness if I catch Coronavirus. They have advised me to stay at home for 12 weeks. Will this make me eligible to be furloughed?
Hi Dean,
Yes, you are eligible to be furloughed if you have been advised to self-isolate due to risk of Coronavirus. If it’s of any help to your or your employer, the official government guidance stating this can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#employees-you-can-claim-for.
I hope this helps – do let us know if you have any other questions.
Have a state pension but still work part time have been furloughed should my employer pay me 80% of my wages
Hi Lorraine,
Yes, if you have been furloughed your employer can receive reimbursement for 80% of your normal wage through the new Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Best wishes.
Hi, I’m confused as to what I can claim for, I only became self employed in the middle of January and was told by HMRC that I didnt need to do my books this year as it was only 2 weeks or so before they were due. But the government scheme claims that you have to have been self employed for at least a year and have to have done a tax return. None of which I have.
Hi Steven,
Unfortunately since you only became self-employed this year, you won’t be eligible for the HMRC Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. If you have savings under £16,000, you should be eligible for Universal Credit. You can use our free online benefit calculator (linked above) to see if you are eligible.
All the best.
I am self employed and waiting for the 80% grant. I have just been offered a temporary job 2 days a week which I will be paid via PAYE just so I can make ends meet until I receive the grant and work returns back to normal. Will this be okay or will this cancel the grant out?
Hi Laura,
Yes, you can start a temporary job as long as you continue to meet the criteria for the self-employment grant (for example, that you intend to continue your self-employment in the future). The government say clearly that ‘you can continue to work or take on other employment’ in this document: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme
All the best.
I have been on a temporary work assignment which is being brought to an end. There is no other work lined up for me at present as a result of the impact of Covid-19. Am I entitled to claim anything?
Hi Andrina,
If you have been employed through PAYE, your employed may be able to place you on furlough. You can read more about this at the top of this page. This decision rests with your employer, so I’d recommend discussing this with them.
If this is not an option, you should be eligible for benefits. You may be eligible for New Style JSA. This is a benefit for people who have previously been working and have paid national insurance in the last 2-3 years. You can find out more information to see if you’re eligible here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-jsa. If your savings are below £16,000 you may be able to get support from Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can check this using our online calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
All the best.
Hi,
I am a supply teacher and before the furlough scheme was announced I applied for new style JSA as schools were being closed and I had no childcare for my daughter, so would no longer be able to work. Then they announced the retention scheme which I am eligible for. However I have now just recieved a JSA payment, will I now not be able to claim the 80% in the retention scheme? As I woukd receive more than the JSA payments. I cannot get through to any helplines for JSA.
Thanks
Hi Marie,
Yes, if your employer agrees to put you on furlough then this should not be a problem. I would recommend making sure your employer has agreed to this and ask them to confirm this with you in writing, and then try to get through to JSA to let them know of this change in circumstances.
All the best.
I was a teacher on a temporary contract covering a maternity leave. The contract ended on 3 April. I had registered with an agency but have not worked for them and was due to start after Easter. The school I was working with are unable to furlough me as my contract was ending anyway before Coronavirus and I have not worked for the agency so they can’t either. My husband works so can not claim Universal Credit. I have apples for JSA over 3 weeks ago but have not heard anything back. I have a disability for which I receive standard rate PIP and have an 11 year old who I’m now homeschooling. I am receiving no financial assistance as all. Is there anything available for me?
Hi Julie,
I’m sorry to hear about your situation. If you haven’t already, I would fill out our benefits calculator (linked to at the top of this page). Universal Credit is both an in and out of work benefit so it is possible that you and your husband are eligible, but this will depend on your husband’s income and your joint savings.
From the information that you have given it sounds like you will not be eligible for the older version of JSA (now known as income-based JSA). This is because you are not in receipt of a severe disability premium. You may be eligible for new-style JSA but this requires you have paid enough National Insurance over the last two years. As I mentioned before it is definitely worth checking our calculator to see whether or not you are eligible for Universal Credit.
The calculator will also show any other benefits that you are eligible for such as Council Tax Support.
I hope this helps.
Hi,
My Dad receives his state pension and still works. His employer has advised they may have to furlough staff. Would this have any effect on his pension?
Many thanks
Hi Sharon,
Firstly if your Dad is still contributing to a pension then the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will cover his usual pension contributions.
Otherwise, this is only likely to have an impact on his pension if his income falls below £167.75/week (or £255.25 if he is part of a couple). If this happens then he should be eligible for Pension Credit. If he does receive Pension Credit then he will also be eligible for a range of other benefits. You can find more details about Pension Credit here: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/pension-credit/
I hope this helps and all the best.
Hi,
I’m a British Citizen who has lived abroad for 8yrs and had recently relocated back on March 2nd but my job hunt has ground to a halt due to Covid-19. I currently live with close family in a home they rent but I do have other expenses I need to be able to pay for and have no idea how long this situation will last for us all.
I’ve been reading about returning citizens being ineligible for any sort of Universal Credit/JSA etc until 3 months of habitual residency has passed. Is this true? If so, has this requirement been lifted for Covid-19? I’m not sure what I’m eligible for and am in need of some guidance.
Thank you!
Hi Fifi,
To pass the Habitual Residence Test you need to pass two elements:
– Have a legal right to reside in the UK
– Pass an assessment of evidence of habitual residence
As a British citizen you have a right to reside. The second element will be decided on by a benefit decision maker and so there is some subjectivity regarding it. However given that you have already been in the UK for two months, and you have the intention of staying then you should be able to pass this element too.
Assuming you pass the test then it is most likely that you will be eligible for Universal Credit and not JSA. This is because Universal Credit has replaced most forms of JSA.
I hope this helps and all the best.
My sister is stuck abroad. The country is in lockdown and airport closed. All flights cancelled. She was due back at work this week and has let her work know. She is at habitat and they are refusing to furlough her. What can she do about pay
Hi Nancy,
So sorry to hear about your sister’s situation. If you think your sister would qualify for the furlough scheme and that her employer is not acting fairly, it may be worth speaking to employment specialists ACAS to clarify her situation and see what her rights are: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact.
I wish you both all the best.
Me and my partner are both full time students, however since Covid 19 we have been struggling with money for food etc because all our student finance went in the last four months bills and rent, I can not risk going back into work as I have asthma and I used to work in security so high risk can I claim benefits or would I have to wait until I’m not classed as a full time student
Hi Niome,
Unfortunately if you and your partner are both full-time students, you are unlikely to be eligible for Universal Credit. There are some exceptions, such as if you are responsible for a child or are disabled – you can check these exceptions here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-and-students
If you do not qualify for Universal Credit, there are a few places you might be able to look for extra support.
Your university might offer support such as the below if you get in touch with them:
https://www.gov.uk/extra-money-pay-university/university-and-college-hardship-funds
https://www.gov.uk/extra-money-pay-university
You can also find other support such as extra grants you might be eligible for here: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/About-Us/News/Financial-help-for-uni-students.
It might also be worth getting in touch with mutual aid groups in your area to see if they know of any further assistance where you are: https://freedomnews.org.uk/covid-19-uk-mutual-aid-groups-a-list/?fbclid=IwAR2mb3JYJ0GBm8Vg1O_sBGw9eP9_EsVUsBeUoEtxas5aEUzRe7OoYg7hXeo
I wish you all the best.
Hi Niome,
Unfortunately if you and your partner are both full-time students, you are unlikely to be eligible for Universal Credit. There are some exceptions, such as if you are responsible for a child or are disabled- you can check these exceptions here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-and-students
If you do not qualify for Universal Credit, there are a few places you might be able to look for extra support.
Your university might offer support such as the below if you get in touch with them:
https://www.gov.uk/extra-money-pay-university/university-and-college-hardship-funds
https://www.gov.uk/extra-money-pay-university
You can also find other support such as extra grants you might be eligible for here: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/About-Us/News/Financial-help-for-uni-students. It might also be worth getting in touch with mutual aid groups in your area to see if they know of any further assistance where you are: https://freedomnews.org.uk/covid-19-uk-mutual-aid-groups-a-list/?fbclid=IwAR2mb3JYJ0GBm8Vg1O_sBGw9eP9_EsVUsBeUoEtxas5aEUzRe7OoYg7hXeo
I wish you all the best.
Hi. I Want to cancel my Universal Credit request on gov.uk site but can’t find how to do this. Any ideas?
Hi Serg,
Have you created an online Universal Credit account? If so, you can report this by logging into your account and going to your journal. Otherwise, I’d recommending calling the helpline on 0800 328 5644, though there may be a bit of a wait during this busy period.
Best wishes.
I loss my job 18 February but I paid NI & Tax from March 2019 to 18 February 2020. Am I eligible for 80% wages?
Hi,
Unfortunately the furlough scheme for employees is only available to those who lost their work after 28th February, in which case employers can agree to re-employ them and receive the funding.
If your savings are below £16,000, you will likely be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Reduction. If you would like to check your eligibility for these and some smaller benefits, you can use our benefits calculator at the following link: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
The results page of the calculator will direct you to the application sites for the relevant benefits.
I hope this helps but do get back in touch if you have further questions.
Best wishes.
Hi, I was made redundant on 26th Feb 2020 and started a new job on 16th of March 2020 and have recieved my first salary payment on 28th March but I have been told I am unable to get furloung payment.
Please can you help me please.
Hi Susan,
If you were on your new employer’s PAYE scheme before the 19th of March, then you should be eligible for the Job Retention Scheme. If you were added to the PAYE system after the 19th, then you would not be eligible to be furloughed.
If your employer is not able to put you on furlough, and your income is reduced, you may be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if you have less than £16,000 in savings (you can check your eligibility using our free online calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free).
I hope this helps, but do let us know if you have further questions.
Hello I work in the TV industry and work freelance contract PAYE and on an Invoice basis. The industry was incredibly quiet at the beginning of the year and I like many people in the industry were out of work waiting for the busy period to kick in, which was beginning to happen at the front end of March as budgets and commissions started coming in. Then the industry went dark and nearly all productions ceased and no new commissions were followed through.
I was already on UC from the beginning of February after my last payment in the middle of January. Is there any other money that I can apply for because Universal Credit of £335 a month is not enough to live off when I include my outgoings of various bills, this comes down to £12 a day ! I am definitely falling through any cracks that could give help any advice you have would be fantastic.
Thanks.
Hello Fiona,
If you are not already claiming Council Tax Support then that would definitely be worth looking into (most of those eligible for Universal Credit will be eligible for CTS also). You can check your eligibility for CTS (and other forms of support) using our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. If you made sufficient National Insurance contributions in the past two years, you may also be eligible for contributory Job Seekers Allowance (which is paid on top of Universal Credit). Finally, if you are renting, you could contact your local council about the possibility of receiving a Discretionary Housing Payment to help cover your rent costs.
You can find out some more details about these forms of support on our COVID-19 FAQ page https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/.
I hope this helps, but do let us know if you have any further questions.
I have recieved a doctors letter to isolate for 12wk I work in a supermarket will I still get paid my worry is 12 was with no money
Hi Looby,
If you have received a letter from the NHS telling you that you should shield for 12 weeks and you were a PAYE employee on 19 March, this means your employer can choose to put you on furlough (also known as the ‘COVID-19 Job Retention Scheme’). You will need to speak to your employer about making arrangements for this.
If this is not possible, you might be able to claim Universal Credit or Council Tax Support, provided that your savings are below £16,000.
I hope this helps and best wishes.
Hi, me and my miss are working for a outsource company.
We decided to self-isolate about 2.5 weeks ago and today we got back to work because we just get sick pay 94£ and we can not survive with that, we thought we gonna get 80% help from gov.
What’s happening now is that one of our housemate has symptoms of COVID19 since yesterday and he self-isolate himself.
My question is: WE MUST SELF-ISOLATE AFTER TODAY BECAUSE OUR FLATMATE HAS SYMPTOMS AND WILL WE BE ABLE TO GET NOW THE 80% HELP FROM THE GOV BECAUSE OF THIS SITUATION?
Vasile
Hi Vasile,
My understanding of NHS guidance about self-isolation is that you would indeed need to self isolate. However we are not health specialists so please do check the NHS guidance on this. Here is Government guidance reported by the BBC for your reference:
“– If you, or someone you live with, develop symptoms, the entire household needs to isolate for 14 days to monitor for signs of COVID-19
— If someone else does become ill during that period, their seven-day isolation starts that day. For example, it might run from day three to day 10 – when that person’s isolation would then end. It would not restart if another member of the household fell ill
— But anyone who fell ill on day 13 would have to start a separate seven-day isolation from that day (meaning they would spend a total of 20 days at home)” (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51506729 – their page is updated regularly to reflect Government guidance)
The second part of your question relates to the 80% Job Retention Scheme. To receive the 80% your employer must choose to do this by applying for the grant. Unfortunately, it is not an automatic payment that employees can apply for themselves.
I hope this helps and best wishes.
Hi
I started my new position 2nd March and unfortunately could not be furloughed. With the government changing the date up to 19th March I was hoping I am now eligible.
I have been in touch with my employer and the finance team believe it is still not possible due to them not submitting an RTI (it is done monthly).
I have proof I’m on the employment software from 2nd March and a payslip for March. Is there any way I can receive CJRS?
Thank you
Hi David,
Unfortunately now the government has published the full regulations it does seem your employer would need to have made a payment to you which is recorded via RTI on or before 19 March 2020. RTI is usually submitted a week before the payment date, so if it wasn’t submitted or before 19 March in your case you would not be eligible. You might try to clarify when RTI was submitted to double check. You can see the government’s updated advice (see heading “Employees you can claim for”) here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
We’d also recommend using our benefits calculator to see what income you might now be eligible for if you haven’t already: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
Hi I have a question
My brother has just bought a house with his soon to be wife.
Now my brother wife she’s getting full pay from her work place but my brother ain’t working atm. I see there any benefit that my brother could claim?
Hi Theo,
There might be. He can use our benefits calculator to see what he might get: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. Depending on how much his wife earns and their other circumstances, he might be eligible for Universal Credit. If he’s been in work in the past two years and made a certain level of national insurance payments he might also be eligible for contributory (sometimes called “new-style” JSA).
Best wishes.
Hi I am wondering weather to claim universal credit as have been sent home from work since 23 March by my employer due to government advice ! I am self employed and I’m hoping I will be eligible for 80% wage scheme ! I seem to fit the criteria for such grant I hope but won’t no until contacted by HMRC ! My question is if I claim universal credit will it be deducted from 80% wage scheme when I get it ????? Many thanks Cecil
Hi Cecil,
If your savings are below £16,000 you are likely eligible for Universal Credit and this will not impact your furlough payments in the future.
However, if you do receive support through the HMRC-administered scheme, then your Universal Credit award that month will likely be £0 due to high income from the scheme.
Best wishes.
Hi, I’ve recently been put on furlough, and as I understand, I can make a claim for universal credit to help cover the costs. Upon going through the universal credit claim form, however, there is no option to state that I am a furloughed worker. What should I do? Do I put in or out of work, as technically I am employed?
Hi Rebecca,
You should enter in your claim that you are employed. Your income will then be assessed for the four weeks following your initial claim date. If you are not earning over that time, you will likely receive your maximum Universal Credit (unless you receive certain types of other income).
When you do eventually receive your furlough payment, this will taper your Universal Credit award down. You may not receive any Universal Credit the month/s you receive furlough payment but your previous UC awards will not impact your furlough package.
I hope this helps, best wishes.
My employer, a not for profit org, has agreed to pay me the jobkeeper allowance as long as I keep working full time and make a tax deductable donation to the equivalent to two days pay each week. Can they do this?
Hi Dave,
I’m not sure if you mean Job Seeker’s Allowance or the Job Retention Scheme (furlough) payments which the government have made available during the COVID-19 crisis.
Job Seeker’s Allowance is not funding through which your employer can pay you. JSA is a benefit administered directly by DWP, which has been replaced by Universal Credit for most people. You could claim Universal Credit while working if your earnings are low enough. However, this does not excuse your employer from paying you and provides no basis for them to alter your contract with them. Your employer also has no basis for enforcing you make a donation to the organisation.
If you mean the Job Retention funding, then your employer cannot ask you to continue working while paying you this way, as the scheme is specifically for employees who are no longer working but who have been retained as staff.
I would advise you contact employment rights specialists ACAS to see what your rights in this situation are: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
Best of luck, I hope this helps.
Hi, I’m currently self employed with earnings around £600 a month and in receipt of UC with Housing Benefit element. I just wanted to find out how Benefit Cap is affected during Coronavirus when my earnings are much lower ? Will the Benefit Cap be applied or it has been lift off. I contacted UC via journal but no reply being sent for over a week .
Please advise .
Regards
Hi Tanya,
The benefit cap has not been increased but the Minimum Income Floor has been temporarily suspended. This means that your lower earnings should lead to a higher benefit award but this is capped at the relevant threshold (£20,000/year outside of London, £23,000 inside London).
Best wishes.
Hi, I am a self employed Pyschotherapist working from home on a one to one and face to face basis with my clients. Due to the lockdown it is not possible for my clients to come to me or me to them and so I have tried a few online sessions with some of them but most do not want to do this because of the lack of privacy when other members of their family are around. This is causing great financial hardship to me and great harm to the people that, at this time, need even more help in their lives. Is there any government help for me in this situation ?
Hi Josephine,
I’m sorry to hear about your situation. As you are self-employed, if your profits were below £50,000 per annum then it is likely that you are eligible for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. If you are eligible you will receive 80% of your average earnings. HMRC will contact you at the beginning of June to begin payments and you will receive backdated payments from March.
This of course does not help in the short-term. I would recommend filling out our benefits calculator if you haven’t already. It is possible that you are eligible for Universal Credit if your savings are below £16,000 and this could support you until you begin receiving the grant. Depending on your income you may continue to receive Universal Credit once you begin receiving the grant.
I hope this helps.
Hi
My granddaughter who is 4 1/2 weeks pregnant, has been given a termination of employment & 4 weeks notice. The reason given was financial losses from the covid outbreak.Her employer has kept the business open but refuses to furlough her but can’t give her a reason & as she has only worked there less than 2 years doesn’t qualify for redundancy. I am already seeking advice for the legal aspects as it appears to be constructive / discrimination but can you advise on what benefit she could apply for as she is very stressed about losing her private rented flat with her boyfriend & they will be left with very low income within a few weeks
Thanks
Hi Jonathan,
If your grandaughter’s partner has a low income and their combined savings are below £16,000 then they can likely claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Reduction. Universal Credit includes an element to cover at least part of an applicant’s rent.
If she has been paying Class 1 or 2 National Insurance while in her job, she is likely also eligible for ‘new-style’ Job Seeker’s Allowance, irrespective of her savings. I hope this helps.
All the best.
I’ve be made unemployed because of the Coronavirus on the 20th March
My wife works for the NHS and we have more than £16.000 in savings
can I claim anything
Hi Colin,
I’m very sorry to hear that. If you have paid Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions over the past two to three years, you can claim ‘new-style’ Jobseeker’s Allowance. The application for this can be made here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-jsa
All the best.
My company were unable to furlough me due to me not being there for long so they laid me off without paying a notice period (again said it was because of how long I had been there) I applied for JSA as I have bills to pay the day after and I still haven’t heard anything that was 3.5 weeks ago. Any idea what I can do, every time I try and call I am unable to get through.
Hi Kim,
As the self-employed support is based on tax returns for the financial year 2018/19, you could take a temporary job while waiting for the payment in/by June.
Best wishes.
Hi, This might sound stupid, but I’ve been furloughed this afternoon and I am busy applying for UC, do I put in my existing unfurloughed salary or my soon to be furloughed salary?
Hi Richard,
Not a stupid question at all! You should enter the income you expect to receive during the assessment period (the first four weeks after you claim) which is your furloughed income.
I hope this helps.
Hi guys,
Hope you all safe 🙂
I was on a 0 hours contract and all my shifts got cancelled as the virus started to spread in March (my last shift was on the 13th).
I applied for Universal Credit after being informed I would not get hours anymore, and today I got the confirmation my request has been approved.
In the meantime, my employer decided to furlough me for the time being ( I was not expecting it at all), and I will get 200 pounds per week, since they calculate an average of the hours I worked before February the 28th and at the time I was doing fewer hours.
Ergo, my salary has been reduced as effect of being furloughed and anyway I am on a low income and I have housing cost.
Just think my rent is 600 a month and with the furlough I will get 800 a month.
Is HMRC informing directly the UC of how much I earn or should I speak with UC about this?
My understanding is I am not doing anything illegal because I am on a low-income even if I have been furloughed and also I believe they approved my request after doing all the checks with HMRC.
Thanks so much for your help.
I appreciate it!
Hi Amalia,
This is absolutely fine. UC is designed to be both an in and out of work benefit, so you having earnings while on UC is completely fine.
HMRC will inform the DWP that your earnings have changed and your UC award will be updated to reflect this, there is no need to inform the DWP yourself. I would double check that you entered on your UC claim that you are employed, however, as being furloughed is technically a form of employment and this is the kind of change which must be reported in your UC journal.
If you would like to check how much you will receive you can fill out our benefits calculator (linked to at the top of this page).
Kind regards.
Just a quick question I work at a supermarket and have for many years, however, due to symptoms I am unable to work and I am self-isolating. I am on minimum wages around 17,000 a year and I am struggling to make ends meet, is any help available?
Hi Pamela,
If you are self-isolating due to COVID-19 symptoms you may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay. You should speak to your employer about sick pay and can find more information about SSP here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-those-affected-by-covid-19/support-for-those-affected-by-covid-19.
If you are not able to get SSP, you may be able to claim contributory Employment and Support Allowance if you have made sufficient National Insurance contributions in the past two years. We have some information about contributory ESA on our COVID-19 FAQ page which you might find useful (https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/), along with a variety of other forms of support. If you have less than £16,000 in savings you may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can check your eligibility for these using our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
I hope this is helpful, but do let me know if you have any further questions.
Hi
I am sixty nine and have been a self employed composite technician for over thirty years. All accounts are up to date. I have deferred my state pension, and do not have a private pension. I earn more than i would get if i took my pension. ( I net around £16,000 after all expensed) . Am I eligible for the 80% Corvid 18 grant?
Hi Mike,
You will be eligible for the new Self Employed Income Support scheme if you have submitted tax returns for the 2018-19 financial year and if your annual trading profits are less than £50,000. There are a few more criteria for the scheme, which you can find on our COVID-19 FAQ page here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/. If you are unsure about any of the criteria on the FAQ page, do let us know. You can also find the official government guidance on the scheme here if it is at all useful https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme.
I hope this helps – please let us know if you have any further questions.
Hi i hope you can advise me my employer has put me on furlough I heard second hand through a colleague not from my employer directly, I have had no correspondence from my boss I thought you had to sign a letter or at least be sent an email or txt so it’s in writing. Received my first payment as I am paid weekly and found that I am being paid 80% of my contracted 16 hours. I actually work between 27 and 30 each week (would this be varied hours?) and have done for a couple of years. Is this right as if so I’m not getting 80% of usual working hours in fact I’m receiving less than 50% is this allowed? Do they have to follow government guidelines or can they pay less if they choose. Employer said they have sought legal advice and can pay on contract hours is that correct.
Hi Jane,
You’re right – your employer really should let you know about this. The government guidances says that ‘your employer must confirm in writing that you have been furloughed to be eligible to claim. Contact your employer if you do not receive confirmation.’. So I’d recommend getting in touch with your employer as soon as possible to ask about this. If they are not cooperating, it may also be worth speaking to employment specialists ACAS to clarify your situation and what your rights are: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
About whether they can base the 80% on your contracted hours, the government advice is that the 80% can be based on your ‘regular’ wages. They say that if your pay varies month to month, this means the 80% can be based on the higher of: a) the amount you earned in the same month last year, or b) an average of your monthly earnings from the last year. You should discuss this with your employer and again, if your employer does not cooperate, ACAS may be able to help. You can find the full government guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
All the best.
Hi, I am a small business owner and have been given the grant for small businesses under the COVID-19 grant, my question is do I have to pay tax on this and also do I declare this on my self assessment as income? bit confused.
Thanks
Tracey
Hi Tracey,
The grant for small businesses is taxable. The grant is considered as part of your self-employment income so I would assume that this should then be declared during your self-assessment.
I hope this helps and all the best.
Hi I am employed by large chain supermarket and I am Type 1 Diabetic so I have decided to self isolate as I cannot work from home. My company has told me I cannot be furloughed but will get SSP. I have not received a letter from Dr but my friend has who has a pace maker fitted and they are paying her 100% wages. Could you just tell me please if this is correct.
Thank you….
Hi Cheryl,
Unfortunately the Job Retention Scheme that allows workers to be furloughed is at the employer’s discretion. Statutory Sick Pay is supposed to be a short-term cover for absence due to illness, and the government guidance points out that it should not be seen as an alternative to furloughing employees. According to the government website, “Short term illness/ self-isolation should not be a consideration in deciding whether to furlough an employee. If, however, employers want to furlough employees for business reasons and they are currently off sick, they are eligible to do so, as with other employees. In these cases, the employee should no longer receive sick pay and would be classified as a furloughed employee.” In case it is of use to you or your employer this guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#employees-you-can-claim-for, but given that they are a large chain store I would expect they have a company-wide policy that is being applied in your case.
Your friend who has received 100% will have done so because the government is encouraging employers to top up the 80% of wages covered by the Job Retention Scheme.
If the income provided by your sick pay is not covering your costs, you may be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support (depending on your overall level of income and savings). You can check your eligibility using our calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free (which also includes information and links on how to claim). If you rent and are having difficulty covering your rent payments, you could also contact your local council about the possibility of receiving a Discretionary Housing Payment. You can find more info about all these types of support on our COVID-19 FAQ page here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/.
I hope this helps, but please let us know if you have any further questions.
HI Really hope you can help as I’m struggling for answers on this one,
Basically my wife was employed during 2018-2019 financial year But became self employed childminder for the last three months of that year, However the business made little profit (under £1000), so was told NOT to bother with the self employed tax return for that year. This year 2019-2020 trading profits were £14000 Approx, but because she didn’t submit accounts for the year before she is currently not eligible for The Self-employment Income Support Scheme Grant!!!
Is it worth me submitting a return for 2018-2019 now, any idea what she maybe entitled to on the above figures? if its a low amount as the profits for 2018-2019 will reduce any proposed payments, I can’t really see its worth the paperwork!
Thanks in advance
Hi Leon,
She can still submit her tax return for the year 2018-19, but she will need to do it by 23 April 2020 if she wants to claim the self-employed scheme.
The crucial question for whether she will be eligible for the scheme will be whether her profit from the childminding during 2018-19 made up more than half of her income for that tax year. If her earnings from her employment were more than her earnings from self-employment then it’s likely she wouldn’t be eligible for the scheme – you can see the full criteria here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme#who-can-claim
If she is eligible for the scheme, what she receives will be worked out based on her average trading profit in the tax year 2018 to 2019. The grant will be 80% of her average trading profit for that year, divided by 12 which will give a monthly amount. So for example, if her profit for that year was £1,000, she would be eligible for around £66 each month (£1,000 multiplied by 0.8, then divided by 12). As your first payment wouldn’t come in until early June, you might receive several month’s payments at once (currently it is planned to last for 3 months, though the scheme might be extended).
You can also see what other support you might be eligible for with our benefits calculator: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishesm
Hi,
My wife is self employed, and has filed an 18/19 return. However she has been on statutory maternity since October 19, due to finish May 20. Will she be able to get the 80% help? Struggling to find any info on this!
Thanks
Tom
Hi Tom,
We’ve not seen any specific advice for this situation either unfortunately. The relevant guidance is likely to be how to interpret these criteria: “You must have been trading as self-employed in the tax year 2019-20, are trading when you apply, or would be except for COVID-19, and intend to continue to trade in the tax year 2020-21.”
I would suggest that as it stands she is not trading so could not apply. However, after May 20 if she returns to trading (or would if not for the impact of COVID-19), if she then applied for the scheme she would meet the criteria that she is trading when she applies. So it may be that after her maternity finishes she will be eligible. As the scheme is not expected to pay out until early June anyway it could be that her maternity makes little practical difference, but as there’s no specific guidance at this stage it’s difficult to say. You can see similar guidance from Maternity Action here (note particularly the final sentence about asking the government for clarification): https://maternityaction.org.uk/covidmaternityfaqs/maternity-pay-and-benefits-for-self-employed-women/
We expect the government to publish more detailed guidance soon and will update our information as and when this is announced, so please do check back for more. In the meantime, you could also use our calculator to check you’re getting all the benefits you’re eligible for: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free You can enter statutory maternity in the “Other income: savings, investments, pensions and other benefits” section.
Best wishes.
Hi , I was working part time as childminder since November 19 and in March my employer told me to stay off as they have less children due to Covid 19 and I am still off . My employer is not ready to give me 80% wages as the Government announced. But she mentioned this to rest of the employees except me . She has not gave me any wage slips since November . What should I do know? Please advise , thanks
Hi Sara,
I’m sorry that you are in this situation with your employer. Unfortunately the 80% Job Retention Scheme is available at the discretion of the employer – so they do not have to place you on ‘furlough’ if they do not wish to. Whether this decision has other legal implications (for example in terms of unfair or discriminatory treatment) is a more complex matter that we are not able to advise on. Other organisations might be able to help if you wanted to take this further though – you can search for advice here: https://advicelocal.uk/ – and Citizens Advice Bureau have also written useful guidance in relation to problems at work: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/problems-at-work/what-help-can-i-get-with-a-problem-at-work/.
If your savings are below £16,000, and your income is low, you may also be able to claim Universal Credit and/or Council Tax Support. You can check this using our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
Best wishes.
Hi I work 22.5 hours a week but my partners boss has said he is making them redundant rather than furloughing them! We currently receive tax credits what can we do next ?
Hello Jo,
I am very sorry to hear you may become redundant.
You may be eligible for some other benefits because you have no income, like Universal Credit and council tax support. You can calculate your eligibility using our free calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
If you have been made redundant, you may be eligible for contributory or New Style ESA/JSA. The criteria for eligibility are on this page. This is a separate application process from Universal Credit.
Keep in mind that if you decide to apply for Universal Credit you will lose your tax credits, and there is a five week wait for the first payment, so don’t delay if you are eligible.
The hours rule for working tax credits have been relaxed for the COVID-19 period and has been extended to 8 weeks, and may be extended further so do check these pages for any updates. This means that even if your hours have dropped, you don’t need to report this to HMRC for the before 8 weeks, and you’ll continue to be paid based on your old working hours.
I hope this helps.
Hi I’m currently self employed with no income at all just tax credit at a reduced rate due to the DWP on the 14th Feb 2020 taking away my disability payments (PIP) I have been disabled for 18 years and in receipt for that payment until now. I’m currently going through the process of a reconsideration, as you can image along with a disability that effects my walking, I’m feeling very vulnerable right, I don’t think I qualify for the government grant as per my account. What other benefits can I claim that won’t effect my tax credits. Any advice would be appreciated
Hi Nichola,
The main thing you can do is report to HMRC that your income is now zero due to loss of PIP. HMRC are now ‘ignoring’ change of earnings as a trigger for migration to Universal Credit, so your future tax credit payments should increase.
As for other forms of support, you may be eligible to claim Council Tax Support (if you are not already claiming it – you can check your eligibility using our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free). If you are in rented accommodation, you could also contact your local council to see if they can provide you with a Discretionary Housing Payment to help cover your rent costs in the short term.
I hope this helps, but please do let us know if there is anything else we can help with.
Hi Alannah Thank you for the reply will get in touch with tax credit to speak to them about this .
Thank you
Nichola
Hi Im employed on 0 hours contract. Not been at work since 23.03 because of lockdown, I was earning about £650 Per month- depends on biznes so I earn bellow my personal tax allowance, ( on my payslip it’s saying PAYE 0.00 and NIN 0.00 ) I have spoke to my company about gov support- the answer was- we don’t know if u will get it so thats my question- will I and many of my colleagues in very similar position will be able to get this 80% gov help? Thank you
Hi Ann,
Employers on zero-hour contracts can be furloughed through the new Job Retention Scheme. So long as you were on your employer’s PAYE system on 28th February of this year then they can claim reimbursement for 80% of your wages. They can base this claim on either you average earnings for the 2019-20 tax year, or your earnings in the same month last year, whichever is higher. If it is helpful to you or your employer, the official government guidance on the Job Retention Scheme is here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#employees-you-can-claim-for (and is very clear that employees on zero-hour contracts are eligible).
I hope this helps, but do let us know if you have any other questions we might be able to help with.
Hello,
I work night shift, and as part of that get paid 30% uplift on top of my basic rate that is in my contract (also get the 30% uplift if we take annual leave). I have recently been furloughed and company have said they will pay us 80% of our basic rate, and we must take 1 day of annual leave per week which will be paid at basic rate instead of the usual uplifted rate, Therefore I am losing 30% wage plus a day of annual leave per week, which is being paid at a 30% lower rate than usual.
Is this the correct procedure? Or should I be paid 30% of uplifted rate as this is what we always get paid (my work is consistent night work).
Thanks
Hi Harry,
If you entered in your claim that you are employed then you have not entered any incorrect information and if you receive no income over your initial assessment period, then you remain eligible for support to cover that month. When the furlough payment enters your bank, then you may no longer be eligible for support over the relevant assessment period. It would be worth making a UC journal entry about this payment when that day comes, just to be sure that you have informed DWP of all relevant changes to income.
Best wishes.
I’m currently getting 80% of my wages paid. I was working 16hours per week. Can I claim back the other 20% of my 16 hrs. As this is my wife & my only income.
Hi John,
If your savings are below £16,000 then you will likely be able to claim Universal Credit to top up your income. This will not necessarily meet the 20% of your full earnings which has been lost but your income will be assessed against your joint claim with your wife, and your current earnings will reduce your award from the maximum level of support. You may also be eligible for Council Tax Reduction, which is awarded by your local authority. You can use our benefit calculator to assess your eligibility across the whole welfare system, at the following link: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
All the best.
Can i still appy for job seeker allowance even though i am receiving 80% pay from my employer?
Hi Vawana,
As you remain employed while you are furloughed, you cannot claim jobseeker’s allowance. However, you may be able to claim Universal Credit to top up your earnings. Your combined income (with your partner if you have one) will be assessed against your household circumstances. However, if your savings are above £16,000, you will not be eligible. You can use our benefits calculator to assess your eligibility for UC and other benefits at the following link: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
Hi
the furlough money that I am going to get from the Govt, will this be count as my annual income?
Hi Don,
Yes, any income you receive while furloughed will count as normal income and you will have to pay tax on it.
All the best.
Firstly, thank you, this website and these threads have been invaluable in navigating all this!
I am a self employed actress/agent/teacher, I have completed self assessment for over 10 years and earn over 50% of my earnings through self employment. My self employed income has disappeared because of the virus but I intend to continue being self employed as soon as possible!
In the mean time have taken a temporary, part time job in a supermarket to tide me over and pay bills/mortgage etc until the government provide support in June. (I am not eligible for universal credit as my spouse has savings). Will I still be eligible for the self employed government grant? Or will this be affected by my PAYE job?
Thank you. Laura
Hi Laura,
I’m glad to hear you find the page helpful. We will continue to update it with the latest information as soon as it is released so do check back if you need.
From the guidance we have available it should be that your grant will not be impacted. The key part is that you intend to be self employed this financial year once you are able to.
I hope this helps.
Hi there,
I am self employed and have been for many years, but I am due to start maternity leave soon (baby due 19th May). I haven’t been able to work due to covid since mid March. Does anyone know if i will still be able to claim all or a percentage of the self employed income support in june? I can’t seem to find any info anywhere on how maternity pay may affect the self employed income scheme. I wonder whether it is worth me holding off and not applying for maternity pay as the self employed income would be much more. Many thanks ,
Hi Alice,
From my understanding of the rules, as long as you intend to technically remain self-employed this financial year you will be able to claim through the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. The amount you receive will be 80% of your average monthly salary from the last three years
This may be subject to change, I know that Maternity Action has asked the Government for clarification, so it would be worth checking back with this question seven on this page as they will post the response they receive: https://maternityaction.org.uk/covidmaternityfaqs/maternity-pay-and-benefits-for-self-employed-women/
I hope this helps.
hi im a ltd company director and i applied for universal credit a couple of weeks ago before it was made clear i could claim through the furlough scheme.
Today ive furloughed myself back dated to march, my question is do i need to inform UC of this?
I told UC that i wasnt earning anything which is correct but my accountants have told me i should declare that im earning £712 per month through PAYE (which is my monthly average for the last tax year) is this correct? if i use that number on your calculator it says im not entitled to any UC! im so confused.
I havnt actually worked since October and all work in my field has dried up. any advice would be appreciated. thanks
Hi Shaun,
If you entered in your claim that you are employed then you have not entered any incorrect information and if you receive no income over your initial assessment period, then you remain eligible for support to cover that month. When the furlough payment enters your bank, then you will no longer be eligible for support over the relevant assessment period and it would be worth making a journal entry about this payment when that day comes, just to be sure that you have informed DWP of all relevant changes to income.
Best wishes.
Can i get a temporary job while waiting for the self employed scheme to kick in?
Hello Lindsay,
We have found some guidelines regarding this:
“For those self-employed persons whose trade is heavily impacted by coronavirus, it is possible to take on a different job. Though it is important to stress that eligibility for the scheme does require that self-employed persons are trading when you apply, or would be except for coronavirus, and that they intend to continue to trade in the tax year 2020-21.”
Link: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8879/
As long as you don’t close their business and are still trading, according to this, you should be okay.
Best wishes.
Hi. I have an employee who has relatives at home who are shielding due to long term illnesses. He has self-isolated for 2 weeks and has now asked to be put on the Job Retention Scheme. My issue is that we have work for him. The project he was working on is still ongoing and we have been asked to provide tradesmen there. We have work available and as such I do not want to make him redundant. However, I appreciate he does not want to work in order to shield his relatives. Can I place him on the Job Retention Scheme?
Hello Steve,
The good news is that you can furlough employees because they are unable to work while shielding in line with public health guidance (or need to stay at home with someone who is shielding). The caveat is while you are furloughing him he cannot work at all and cannot do any work for you. You can find the full details for the scheme here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#employees-you-can-claim-for
Hope this helps.
Hi,I received my tax credits payments last week but there was no increase payments it was same amount as before,I thought we supposed to get increase in tax credit.i get paid every four week thanks
Hi Shally,
It is possible that the payment you received last week was intended to cover a period before the 6th April, since payments are made in arrears. This is the most likely scenario if you are paid 4-weekly. If this is not the case and the payment covers a period from the 6th of April and you have not seen an increase, it will be worth getting in touch with HMRC so they can explain to you why the increase hasn’t been applied, or rectify things if an error has been made.
Best wishes.
hi, It depends if your wtc is from the old system or if you get it through Universal credits! Because people on the old legacy benefits and old system will not be getting the increase only universal credit claiments!! Its amazed me how the goverment think its remotly acceptable to increase uc claiments because of coronvirus but us on the old system have been told we wont be getting it!! And there is nothing or has been nothing since on this matter! Its disgracefull because benefits are benefits wether its old or new system but were being penalised! The goverment still right now are throwing money left right and centre but they are just not revisiting the old legacy benefit sitiation for some reason!
Hi Elise,
Working tax credit within the legacy system has seen an increase of £20/week within the basic element. More details of this can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/increase-to-working-tax-credits-what-this-means
You are right, however, that there are now differences between Universal Credit claimants and legacy claimants who do not receive WTC. Unfortunately, we have no reason to believe the government will change this.
Best wishes.
Hi I’m currently on maternity leave, receiving statutory maternity pay and due to return to contracted hours in June (24 hours a week). My partner is no longer in full time work , he joined the company after 28 February so can not benefit from the government furlough scheme. He has managed to secure 14 hours a week at Tesco. Is it solely Universal credit we can apply for?
Hi Maisie,
You can use our calculator to see what other benefits you might be eligible for: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free On top of Universal Credit, you might be eligible for Council Tax Support, as well as potentially (depending on your circumstances) several other smaller benefits such as warm homes discount for non-pensioners and free school meals. On the calculator’s results page, if you look at the green “Information about your case” box on the right hand side it will suggest what other support you might be eligible for.
Depending on your partner’s national insurance contributions over the past two years, you may also be eligible for ‘new-style’ JSA. As he’s working less than 16 hours a week on average he could be eligible. You can see details about eligibility for it here too: https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/eligibility, and there’s specific info on how much you would receive in your situation in our benefits calculator.
You could also look into the recently announced Turn2us Coronavirus Grant fund, which you can find details for here: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/Turn2us-Funds/Turn2us-Coronavirus-Grant-Fund
One final thing to mention is that the government’s furlough scheme has been extended to include those who entered work and were on their employer’s PAYE system by 19th March. This may include your partner, in which case he may wish to discuss being furloughed with his former employer. He should check his previous employment contract, as it may bar him from receiving furlough earnings at the same time as working at Tesco if a second job is not permitted within the contract terms.
Best wishes.
Hi I was told not to come into work 3 weeks ago today as workplace was closing temporarily because of covid 19, thought we would be getting the furlough payment but not received any payment for 3 weeks my boss has only rung me once which was today said he has no cash flow to pay me, and doesn’t know how to go for the furlough were do I go from here thank you
Hi Jayne,
I’m sorry to hear that. While your boss is unable to pay you, I’d recommend claiming Universal Credit. Your claim will be assessed based on your income over a one month period starting the day you claim, so if you continue not being paid for that month you would likely receive a significant level of Universal Credit. You can get an estimate of what you might be eligible for using our calculator (if you state you are in work but your hours of work are 0 that should reflect your current situation): http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free If you are eligible, we recommend applying ASAP so that one month assessment period can begin immediately (and you may also be able to receive an advance sooner).
In the short-term, you might also want to look into Turn2us’s new Coronavirus grant scheme: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/Turn2us-Funds/Turn2us-Coronavirus-Grant-Fund
You should also try to get further clarification on whether your employer will be applying to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. It might help to share the key details of that scheme with them which you can find here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/ and the more in depth notes for them here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme. They should be able to apply for the scheme through that website when it’s launched towards the end of April. Before then, you could ask them to confirm in writing that you will be furloughed. From the details you’ve shared here it sounds like you might be eligible for the scheme, but you (and your employer) can check more in depth using these links.
If you are concerned that your employer might not apply for the scheme and says they can’t afford to pay you, you might also want to contact employment rights specialists ACAS to see what your rights in this situation are: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
Best wishes.
Bit of a dilemma. I have been furloughed, normally paid weekly. Last pay over 3 weeks ago, next pay would be under furlough agreement around the end of April or sometime in May. I have been with the same company over a year, no other income, live on my own, no financial support available from friends or family and no savings. Is there any help for people in a similar situation? Thanks in advance
Hi Andy,
It sounds like you might be eligible for Universal Credit (as well as possibly some other benefits). You can use our calculator to see how much you might get: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free If you are eligible, you should apply ASAP as there’s a five week wait between the date you claim and your first payment (but you may also be able to receive an advance). Your eligibility will be assessed over a one month period from the day you claim, so how much you are eligible for will depend on when your furloughed pay finally arrives. If your pay arrives during the assessment month you might be eligible for less Universal Credit, but as there’s a chance it could arrive after, you might be eligible for a significant amount, at least for one month.
As your employer has stopped paying you, you might want to clarify precisely what your status is with them and when they will resume paying you. The furlough scheme is intended to be used to refund your employer for the reduced wages they pay you and can be backdated to the start of March, so they should be paying you now and then receiving the government refund towards the end of April. If you are unsure about your rights at work you might also consult ACAS: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
You could also look into the recently announced Turn2us Coronavirus Grant fund, which you can find details for here: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/Turn2us-Funds/Turn2us-Coronavirus-Grant-Fund
Best wishes.
Hi,
I get e-mail today that probably I will not get a paid as normal (at the end of the Month ) because my Company still didn’t get anything from goverment. Is there anything what I can do with that? I am guessing that my Company havent got enough money now to pay me (recruitment Company, I work for them 1year)
Thanks,
Ewa
Hi Ewa,
I think you are referring to the 80% Job Retention Scheme (also referred to as the ‘furlough’ scheme). Unfortunately the decision to furlough is left at the discretion of the employer. The first payments to employers were received yesterday and they will continue to be paid by the Government in the coming weeks, depending on when the employer applied/applies. It may therefore be worth checking with your employer if they have claimed and if they have not, to encourage them to do so. I hope this helps but if you have a more specific question please do let me know.
Best wishes.
I an a 73-y-o female working part-time in a Residential Home – 25 hours per week. I am self isolating – shielding – in line with govt advice to people over 70 with underlying health conditions, I am type 2 diabetes. The problem is my employer will not give me sick pay without a doctor’s note, which I can’t obtain as my doc isn’t available. My employer will not furlough me so in effect I have no income. What can I do?
Hi Jennifer,
I’m sorry that your employer hasn’t been clear with you on this.
A formal doctor’s note is not required in order to receive Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for the first 7 days. For these 7 days, you can ‘self-certify’, meaning nothing is required from anybody other than yourself. After this period (or, if you prefer, before) you can provide an ‘isolation note’, available here: https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/. However, there does seem to be a distinction between self-isolating and shielding in terms of eligibility for SSP. SSP covers those that are self-isolating, but not those that are shielding. If you do not qualify for SSP, you may be able to claim Employment and Support Allowance if you have paid enough National Insurance Contributions (or earned enough credits) over the last two financial years (details of this are at the top of this page).
You may also be able to claim Universal Credit if your savings are below £16,000 and income is low. This would be in addition to any SSP or Employment and Support Allowance. You can check your eligibility using our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
I hope this helps and best wishes.
Hi
I’ve previously been on Universal Credit and had started a new job for about a month, but my claim has now been closed as my last earning was enough that my claim after the taper rate was £0. I just wanted to know now that I’m on furlough and my income with the 80% from the government would still come up to about £1000, am I still eligible to receive anything from Universal Credit if I was to re claim. I’ve checked using the calculator and I don’t think I can but just wanted to confirm with you. Thanks
Hi Ree,
As you mention, using our calculator is the best way to check this before making a claim. The calculator takes into account the means-tested nature of Universal Credit, as well as aspects of your personal circumstances (which dictate the threshold over which your earnings are tapered, also referred to as the Standard Allowance and other elements of support such as the ‘housing element’).
The Standard Allowance – as well as the amount of support for households in rented accommodation – was increased with effect from 6th April, so depending on when you completed a calculation, you might want to do this again. If you completed a calculation after the 6th April, it is unlikely that you would be able to claim when our calculator indicates otherwise. If you completed the calculation before the 6th April, I would recommend you do this calculation again.
Do also keep in mind that, unlike legacy benefits, Universal Credit claims continue to roll for six months while you receive no award. Only after six consecutive months of receiving no UC will your claim actually close. Until then, DWP will continue to assess your income and you will receive an award if your income is below your relevant threshold.
If when using the calculator, you are concerned about entering the information correctly, please do get in touch via our Live Chat function and we will be able to assist you with any calculator-related queries.
I hope this helps and best wishes.
Hi
Thank you for your reply
I noticed you said that UC claims will continue to run through six consecutive months of recieving no UC but mine closed straight after my first pay from my employer and I was told to re claim if I feel affected by Covid-19, by the time I logged into my account again all my previous information had gone so I reapplied as I was unsure about my furlough payments. I have now been paid this months furlough, which is above the rate, should I inform UC or will they automatically be notified and close my account again
Thanks
Hi Ree,
Thanks for letting us know – that’s not something I’ve come across before. The government states that if it’s within 6 months of your claim being closed you “usually just need to log into your online account and confirm that the details you gave before are correct” to restart your claim. It may be worth ringing one of the numbers listed here if you’re not sure why your previous information was removed: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/reapply-for-universal-credit/
You might need to notify them of a change in your circumstances now you are receiving furlough pay. It may depend on whether in your claim you said you were employed or not – you need to inform DWP when you move into work, so if you initially told them you were out of work, you should let them know now you are back in employment. If they already knew you were employed, they should automatically be informed of your change in earnings. How it impacts your claim will also depend on when your assessment period started (on the date you claimed) and when your first furlough pay came in. For instance, if you receive your furlough pay weekly and it only came in towards the end of your assessment period, you might still be eligible for some Universal Credit, because your income in that month would be lower.
Best wishes.
Hi there
I received a letter instructing me to isolate for 12 weeks, I am a mental health nurse for a healthcare company not the nhs, they have said they will only pay me for 2 weeks sick pay, and that all. And I have to apply for universal credit, of which I will only receive just over £500 monthly, this doesn’t even cover my rent. Can you please advise? I thought I’d be covered with the governments 80% job retention grant?
Hi Mandy,
I’m sorry about the stressful situation you are in at the moment. There are a few separate things that you’re asking about – I will answer these separately. First, in relation to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): it sounds like you are required to shield, rather than self-isolate, due to COVID-19. Only those that are self-isolating will be able to claim SSP. The guidance issued so far suggests that those that are shielding are not automatically eligible for SSP.
In relation to UC, the maximum amount of support was increased on the 6th of April so if you checked your eligibility before that time it would be a good idea to check again as it may have increased. You should also get in touch with your landlord (or indeed any service providers) if you think you are not able to meet the costs of your rent, as they may be able to accept alternative arrangements.
Finally, unfortunately receiving the Government 80% Job Retention Scheme (whereby employees are ‘furloughed’ ) depends on whether your employer decides to do this or not. Your employer can choose to furlough you if you are shielding or self-isolating, so you may want to bring this up with them if they have not considered this an option. Being furloughed is likely to be the best way to maximise your income (compared to claiming only Universal Credit, for example), so it is worthwhile asking your employer to consider doing this.
I hope this helps and best wishes.
Hi my partner was self employed on 28th February and went to a PAYE job on March 9th. He was almost made redundant due to him not being eligible for furlough but they agreed an 80% paycut. Can he claim anything from his previous self employment roll?
Hello Deb,
I am very sorry about the unfortunate timing for your partner in their career change.
We have found some guidelines regarding this:
“For those self-employed persons whose trade is heavily impacted by coronavirus, it is possible to take on a different job. Though it is important to stress that eligibility for the scheme does require that self-employed persons are trading when you apply, or would be except for coronavirus, and that they intend to continue to trade in the tax year 2020-21.”
Link: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8879/
As long as they didn’t close their business and are still trading, and fit all the other eligibility criteria for the scheme listed on this page, they could still be eligible.
Otherwise, you can enter your household details into our free calculator (link) to see whether you can be eligible for other support in the meantime with him having such a sharp cut in income.
Hope this helps.
Do employees have to payback furlong?
Hi Jack,
No, you won’t need to pay this back, it is a replacement for your earnings.
Best regards
Hi there,
I have a question to ask that no one so far has been able to clarify for me.
I am an offshore worker about to be furloughed.
My annual wage is based on a salary AND a daily rate of pay for each day i work offshore in a month, i work on a 3 week rotation, so some months i earn more than others. I am contracted to work 140 days a year, and my holidays etc are based on this number of days worked.
My employer is about to furlough me, and they are claiming that my furlough payment will be based purely on my base salary, and are not taking into account that my average monthly wage is well above the 2500 threshold, this means that they awill be furloughing me on roughly 1750 before tax, as opposed to the max of 2500, a considerable difference.
I have looked at the gov guidelines and it is confusing, it sometimes uses the word “salary” , and sometimes uses the word “wage”. I beleive that due to my contract i should come under the guideline for people whos wage varies, but my employer is stating that they are using my base salary.
Can you advise me as to who is right, and if i am right, and i should be getting the maximum gov grant, how best to demonstrate this to my employer.
Many thanks
Mick
Hi Michael,
From the situation you describe, I would think that you should count as an employee with variable wages. Even though you have a regular base salary, your total earnings vary. As such, your employer can claim reimbursement for either your average earnings in the 2019/20 tax year or your earnings in the same month last year, whichever is higher. If your average monthly earnings in 2019-20 were above £1750, then your employer should be able to claim (80% of) that higher amount through the scheme. In the end, it is up to the employer how much they claim for. It may be useful to discuss this further with your employer.
I hope this helps, but do let me know if you have further questions
Hi Janet
Many thanks for your reply.
I received a telephone call today from my employer informing me that i am to be placed on furlough from 15th April.
I have voiced my concerns as to how they have come to the decision to base my furlough payments on purely my basic salary, as opposed to the average of my monthly wage as per the guidelines.
I was informed that the decision was made by their lawyers who have interpreted the guidelines and advised them to claim on the base salary.
During the telephone conversation i explained to my employer that i did not object to being put on furlough, however before that is to happen i would like to see some correspondence between my employer and HMRC with an explanation as to what HMRC agree to as the amount they will grant my employer.
Is there anything further i can do at this point. I am not wanting to paint a target on my back, the company has already stated that if not enough people agree to furlough then redundancies may occur, which does appear to be a very thinly veiled threat in my opinion.
I am not the only employee of the company who is pushing back against the furlough figure, some people are speaking to the UNITE union, but as i am not a member i cannot approach them myself.
I’d be happy to pay for advice, but i do not have a huge pot of cash reserves at this time.
Any further advice would be appreciated.
Michael
Hi Michael,
I am very sorry to hear about the situation you are facing. Unfortunately the government guidance around the Job Retention Scheme places very few (if any) requirements on employers regarding what they have to claim, if they furlough workers. I’m not sure there’s much more that can be done without changes to the official guidelines to place more requirements on employers. One possible option could be to write to your local MP. There have been some questions to the government about the role of employers (e.g., https://twitter.com/MartinSLewis/status/1247208455330545664?s=20) so adding more pressure to that line of questioning could perhaps help.
In terms of your immediate situation, if you find your income reduced by being furloughed you can still apply for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support (if you have less than £16,000 in savings). You can check your eligibility for UC and CTS using our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
I hope this helps, and am sorry we cannot offer more direct avenues to change your employer’s decision. We are keeping a close eye on the government’s position on this, and will update our FAQ if there is any change in the official guidance (https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/).
In the meantime, do let us know if we can help with any other questions you might have.
Hi I am on a fixed term contract as a teaching assistant in a school which ends 19th April. 2020 Paid by the council Due to falling numbers for the school role in September my contract was not to be renewed. This would normally not be an issue as I could get work in other schools but due to Corona obviously this is not the case. Also as I had a stroke 18 months ago I have to be careful during this time. I have spoken to the school to see if they could furlough me until schools return and I can get further work.. Unfortunately they have refused sending me this reply . Thank you for your email regarding furlough. We have sought guidance on this from HR and unfortunately we are unable to furlough you during this time, as the furlough scheme is aimed towards private sector companies. Schools are not furloughing employees as they are a public sector organisation where funding has not changed, and therefore the scheme does not apply. I have since found evidence on the internet about a school in Gloucester that have done so ………….. Could you please tell me where I stand ..
Hi Sue,
The official guidance around the scheme (available here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#who-can-claim) says that public sector bodies are expected to continue paying staff wages, and not furlough them, if the staff wages are paid for with public funds. It may be that the Gloucester school you mentioned received private funding for staff wages. For most publicly funded school staff it appears that the guidance is to continue paying their wages as normal, but since your contract has ended unfortunately that may not apply.
If you need financial support and your school is not able to furlough you, you may be eligible for ‘new-style’ Job Seekers Allowance if you have made sufficient National Insurance contributions over the last two years. You can find out more about ‘new-style’ JSA (and other types of support) on our COVID-19 FAQ page here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/. You may also be eligible for Universal Credit if you have less than £16,000 in savings (you might find it helpful to use our free online calculator https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free to check your eligibility for UC and other forms of support).
I hope this is helpful. I’m sorry that we can’t currently give a more concrete answer about the Job Retention Scheme and schools, but we are looking into the questions and will update our FAQ as soon as any new information is released. In the meantime, do let us know if there are any other queries we might be able to help with.
i have been self employed as off OCT.1 BEFORE THAT AGENCY BUT LEFT THE AGENCY AND WORK AS A SELF EMPLOYED CONTRACTER MY FIRM SENT ME HOME AS WE CAN NOT WORK THE COMPANY IS GO ON FURLOW BUT HAVE NOT PAY ME BUT I HAVE NOT LOST MY JOB SO WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GET PAY
Hi Darren,
Unfortunately, it sounds like your situation might fall outside of both the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. You can see the full criteria for both above. For the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, you need to have been furloughed by your employer and have been paid via PAYE on the 28th February 2020, so if you left your agency (or another employer) before that date you wouldn’t be eligible. For the Self Employment Income Support Scheme, you will need at least a tax return for 2018/19, which it sounds like was before you started work as self employed, so again you may not be eligible.
There is other support available though. Now your income is lower, you might be eligible for benefits such as Universal Credit and Council Tax Support, so long as your savings capital is less than £16,000. You can check this using our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. You’ll need to complete this for your household so if you have a partner, adult children, or dependent children, their details should also be included.
There’s also further extra support, such as the Turn2us Coronavirus grant, which you can read about above.
Best wishes
Hi there I was hired on the 26th February in line with the companies paybill which runs from 26th to the 25th the following month . The paybills are organised by their accountant and after induction and training I was placed on the March paybill not the February. Can I be furloughed having been hired before the 28th February
Hi Barry,
Yes I believe that you should be able to furloughed so long as your contract began on the 26th February. If you haven’t already then it would be worth making a claim for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can see which benefits you are eligible for by filling out our calculator which is linked to at the top of this page.
I hope this helps and happy Easter.
Hi
I was employed on the 16th March 2020 and dont qualify to be furloughed. However I am still employed by company Would I be able to receive any payments from employer?
Thank you very much
Kind regards
Hi Khalid,
I’m sorry but I’m not sure if I’ve understood your question (please do reply if this is the case). The first thing to note is that the deadline to furlough has been moved forward and is now 19 March. So your employer would be able to furlough you on that basis, provided the other criteria mentioned on this page are met.
The second thing to note is that furlough is done at the discretion of your employer; they need to let you know if you are being furloughed and equally if you want to know what their intentions are in relation to furlough it is something you need to raise with your employer.
I hope this helps and best wishes.
Hey Alannah
Thank you so much for getting back to me
So my employer has placed me on lay off on the 19th March 2020. I was employed by them on the 16th March 2020. They have said that as part of job retention scheme i must have started on or before the 28th February 2020 but i still remain employed by the company and instead remain temporaly laid off in accordance with the relevant provisions of my employment contract.
So as the government changeed this my employer would be able to furlough me on that basis?
Thank you very much as always
Hi Khalid,
Yes, you should still be eligible. The government guidance says that as long as you were employed and on payroll on 28 February (as you were), you can qualify for the scheme if your employer re-employs you and puts you on furlough. So I’d recommend getting in touch with your employer to check that they agree to this. If so, they should then follow up in writing to confirm that you’ve been re-employed and placed on furlough.
All the best.
Hi Alannah
Thank you very much for getting back to me again
I was employed and put on pay roll on the 16th March 2020. I didn’t start working on the 28th February 2020, my first day was on the 16th March 2020. Can i still be furloughed? I was only paid £150.00 total which was a guaranteed payment of £30.00 per day for five days for the month of April by my employer. Can i still ask my employer to be furloughed even though i started work on the 16th March 2020
Thank you so much as always
Kind Regards
Hi Khalid,
The government has adjusted the regulations so those on the PAYE system in their job by 19th April can be furloughed. I would double check with your employer that this is the case for you, but from what you have said it sounds like you were. More details can be found about this at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
It is at your employers discretion whether they furlough you, and you must be furgloughed for a minimum of three weeks.
I hope this helps! Let us know if you have any follow-up questions.
Best wishes.
Hi I work for agency and from agency I worked for a company for 1 and half year.the company got rid off agency people due to covid 19.i dont have any contract with the company.my agency doesnt know if I will get 80 percent from government scheme.can my agency put me as furloughed as agency cant give me any work now.thank you.
Hi Maisie,
Yes you should be able to be furloughed. It sounds like you are paid by the agency. If this is the case then your agency will be able to furlough you as long as you were paid through PAYE.
If you were paid by the company, then you would have to request that they take you back on and furlough you straight away.
In the meantime, it would be worth making a claim for benefits if you haven’t already. You can see which benefits you are eligible for by filling out our calculator which is linked to at the top of this page.
All the best.
Hi
I am a self-employed dental hygienist, now with no income (since 17 March due to COVID-19)
I am a single mum to 3 kids, less than £16 000 savings.
I am due to receive the Self-employed Income support grant in June, which is great, in the meantime I need some support – I believ that I can claim Universal credit (I’ve applied already)
My question is how does the grant affect the Universal credit claim, as in theory the grant is to replace income from March/April/May?
I’m hoping that I’ll get 2 months of Universal credit (April and May) and then my Grant paid in June will be declared and the Universal credit will stop? Is this right or would I have to pay back the Universal credit?
Also am I entitled.to claim JSA or ESA?
Thanks so much.
Hi Louise,
Great to hear that you’ve already claimed for Universal Credit (UC). In general, before you receive your grant you will be awarded the maximum Universal Credit that you can. In the month that you receive the Grant you will need to inform DWP and your UC will end or reduce, depending on the level of the grant. If your UC ends then it may be a couple of months before it restarts. This is because large amounts of income in a particular month are expected to be used to live on for the next months. The calculation of how this works is complex. I would advise you to keep re-applying every month following the month you get your grant so that your UC will start again as early as possible.
As you were previously self-employed you cannot claim contributory JSA. If you fall ill, you could claim contributory ESA if you have paid sufficient national insurance contributions. Further information on these benefits is on this page. If you claim these your UC would be reduced by the same amount so you would not be better off.
You may also qualify for Council Tax Support (see links on this page) and free school meals (worth £15/week per child).
Best wishes.
Thank you so much, that has helped me hugely.
Hi , just looking for a bit clarity. Me and my partner have both been put on furlong from work. I am a student so my income was low anyways. I have applied for universal credits and have received a phone call to say that we are eligible. Will this effect our furlong or are you going allowed to get both ? Thanks.
Hi Brooke,
Yes you will be eligible for both, the two systems work side by side as when you are furloughed you are technically still earning. Any earnings that you and your partner receive through being furloughed will be used to calculate your Universal Credit award.
All the best.
I am self employed and likely to get the government grant of 80% of my self employed income in June . I cannot work due to the lockdown because my work involves travel and meeting people. I am married. My spouse is still working and earns around £45,000 pre tax. We have less than £16,000 savings. And we have a mortgage to pay. Should I apply for Universal Credit or will my spouse’s earnings rule me out?
Hi S,
Universal Credit is designed to support households on a very low income and unfortunately your spouse’s income would place you well above the threshold (although your savings do not rule out your eligibility). You may be able to get support via the Government backed mortgage holiday – you will need to contact your lender for that.
I hope this helps and best wishes.
Hello,
I am self employed but also carry out a very small amount of work and get paid through PAYE (around 4 hours a week) Would I be be entitled to claim furlough from both the job retention and self employment scheme?
Thank you in advance
Hi Simon,
There is no reason that you cant get both if you meet both the criteria. it will be up to your employer whether they furlough you from your employment. If you meet the criteria for the self-employment scheme, HMRC will contact you. Further information on the criteria for both of these is given on these pages.
Best wishes.
Hi, I’m Maths tutor at University and working on zero contracts. Before the Covid19 lockdown, I was offered 20hours per week but now I am being offered 6 hours per week. I have a 13 years old son and my husband is working 24 hours per week at Tesco. What kind of support that can I apply for?
Hi Priya,
Depending on how much you and your husband get paid, and your housing situation, you can top up your wages with Universal Credit and get support towards your Council Tax with Council Tax Reduction You can see how much you could get by using our calculator at http://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk (link on this page). Further information on these benefits is also available on this page.
Best wishes.
Hi
Just wondered which category I fall into for a grant.
I ,along with 2 partners ,formed a limited company in August 2019 of which I am now designated an employee ,recieving PAYE and dividends making up my total income but previously we were a partnership,trading for many years ,and the 2018-2019 tax return shows more than half my income from profits from said partnership and a small percentage from PAYE due to this being the transitional period from partnership to limited company.
2016-2017, 2017-2018 tax returns show all income from profit of partnership which is less than £50k cut off point
Can yo therefore tell me and my partners which grant we would qualify for
Thanks so much Matt
Hi Matthew,
Although you meet the criteria for the self-employed tax returns from 2016-19, the guidelines state that you have to be self-employed at the time of applying for the grant and intend to be self-employed thereafter. HMRC may still contact you an invite you to apply but I think that once you state your current position you may not qualify. HMRC may also see that the partnership ended, and so not invite you to apply for the self-employed scheme.
Since August 2019 you have been paid by your company as PAYE. You can, therefore, apply for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme as an employee. Further information on this is given on these pages.
Best wishes.
Hi, I’m a dental nurse self isolating due to a family member being very high risk and me working in a public environment and I have nowhere else to stay during lockdown. My work are not furloughing me but is their anything else I can do to still have an income each month?
LM
Hi,
If you have under £16,000 in savings you could apply for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You should apply for these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. Further information is available on this page. You can also use our calculator (links on this page) to see how much you could get.
Best wishes.
Hi
I have been employed by my current employer for 32 years. I was on holiday leave abroad when the Covid 19 started and am currently still stuck abroad, due to flight cancellation. I am on the next available flight(if it doesn’t get cancelled again) but my employer stopped paying me after my holiday finished. I have asked if they can furlough me but am told because I am abroad they can’t do it. They also said because they are currently still open that I couldn’t get it either as if I was home I could go to work. As I am still stuck abroad with no money I can’t claim for anything as I have savings over 16000.00, I just wanted to know if my company are right that they can’t furlough me or are just choosing not to as they didn’t want me to go on holiday in the first place
Hi Sarah,
I’m sorry to hear about this stressful situation. You are correct about your access to benefits.
Our understanding of guidance thus far is that, provided that you were a PAYE employee on 28th February 2020, your employer can apply to furlough you. At the moment there is no explicit reference to limitations based on where the employee is located. It would certainly be strange for the Government to exclude those that are abroad on a temporary basis, even more so for them to exclude those unable to return due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. So it appears that the employer acted at their discretion. You should discuss this with them and ask for clarification.
If you were to get into a dispute with your employer about this, since we are not specialists in employment law, the best thing for you to do would be to seek guidance from a specialist organisation. Unfortunately we do not know at this stage whether the employer is acting lawfully or not, as there might be other aspects of employment law to consider. You can search for specialist organisations here: https://advicelocal.uk/
Best wishes.
Hello , I am self employed and lost my job due to the corona virus , i know in June hopefully I will get the 80% grant , in the mean time can I get a temporary job 0 hours to help me out.
Kind regards
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
One of the conditions for this grant is that you are self-employed at the time of applying (or would be but for Coronavirus) and intend to stay self-employed. If this is the case, which it appears to be, then the grant will not be affected by you working temporarily.
Best wishes.
Hi, I work in a supermarket and also live with my Elderly parents who have been told to self isolate for 12 week due to them both having underlying health issues. Now that I’m there primary Carer will I be entitled to furlough. My area manager said it’s unpaid leave. Please can you give me advice as I said I will have to stop coming in to work.
Hi Rajib,
I’m sorry you’re in this situation. Government guidance is clear that employees that are self-isolating can be furloughed. However, the guidance is also careful to mention that this is left up to the employer’s discretion. In addition, there is some ambiguity about whether those living with vulnerable groups should officially self-isolate in order to protect other members of their household: the guidance states that vulnerable individuals need to shield for 12 weeks, but that other members of the household do not need to shield. Other household members should instead follow social distancing rules. Unfortunately self-isolation is not mentioned.
I understand your very difficult situation but it is up to your employer whether to furlough you.
If you find yourself out of work (or indeed if you are in work but your income is low) due to this situation you might be eligible to claim Universal Credit if your savings are below £16,000. You can check this using our free online calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
I hope this helps and best wishes.
Hi there
I have recently been furloughed therefore I applied for JSA (around 2 weeks ago) I did not hear back therefore I figured my application was unsuccessful for JSA and was advised by friends to apply for Universal Credit. I’m awaiting a reply from universal credit but I have noticed that a payment has gone through to my bank from JSA… Will I be allowed to have both JSA and universal credit whilst on furlough or do I need to cancel one of them??
Thanks
Hi Rachel,
You can claim both Universal Credit (UC) and JSA at the same time provided that you meet the other eligibility criteria for UC. The main consideration is that your capital savings need to be below £16,000. Additionally, since UC is means-tested, the amount you will receive will be reduced because of your JSA payments. You can check your eligibility and estimate your UC award using our free online calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
On a separate note, it might be a good idea to contact JobCentre Plus about your JSA application to check that everything is in order (if they have not contacted you by phone or email). Their contact details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/how-to-claim?step-by-step-nav=e7b3ea75-05d5-4341-b27a-be3b767b1e3f.
I hope this helps and best wishes.
I have been placed on furlough by my employer that is not doing any top up. I have a current universal credit and don’t know if they need informing by me that my wages are going to be lowered for a couple of months. Is it all automatic out do I need to contact universal credit to advise the temporary lower earnings?
Hi Elliott,
The DWP will receive details of changes in your wages straight from HMRC. However, it is always best to inform them directly of any change through a journal entry.
Best wishes.
Hi.
I recieved my tax credits today but was the same amount as normal. I thought it was increasing by £20 per week because of covid 19. Do I have to contact anyone?
Thank you x
Hi Nicola,
Yes you’re right, it is increasing by £20. It is possible that the payment you received this week was intended to cover a period before the 6th April, since payments are made in arrears. This is the most likely scenario if you are paid 4-weekly. If, however, it covers a period from the 6th of April and you have not seen an increase, it will be worth getting in touch with HMRC so they can clarify why the increase hasn’t been applied or rectify if an error has been made.
Best wishes.
i have also not seen my tax credits increase. i get paid weekly and can see my payments for the next 8 weeks online and it’s the same amount as I always get. both my sister’s also recieve tax credits and have seen no increase either.
Hi Sam,
These will only have been changed from the 6 April and as they are backdated, you may not have seen the change yet. If the change still doesn’t occur, you could get in touch with HMRC to check why your tax credits have not been adjusted.
Best regards
Hi, I was sent home from work on 24th March and told I was being put on furlough. I have heard nothing from my employer since. I have been paid nothing. I started this job on 16th March and my previous employer didn’t apply for furlough so won’t rehire me. What can I do?
Hello Jim,
I am very sorry to hear about your situation. The bad news is that if you started a job after February 28 2020, you are not eligible for the furlough scheme at all. You may be eligible for some other benefits because you have no income, like Universal Credit and council tax support. You can calculate your eligibility using our free calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
If you have been made redundant, you may be eligible for contributory or New Style ESA/JSA. The criteria for eligibility are on this page. This is a separate application process from Universal Credit.
Keep in mind that if you decide to apply for Universal Credit there is a five week wait for the first payment, so don’t delay if you are eligible.
I hope this helps.
Yes I don’t know anyone who has had increase in working tax credit. I get paid weekly and no increase. Like the self employed grant farce. Only about 35 percent of people will qualify. As a small accountant bookkeeper I won’t qualify. So don’t get hopes up. It is taxable so you will pay it back and declare it as income. Chris
Thanks for sharing Chris. If you do receive tax credit payments covering the period after 6 April which haven’t seen the increase you should raise this with HMRC. You can also use our calculator to see how your situation might change if you moved to Universal Credit: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
I worked at a golf club as clubhouse manager when we went into lockdown the company made me redundant but furloughed my to bar staff is this allowed do I have any rights
Hi Dickie,
This will depend on when you started your job at the golf club. If you started in February and were on the club’s payroll by 28 February 2020, you should be eligible for the furlough scheme. If this is the case, I’d recommend speaking to your employer. It is possible for them to re-employ you and place you on furlough even though you’ve been made redundant. If you think your employer is treating you unfairly, it may be worth consulting employment rights specialists ACAS to see what your rights are: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
If you cannot be furloughed, you should be eligible for benefits. If you’ve been working and paying national insurance for the last 2-3 years, you may be eligible for New Style JSA. You can find more info here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-jsa. You may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support, though this will depend on your savings and income. You can use our online benefit calculator to see what you’re eligible for: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
Best wishes.
Hi,
I’ve been asked to work a lot of overtime hours in NHS for next 8 weeks. I claim tax credits. If I earn more will this affect my tax credits award. I don’t want to work & put myself & kids at risk if my tax credits will be taken away because of my extra wage as I’d be basically working for nothing for 8 weeks.
Hi Christine,
HMRC will ignore this change to your working hours for 8 weeks and will continue to treat you as working the same hours as before COVID-19. If this overtime continues longer than 8 weeks or becomes permanent, you should then inform HMRC. But do check this site over the next few weeks – it is possible that the 8 weeks will be extended.
All the best.
Hi there,
I am a self employed actor and all my work has been cancelled. I will qualify for help through SEISS however that will not come through until June as far as we know so I have no income coming in until then. I also have asthma (not chronic) and rhinitis…does this mean I am eligible for New Style ESA or Contribution based ESA? I was told ESA is for people who are sick but I’m not sure if asthma is classed as an illness now or not as the government have advised people who have it are at high risk. I pay NIC Class 2 and 4 in my yearly tax return.
Best wishes,
Beruce
Hi Beruce,
You may well be eligible for New Style ESA since you have been paying class 2 national insurance contributions. You will also need a sick note from a GP (or similar) to confirm that you are too ill to work. You can find out more about how to apply here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance
If you have savings of less than £16,000, you may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support – you can receive these as well as New Style JSA. You can check your eligibility and how much you can claim using our free online calculator (linked above).
Best wishes.
Factory worker. Does a weekly and quality bonus count as my compulsory bonus. Thanks
Hi Louise,
This will depend if these are regular payments that your employer is obliged to pay. If, as you say, the bonus is compulsory, it should be included in the 80%. Any other discretionary bonuses or commission payments will not be included.
Hope that helps.
Hi, I’m self employed and have earned on average of £10k a year for the last 3 years. Even though I have been below the tax threshold, I list my tax allowable expenses on my tax return as eventually I hope my business to grow and I need a record. They are usually £4-5k. Will that mean that my income is considered not in profit and I won’t receive any Covid-19 payments?
Hi Clare,
You should still be eligible, but this may affect how much money you receive. The 80% will be based on your average profits over the last 3 years, so (depending on exactly what was included in your tax returns), this 80% is likely to be based on around £6,000/year rather than £10,000/year. You can find out more details about how the scheme works here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme.
All the best.
Hi there can you please help me on how much are my furlough entitlements, i have been working in my current employer for the last 11 months , im on a salary (not hourly paid) however my salary changed significantly in February 2020 can you please advise if im going to receive 80% of an average of the last 10 months or my last pay from February 2020 thank you
Hi Hugo,
If you have a salary then the furloughed amount payable to your employer is 80% of your salary as at 28th February. Your employer will make this claim with HMRC so could clarify exactly how much they are claiming for you.
Best wishes.
Good evening,
I am working full time from home but my employer has announced that as of 1st April they are temporarily reducing pay to 80% with a possibility of a bonus in a few months dependant on the companies performance. Please could you confirm if this is legal and if there is anything I can claim for loss of income? My husband is a director of a company and is unable to do any work due to Covid-19 but his account has advised he will get £500 per month. I’ve paid tax and national insurance since the age of 16 and neither of us have ever had to claim any payments so not sure where to start with it all. Also, is there any way of claiming working from home costs like electricity?
I look forward to your advice in due course.
Many thanks
Hi,
If your employer is reducing your salary below your contract then you may wish to discuss this with legal employment specialists. You can look for these online. It will also be up to your employer whether they reimburse you for the costs of working from home.
If your income has reduced drastically you may be able to get Universal Credit and Council Tax Support to top up your current income. You can use the calculator (links on this page) to see if you would qualify. If you do qualify, you should claim as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated.
Best wishes.
Hi i was told i was too good at my job and told i owed it to myself to find a higher level job which i did. This was in a private children’s nursery. I left my job on 26th March they will not rehire me to furlough me and my new job start date has been postponed until all
Of this is over as the new nursery only needs a few staff for key children at present. i was due to start my new job on 30th April now i am left with nothing. My partner has been placed on furlough but will not bring home enough for both of us. Will i qualify for any help and where from?
Hi Mel,
Your eligibility for support depends on your combined earnings and savings with your partner. If your savings are below £16,000 and their furlough earnings are low enough, you may be eligible for Universal Credit and/or Council Tax Reduction.
You can assess your eligibility using our benefits calculator. The results page of the calculator will direct you to the relevant websites to apply for support. Link here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
Hi there,
If you’re a contractor with a limited company, and your salary has reduced by 30%, is there any benefit I can claim to cover the 30% I’m no longer receiving?
Many thanks,
Hi there,
There is not a specific scheme to cover a reduced salary but if your monthly earnings are low enough (and your savings are below £16,000) you may be eligible to receive some Universal Credit.
You can assess your eligibility against your reduced earnings by using our benefits calculator at the following link: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
Hi,
I’ve been furloughed from my job. I’m not eligible for the JRS as I started work after the 28th. The company will still keep a job for me I will just not be paid. Does this mean I can’t claim anything because I’m technically still employed?
Hi Jodie,
If you have savings below £16,000 (combined with your partner if you are in a couple), then you should be able to claim Universal Credit while you are not receiving your earnings. UC is assessed by your monthly income, rather than simply your emlployment status. You may also be able to claim Council Tax Reduction, though the criteria varies by local authority. You can use our benefits calculator to assess your eligibility, at the following link: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
Hello. My name is George .I am a dentist. I used to leave and work in in UK as an associate dentist for aprox 6 years until 2014. Since then I return every year and I work as locum dentist for aprox 1-2 months. My last locum dentist ended 30th of October . Am I eligible to claim any help?
Thank you
Hi George,
Thanks for getting in touch. It is difficult to answer your question without more specific information. In general terms there are two strands of support available; one of these is through the benefits system and the other is through the emergency employment support measures announced recently for those affected by COVID-19. Support through benefits will typically be lower than via the emergency measures, and I will cover eligibility for both below for you.
Benefits: If you are an EEA national with settled status (or a UK national), you will be able to claim support via benefits such as Universal Credit, if your savings are below £16,000 and current earnings are low. If you are an EEA national and do not have settled status then you might have limited access to benefits and it might be a good idea for you to seek further advice on this, as it can be complex and highly dependent on your circumstances (you can search for local advice here: https://advicelocal.uk/). If you are not an EEA national your access to benefits will be determined by your immigration status: if you have ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ you will not be able to claim Universal Credit. You may however be able to claim contributory benefits (for instance ‘new style’ JSA. Eligibility for this depends on you having made sufficient national insurance contributions).
Emergency measures: depending on the type of contract you are on, you may be able to claim support for your wages, either via the 80% Job Retention Scheme (if you are an employee paid via PAYE) or the Self Employed Income Support Scheme (if you are self employed). If the former applies to you, then the scheme will depend on whether your employer has decided to put you on furlough, so you might want to ask them about this. The employer would need to be the one to get in touch with HMRC to arrange this. Your access to either of these schemes does not depend on your immigration status, but you will need a UK bank account.
I hope this helps and best wishes.
Hi 👋I am diabetic type1(high risk)work as a domestic in a care home. Today we had a meeting and we were advised to make a choice if the care home gets covid19,we either still go to work or stay at home(employer will not pay furlough)what help would I get financially
Hi Cathy,
If you are no longer able to work (for example, you are let go because the care home is affected by COVID-19 and it would pose a risk to you to continue) and see you have savings below £16,000 you may be eligible for Universal Credit or Council Tax Support. I am not a health professional but it certainly seems like you should be putting your health first here and not go to work if it poses a risk, and this is something you should discuss with your employer even though they have chosen not to furlough workers. You can find out how much support you can receive using our free online calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
In addition, if you have been placed in the vulnerable group of workers and have received a letter from the NHS to confirm this, you should not go to work. You might also be able to claim contributory Employment and Support Allowance, or ‘new style’ ESA, if your doctor can confirm you’re not able to work. Eligibility for this depends on whether you’ve paid enough National Insurance Contributions over the 2-3 years. You will need to 1) have worked and paid Class 1 or Class 2 contributions in one of the years above; and 2) have paid, or been credited, 50 weeks worth of contributions over the two years. This would be in addition to your Universal Credit payment.
If you are vulnerable and would like support in this difficult time, it is also a good idea to contact your local mutual aid group, which you can do here: https://covidmutualaid.org/local-groups/.
I hope this helps but if anything is unclear just let me know.
Best wishes.
Hi I am a supply teacher and when the schools closed I was told to apply for universal credit straight away and did and that’s all sorted and my first payment is at the end of April but then my supply agency have said they might be furloughing me? I was just wondering what do I do? Can I be furloughed and still claim universal credit?
Or what should I do then
Hi Petrina,
Yes, you can be on furlough and receive Universal Credit. Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit though, which means that you will need to report a change of circumstances the next time you speak with your work coach if furlough payments have started to come in. At the moment it looks like furlough wages will be treated as earnings, which means your Universal Credit amount will be reduced by 63p for every £1 of earnings above your standard allowance (so you will get to keep some of your earnings). You can check this using our online calculator and adding your expected furlough earnings in the ‘income and earnings’ section: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
I hope this helps and all the best.
Hi there I work full time 8-5 Monday to Friday and currently on the furlough scheme. I have just taken a job at weekends only, do I need to make HMRC aware Of this even though it is out with my normal working hours. My employer is also aware. Thank you for your help, this had been worrying me so much
Hi Angela,
Current guidance about the furlough scheme suggests this is fine, so long as this new job is with another employer to the one that has furloughed you, and as long as your contract with your furlough employer allows you to take other employment. You can check with your furlough employer that you are permitted to carry out other work (this will also be in your contract). There is nothing to worry about in terms of reporting to HMRC, but we are waiting for full details of the scheme to be published and will update our pages accordingly, so you may want to check back then.
I hope this helps and best wishes.
My daughter applied for JSA online on 27th March because her Contract with TUI was terminated and she was told they could not furlough her as she was on a temporary contract. She has heard nothing back – should she reapply although that means any income will only apply from the date she re-applies
Hi Gillian,
I’m sorry that your daughter’s employer has chosen not to furlough (from a legislative point of view, those on temporary contracts can still be furloughed so long as they are paid via PAYE).
As regards her application for JSA (it sounds like she applied for the ‘new style’ JSA, which is contribution-based and eligibility depends on National Insurance Contributions over the last two financial years). She should have had a reply within two days of the application, so it will be worth getting in touch with the Job Centre (0800 055 6688) to check up on progress and that the application was received.
Aside from contribution-based JSA, or if you find that your daughter is not eligible for contribution-based JSA, there is support via Universal Credit. If your daughter’s savings capital is below £16,000 she may be eligible for this and Council Tax Support. This can be checked using our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. The application process is different from new style contribution-based JSA and is done on this site: https://www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit.
I hope this helps and best wishes.
Hi I get Working tax credits but I did not get the extra £20 a week that started from the 6th, is it only for certain people please
Thx jade
Hi Jade,
The £20 increase applies to all existing claimants. It is possible that the payment you received most recently was intended to cover a period before the 6th April, since payments are made in arrears. This is the most likely scenario if you are paid 4-weekly. If, however, it covers a period from the 6th of April and you have not seen an increase, it will be worth getting in touch with HMRC so they can clarify why the increase hasn’t been applied or rectify if an error has been made.
Best wishes.
How does furlough work when paying child maintenance please
Hi Adam,
Furlough is paid via PAYE (like normal wages) and your employer needs to apply for the grant in order for you to receive this. It is separate to other payment arrangements you may have, such as child maintenance. I hope this helps.
Best wishes.
Hi again, my employer(agency) has says that they cannot put me in furlough because the job where I was working, is not a guarantee that I will come back there, so what can I do? Thanks.
Hi Diamanta,
It will be up to your employer whether to apply for the job retention scheme. If they did use the scheme and put you on furlough, that would probably mean you were more likely to continue working there after the pandemic is over. That there is no guarantee you will continue working there should not affect their ability to furlough you, but unfortunately it will be up to them whether they decide to, so you can only ask that they do furlough you.
If they are unwilling to, you should soon become eligible for Universal Credit. If you weren’t eligible in your first month due to your earnings, if your earnings have now dropped you should be eligible in your second month of assessment. You may also be able to apply for an advance payment of your Universal Credit, which would give you income more quickly. You can use our benefits calculator to see an estimate of how much you might be eligible for now your earnings have gone down: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
Hi Diamanta, there’s nothing to stop your employer placing you on furlough in this situation,as long as you are paid through PAYE.
Furlough should be agreed between the agency, as the deemed employer, and you. If you are employed by an umbrella company then that company can furlough you. Again, you must be paid via PAYE and both you and the umbrella company must agree to you being furloughed.
Best wishes,
I am a self employed contractor but also work for some companies under PAYE. Can I be furloughed by these companies and still get the 3 months self-employed grant? My self employed income is substantially higher then the PAYE income.
Hi Irene,
You can receive support from both the new Self Employed Income Support Scheme and the Job Retention Scheme. Your employers who have you on their PAYE system can furlough you, and claim for 80% of your regular earnings. Since you receive the majority of your income from self-employment, you will also be eligible for the Self Employed Income Support Scheme if you have submitted tax returns for the 2018/19 financial year, and were trading as self-employed in 2019/20. There are a few more criteria for the Self Employed Income Support Scheme, which you can find on our COVID-19 FAQ page here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/.
I hope this helps. Do let us know if you have any other questions.
Help! My contract ended on 31/03/2020. I cannot move on due to COVID 19 ( I have registered to do supply work in schools as a TA) so have no income. My husband is a key worker and my son is a student with no income.
I’ve checked on benefit calculators and they said I am not entitled to anything.
Is there anything I could do?
Hi Anita,
I am very sorry to hear about your situation – that is extremely difficult. The two main sources of support for you would be Universal Credit and CTS if you have less than £16,000 in savings, though these would depend on your husband’s income. You may also be eligible for contributory Job Seekers Allowance if you have made sufficient National Insurance contributions over the past two years. However, if you have checked on other benefit calculators and not seen these then you may not be eligible. If it’s helpful to get another calculation for comparison (and you haven’t already), you could try our own free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. Do let us know through the built in help function if you have any questions or need help with the process.
Beyond UC, CTS or contributory JSA, if you are renting, you might be able to get support with payments from your local council through the Discretionary Housing Payment scheme. We have some information on this and other forms of support for those affected by COVID-19 on our FAQ page here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/.
I hope this helps. If you are comfortable doing so, do let me know why the calculators you tried said you weren’t entitled to anything, as that might help us to provide some more specific advice.
I Recently started a new job on the 23rd of March and laid of on the 31st of March with immediate effect and i was told via a letter that that my employer was unable to offer me the Covid-19 Retention Scheme because the time served with them was less than the qualification time permitted by the Goverment as a way of retaining my emloyment.
I also had a letter from my employer when not required and therefore asked to stop work, you will receive a minimum of 80% of your standard pay (up to a maximum of £2500 p/mth as the government support information.
Can you please tell me where i stand.
Thank you.
Hi Nick,
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is available for employees that were on companies’ PAYE systems on the 28th of February this year. For this reason I don’t think you would be eligible to be furloughed. Perhaps the second letter was sent out as a general statement or in error?
If you have less than £16,000 in savings, you may be eligible to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. Also, if you made sufficient National Insurance contributions in the last two years you may be eligible for contributory Job Seekers Allowance. You can check your eligibility for these (and other) benefits using our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. You might also find our COVID-19 FAQ page helpful (we are updating it regularly, and it includes information on other specific kinds of support, e.g., with rent payments): https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/.
I hope this is helpful, but do let us know if you have any other questions we can help with.
A forloughed worker can apply for Universal Credit to help to pay the rent without loosing the access to the job retention scheme?
If yes, in the application shall I insert my real hourly pay multiplying 32 hours per week that are 80% of my weekly contract hours?
Thanks in advance.
Laura
Hi Laura,
Yes, employees furloughed under the new Job Retention Scheme can still claim for Universal Credit (and Council Tax Support). What you suggest sounds like the right way to proceed for the application. Your eventual UC payments will be based on earnings information gathered directly from your employer’s PAYE system, so it will be adjusted automatically if your employer chooses to put you on furlough. However, for the application, entering 80% of your normal would be the right way to proceed.
I hope this helps. Do let us know if you have any other questions.
I have been made a furloughed worker. Originally the plan was that the company would pay us until the loan from the government kicks in. Today I have been told the company can’t afford to do this. I have been left with no money at all and have bills due to go out any day. I don’t think I will be entitled to universal credit as I get paid weekly and have only just stopped receiving wages. Am I entitled to any help?
Hi Remi,
You might be eligible for Universal Credit. Your first payment will be based on a one month assessment period, which begins the day you claim. So if your last weekly payment has already come in, and you’re not expecting any more in the next month, if you applied today none of the previous payments should be relevant. You can use our calculator to see how much you might be eligible for https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
You might also want to consult ACAS about your rights while your employer is not paying you: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
Best wishes.
Hi ive been put on furlough by my company, can i claim universal credit aswell as being on the scheme?
Hi Ashley,
You might be able to. It will depend on the level of your new income and your savings. If you input your new situation into our calculator it will tell you what you might be eligible for https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free When asked, if you select that you are in work and enter your gross income as what it will be now (ie 80% of your usual gross income).
If you have any further questions please do get in touch.
We have an employee who is taking 12 weeks leave as her son is extremely vulnerable and requires shielding. Our company is continuing to trade and has no problems paying wages and no one is being Furloughed.
Does this employee qualify to be paid either SSP or Furlough? (my understanding is Furlough is only for companies who cannot pay the wages)
Thank you
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for getting in touch. The government has recently updated its guidance to clarify that employees can be furloughed if they are in the “vulnerable” category that has been advised to shield, or they cannot work as they need to care for others (e.g. they need to look after their children). So from what you’ve said it sounds like you would be able to furlough your employer under these new guidelines.
You can see the full government guidance here under the heading “Employees with caring responsibilities”: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Best wishes.
hello
I’m a key worker, working as mortgage advisor in a call centre setting, employed for 5 years. I’m a single parent and have 2 children between the age of 3 and 10 years. Because the schools are currently closed due to COVID 19, I cannot go to work and there isn’t working from home currently available with my employer. My question is – am I entitled to be furloughed by my employer or is it at the discretion of my employer? I have checked the HMRC guidance for people caring for children not able to work and it says ‘speak to your employer if they plan to furlough employees’. what ar the options I have so that I still get paid as I still have bills to pay. Many thanks Worried parent
Hi Emma,
Unfortunately the decision is down to your employer. However, the government has recently updated its guidance to be explicit that employees can be furloughed if they are in the “vulnerable” category that has been advised to shield, or they cannot work as they need to care for others (e.g. they need to look after their children). So from what you’ve said it sounds like your employer would be able to furlough you if they chose to. So it might be worth talking to your employer and making sure they’ve seen this latest guidance (particularly see under “Employees with caring responsibilities”), and asking whether they might consider furloughing you: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
If they are unwilling to, it may be worth consulting employment rights specialists ACAS to see what your rights are, particularly as you’ve worked there for five years: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
If you do lose your income from work, you can also use our benefits calculator to see what extra support you might be eligible for: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free and Turn2us have also launched a grant program for those who’ve lost income due to Coronavirus, so that may be worth bearing in mind too: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/Turn2us-Funds/Turn2us-Coronavirus-Grant-Fund
I hope that helps and that your employer does decide to furlough you. If you have any more questions, please do let us know
Best wishes.
Hi there. Both my partner and I have lost our jobs. We live in a rented house and we own a smaller property we rent out. I am under the impression we cannot evict our tenants right now due to the Coronavirus situation. That said am I right in thinking as we own that property we cannot claim any benefit support. I am homeschooling both my boys and have been a stay at home mum for years whilst my husbands career took off in software. We have been treated very badly and have a legal claim against some withheld Salary and bonus payment a from his American company. But with all our money tied up in the property and no way of accessing it – we have no income coming in. What are our rights?
Hi Sarah,
In most circumstances a second property will be counted as savings, so unfortunately that may mean you are over the savings limit for means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit. However there may be some non-means tested benefits such as contributory JSA you are eligible for. You can use our benefits calculator to see how these rules might apply to your situation: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Hopefully your tenants’ incomes will be protected and will continue to pay their rent so that will remain a source of income for you, but as you say it is more difficult to evict tenants now. You can see a summary of the new rules here: https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/coronavirus
In terms of your rights around your work, it might be worth getting in touch with ACAS to see if there’s any further protection you are eligible for: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
Turn2us has also launched a grant program for those who’ve lost income due to COVID-19, so that might also be a source of help for either you or your tenants: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/Turn2us-Funds/Turn2us-Coronavirus-Grant-Fund
Best wishes.
My partners firm has put him on furlough but is not paying him until he receives grant money – as he will not be able to apply to end of April what can he do meanwhile he has signed form for furlough but will get no money for the foreseeable future .
Hi Angie,
If you have under £16,000 in savings you can apply for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support in the meantime. This will not affect your income from the furlough scheme. You can use the calculator (links on this page) to see if you would qualify. Further information on both these benefits is also given on this page. If you do decide to apply you should do this as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated.
Best wishes.
Hi Angie,
I am very sorry to hear that – we are hearing of a few employers doing this, and unfortunately there currently isn’t anything in the Job Retention Scheme regulations stopping it. If you have less than £16,000 in savings, you may be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support to help cover costs whilst waiting for the furloughed payments. If you are eligible for UC you may also qualify for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) from your local council to help with your rent. You can check your eligibility for Universal Credit using our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free, and we have some information about DHPs on this page.
I hope this helps, but please let us know if you have any further questions.
Hi there,
Just wondering but when exactly would we be getting this 80% of wages? Also when is the best time to speak to my employer about it? I spoke to him last week about it and he said he was going to speak to his accountant , put us on Furlough leave and get back in contact but he hasn’t got in contact. Any thoughts on this, would greatly appreciate your advice.
Many thanks
Hi Met,
The scheme is expected to start paying from the end of April. The government website where your employer will need to apply has also not yet been set up and is also expected to be ready near the end of April. We’d expect that the sooner your employer applies, the more likely it is that the grant to cover your wages will come through sooner. Therefore the sooner you can confirm with your employer that they plan to apply the better – but bear in mind that the decision on whether to apply is down to the employer, so it will ultimately be up to them to decide if and when they apply. If your employer does plan to furlough you, they should confirm it to you in writing.
If you normally have contracted hours and you are not currently working or being paid it may also be worth speaking to employment specialists ACAS to clarify your situation and what your rights are: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
As there’s currently a delay where you may have reduced or no income, you may well be eligible for Universal Credit during this period. You can use our benefits calculator to see how much you might be eligible for: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
If you are eligible, we’d recommend applying as soon as possible. Your first Universal Credit payment will be determined based on a one month assessment period which starts on the day you first claim, so the sooner you apply, the less likely it is that you’ll receive your first furlough payment during that assessment period, meaning you are likely to be eligible for more Universal Credit.
Best wishes.
Hiya wondering is
Tax, National insurance and pension taken out of the 80% you recieve or is that covered too?
Thanks
Hi Elisha,
You will still pay tax and NI on the income you receive. You will receive the income in the same way as your usual pay, so your taxes will come out in the same way (although as you may be receiving less, you may not need to pay as much tax).
Both you and your employer will also continue making pension contributions as normal.
Best wishes.
Can the company you work for ppt out of the 80 percent payment
Hi Paul,
Yes, companies are not obliged to make use of the new Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
I hope this helps. Let us know if you have any other questions.
I work shifts I get an allowance for my shift work will that be included in my 80% of my month pay
Hi Christine,
If you are on variable pay, your employer can claim for earnings based on either your earnings in the same month from last year, or for your average earnings for the 2019/20 tax year (whichever is higher). So, as far as we can tell from the guidance yes, your shift work allowance can be factored into your earnings for the Job Retention Scheme. If it helps (you or your employer), the government guidance on the Job Retention Scheme can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme. We are also maintaining a regularly updated COVID-19 FAQ page, which we will update if any specific information is released about the handling of earnings from shift work: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/.
I hope this helps, but do let us know if you have any further questions.
My daughter returned to work last November after being on maternity leave for 9 months. They are talking about furlough but this time last year she was just being paid maternity pay and her salary over the last 12 months reflects that. If she was to be furloughed then using either average salary over last 12 months or salary in march last year would mean she is on way less than her usual pay. Can her employer just use the months since she returned to work to calculate her average salary
Hi Lynda,
If your daughter has a regular wage or salary then her employer can use this to calculate the amount they can get reimbursed while she is furloughed. Calculating earnings based on the same month last year or the 2019/20 tax year average is only for employees whose pay varies. If your daughter’s pay does vary, then at present the guidance does not give specific information on calculating earnings for employees who were previously on maternity leave but have now returned. There is some guidance on what can be claimed for those currently on maternity leave, but it’s unclear whether those calculations would be used for prior maternity leave (the official government guidelines on the scheme can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme in case this is helpful).
If your daughter does find herself on lower-income whilst furloughed, she may be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if she has less than £16,000 in savings. She can check her eligibility and find information on how to claim on our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
I’m sorry we don’t have more concrete information on the specific treatment of earlier maternity pay. We are keeping a close eye on the government releases and will be updating our COVID-19 FAQ as soon as we see any new information: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/. In the meantime, do let us know if there is anything else we can help with.
I’ve worked at a state school for over 10 years as an exam invigilator and am paid through PAYE. I was due to work as usual during May and June when I usually would earn about £550 for the Summer exam period. There is no intention by my school to furlough. Are they entitled to apply? – and would I be entitled to 80% payment based on previous years earnings for this period? It’s a big loss to my income in the year. Thanks
Hi Ruth,
Under the Job Retention Scheme, employers can furlough employees on part time, zero-hour, agency or flexible contracts. For employees with variable earnings, employers can claim for either their earnings from the same month last year, or their average earnings in the 2019-20 tax year, whichever is higher. If it’s at all helpful, the official guidance on the Job Retention Scheme can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.
I hope this is helpful, but do let us know if you have any other questions we can help with.
I started work on 24th February as a salaried club manager I never got a month in for my payroll to be processed , how do I stand for furlough
Hello Alan,
What unfortunate timing for you. Whether you are eligible isn’t exactly clear, what matters is whether you were a PAYE employee prior to February 28. If your employer added you into their system after this date, but backdated your pay to your first day on February 24th, you could be eligible- but your employer will have to agree to furlough you and then take this to HMRC to explain. Your employer should be able to clarify this for you.
Hope this helps and all the best.
Hi there
My wife is on the vulnerable list and therefore shielding. Can I claim ESA as I can’t find a new job?
I am self employed and all work has dried up. I should get something in June, but feel that ESA should be payable as I have to protect my wife?
The info here suggests not as my children are not self isolating and the info suggests I can only claim if they are self isolating?
Furthermore I had symptoms, but they have now passed which also meant I couldn’t work while I had some self employed work. Have been calling the UC/ESA line for weeks and not been able to get through, ever!!
Thank you
Hi Robert,
Depending on some finer details of your situation you may be able to claim Universal Credit and Council tax support. To check if you are eligible you can use our Better Off Calculator (link above). You can start the process online, verify yourself, and your income online without having to speak to them on the phone.
If your wife cannot work as she has to self-isolate due to COVID-19 she can also apply for Statutory Sick Pay, she can find out more information here: https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay.
I hope that helps.
Hi I have been working in a leisure centre cafe since December and im only 17 years of age on HMRC (contracted) my pay varies each month depending on the hours i have worked. Will I still get the 80% allowance from the GOV?
Hi Klaudia,
If you were on the payroll for the Leisure Center on February 28th 2020 (which it sounds like you were) then you will be eligible for the 80% furlough scheme. You will have to talk to your employer and both of you have to agree to place you onto the scheme. You can find out more about the furlough scheme here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.
I hope this helps.
Hi,
My partner left a job before this all started to join a new one, they had to push back his induction date for his new job due to coronavirus. I work full time for the NHS as an admin, he tried to see if he was entitled to universal credit and he was only entitled to £15 a week. I cannot afford the household bills, my bills and his from my wage unfortunately.
Is there any help for him in his situation? Money is becoming tight and he is unsure of when he can return to his new job to start induction. It seems as if we’re getting nowhere with this because of my wage – which is enough to cover the household bills and fold.
Many thanks for all your help during this time.
Hello Jade,
I am sorry to hear about the timing of your partner’s change in employment during this stressful time.
In the meantime, you should try to receive all the support you can, including Universal Credit, and calling your local council to see if you can qualify for council tax support. It is important to apply for UC as soon as possible, as there is a five week wait for payments.
If your partner is currently not working but has been working for the last 2-3 years, he may be eligible for contributory or ‘new style’ JSA/ESA. You can find the details of how to qualify and apply on this page.
If you have a mortgage, discussing your new financial situation and coming to a revised payment plan with your lender is an important step, and the Government has introduced a 3 month mortgage holiday to help with these costs. Similarly with household bills and rent costs, it is a good idea to contact your providers to discuss your circumstances and if you are struggling to pay (evictions from rented properties have been suspended for 3 months, which can help if you would otherwise feel uncomfortable discussing your income and ability to pay with a landlord or agency).
I hope this helps your situation.
I have bn advised that I am now a furloughed employee. I don’t know if I should apply for UC as I have no idea what my income will be going forward. I know it will be 80% of my wage but is that before or after tax? I have no proof that my income will change until the end April.
Hello Carol,
The 80% is of your gross wage so you would need to pay NI and tax on it in the normal manner. You can estimate what your income will be and use our free calculator (Link: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free) to see whether you may be eligible for UC and other support. If you decide to apply for Universal Credit, the assessment period for your income begins the day you apply and lasts for five weeks, so whatever income you receive in that time will be taken into account.
I hope this helps.
My maternity allowance is going to end of April but bases on last year’s earnings with maternity allowance and ssp I didn’t earn a lot, can me employer put me into furlough and what can they include on the 80% scheme has my employer keeps telling me that I should the extra unpaid maternity leave but I won’t be able to live with no money and it’s not the 80% is coming out of there pockets, can you furlough yourself and if they won’t furlough can that be classed has unfair dismissal?
Hello Kelly,
Unfortunately, you cannot furlough yourself- it is up to your employer whether or not to furlough you.
However the same discrimination and employee rights apply when employers are choosing who to furlough and who not to furlough. If they have furloughed all other employees but don’t want to furlough you when you return from maternity, this could possibly be discriminatory. You should reach out to your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau for more specific advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/search-for-your-local-citizens-advice/
I don’t know if you have set date for your ‘return’ to work? You must give your employer at least 8 weeks notice if you want to change your return to work date.
In the meantime, however, you should use our free benefits calculator to see if you are eligible for any other support to top up your maternity pay, such as council tax support, Universal Credit or healthy start vouchers. Link: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Hope this helps.
Hi, I’ve taken unpaid leave as needed to self isolate as living with my elderly 87 yr father who has heart failure… also a 13 yr old son, also no additional people are allowed in the home to help my father when I’m at work . I’m employed for 17 hrs a week as a driver for an independent pharmacy delivering medication to customers and collecting scripts from surgeries so in contact with the general public. The pharmacy isn’t struggling financially during this crisis. Would my employer be eligible to Furlough me under these circumstances, would I qualify. many thanks.
Hello,
The guidelines state that employers can claim for furloughed employees who are shielding in line with public health guidance (or need to stay home with someone who is shielding) if they are unable to work from home and they would otherwise have to make them redundant. Furloughing employees is up to the discretion of the employer, so you will need to discuss this possibility with your employer to see if they would consider it. Unfortunately, you cannot furlough yourself.
Hope this helps, best wishes
Hi
Please can you tell me if the 80% is worked out on gross or nett pay.
I can’t find the answer anywhere and obviously it makes a difference. Thank you
Hello,
The full details don’t seem to be available yet, and the government has yet to clarify this point, but the current belief is that this is likely to be gross pay.
You can check this page for updates https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#how-much-you-can-claim
Best wishes
Hi there what a very useful web page. I was put at risk of redundancy on the 26th March (when working from home, following the PMs announcement on Monday 23rd March) I had a consultation meeting on the 30th March when it was explained that the Company financial results were not good and now with the Covid-19 issue they are fighting for their lives and will have to restructure. I argued that me and my Department( who were also put at risk) should be furloughed but the MD said that the furlough thing wasn’t all it was cracked up to be and he still has to pay wages if he went down that route and then claim them back ….(?) I was asked if I had any alternate to being made redundant and on the basis that the reason given for my Department being at risk was that he said our work could be outsourced I said why don you outsource it to me They have accepted this offer and a legal agreement is now being drawn up for the Co. and myself to sign. There is tremendous risk attached to this from my end as it is an agreement based on winning them work ( Bids, Tenders etc) and no retainer. The more I think about what they have done and how i have been treated is tantamount to constructive dismissal. Meanwhile today I have received my letter confirming my redundancy from the Co. HR Manager and my 3 month notice period ( that I have to work) has been calculated from the consultation meeting date ( 30th March) not today’s date – 6th April. Is this correct? I was under the impression that Redundancy notice commenced on the date you were formally made redundant I have found the whole experience very unsettling as I have always far exceed my job performance and have been promoted twice in a year and now this ! Is there anything I can do please ? Thank you
Hello,
I am very sorry but I am afraid we cannot advise on employment law, we can only give benefits advice. If you haven’t already, you should try to contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau for help. You can find your local Citizens Advice Bureau here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/search-for-your-local-citizens-advice/
Hope this helps.
Hi can you tell me where do I go for help please. I worked 11 years as a carer for an agency until February 2019. I started self employed as a cleaner for holiday cottages on 6th April 2019. I have today my tax ready to submit for 2019/2020 but lines are down.
Hi Sylvia,
Unfortunately you will not be eligible for either of the employment or self employment schemes. For the former (called the Job Retention Scheme) you need to have been furloughed by your employer and have been on a payroll system on the 28th February. For the latter (Self Employment Income Support scheme) you will need at least a tax return for 2018/19, so before you started work as self employed).
There is other support available though. Aside from the above schemes, you might be eligible for benefits such as Universal Credit and Council Tax Support, so long as your savings capital is less than £16,000. You can check this using our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. You’ll need to complete this for your household (so if you have a partner, adult children, or dependent children, their details should also be included). Someone will be available on the Live Chat to help you fill this in if you have questions about filling the calculator out. If you find that with this support you will still struggle, please do come back to this page as it will be regularly updated when new guidance comes out.
If what you need is to speak with HMRC about completing your tax return, then they are the best people to contact. It must be very stressful but I would suggest that you stay on the line, even if there are queues, as they are likely facing unprecedented demand.
I hope this helps and best wishes.
Good evening,
I was laid off the 20th of March which left me receiving only statutory payment from my company.
I applied for Universal Credit after thinking in my sad situation and worried for my income ( never applied for benefits before in my life ) They will call me at the end of this month and they will tell me if I am eligible.
My company had offered applying for me and rest of employees for the 80% salary scheme happily few days ago but there will be delay in our payments ( probably May ) . This month I won’t receive any income. My question is :
Does this change of situation leave me with no right for UC or am I still eligible at least for only this month?
I hope you can help me because I am really confused.
Thanks a lot in advance
Hi Victoria,
Your first Universal Credit payment will be judged based on your income and circumstances during your first assessment period, which is a period of one month starting from the date you make your claim. How much your first payment will be will depend on your income during that month.
So if you first made your claim in late March, and your 80% pay isn’t expected until May, you are likely to be eligible for Universal Credit, although it may depend when you received the statutory pay you mentioned, and how much that was. You can use our calculator to see how much you’re likely to get. If you set the date of claim to the date you first claimed and fill in your income for the assessment period that will give you an idea of what you might receive: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
If you urgently need income in the meantime you might be able to apply for an advance, though this would be deducted from later Universal Credit payments.
Your eligibility for Universal Credit in future will then be judged based on your circumstances over each monthly assessment period. So when your 80% pay comes in in May you may be eligible for less Universal Credit or you may no longer be eligible at all (but this will not impact how much you were paid for previous assessment periods).
I hope that helps. Do let us know if you have more questions.
Best wishes.
I work in an infant school as a catering assistant. My employer was Luton Borough Council which lost its catering contract with the school recently. My contract was with the Luton Borough Council until 27/3/20. The headteacher accepted a private catering company to provide service and my contract is transferred to the new company on 29/3/20. I signed the new contract on 2/3. As it’s a transfer of contract and so all the terms and conditions are unchanged. The school is closed from 24/3 and I received salary from the Council until 27/3. My question is will I be eligible to get 80% of salary from the new company for three months? Please advise. Thanks
Hi Emily,
Sorry to hear about this. It sounds like quite a complex case and at the moment I’m not certain whether this would mean you would be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. I think it will depend on whether the government consider you to have started a new job on 29 March or whether they consider it the same job as you had previously (and crucially the same job you had before 28 February).
As it will be your employer who need to make the claim for the scheme, I would recommend discussing with them whether they will make the claim for your job (and for any colleagues in the same situation). It might also be worth discussing the same with Luton council, depending on what your current employer says. On top of that, I would recommend getting in touch with ACAS or a trade union, as they will be able to give you more detailed advice on your situation and your rights: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
If at the moment you are not receiving any income, I would recommend seeing if you can apply for Universal Credit, and if you can, applying ASAP. You can use our calculator to see what help you might be eligible for with your current income: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
Hi
I have just spoken to tax credits directly but previously they have given me incorrect information so thought I would try here also and see what you thought.
My hours are the same, my partner has been furlough until further notice. Our child care provider might not be charging, (waiting for her to reply) as we are not sending them. We receive tax credits for child care only. If I reduce my child care to zero I was under the impression we would come off the tax credit system but the person I spoke to seemed to think not. Once things get back to normal my children will continue at childcare and my partner will hopefully return to work as we are likely to earn less this year compared to last.
Do I make them aware that we think our child care costs will go down to zero? If so, will we come off tax credits? Will we then be able to apply in the future for tax credits or will only be able to apply for universal credit.
Thank you for your help.
Hi Emma,
I’m afraid we’ve not seen any guidance clearly updating their usual position on changes to hours of childcare, but generally, they have said that changes to hours worked will be ignored for 8 weeks, so it is possible they may be similarly relaxing the conditions you mention.
If you do decide to take the advice you received when calling them it may be a good idea to keep a record of when the call was and what was said (and who it was with, if you have that info), as well as any call record you might have, just so you have a record in future if needed. You could also get in touch with Citizens Advice to see if they are able to provide more detailed advice on your case: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/
If you were to come off of tax credits during this period, any future application you made would need to be for Universal Credit. You can use our calculator to see how that might impact your situation: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
Hi, I changed jobs in February, starting a new job on 24th February so I assumed that I would be eligible for the 80% payment. I have now been told by my employer that I am unlikely to qualify because the company payroll for February was run 2 days before my employment commenced, so I was not on PAYE payroll on 28th February. I was actually employed and being paid from 24th February so is this correct? I’d be grateful for any advice.
Thanks.
Hi Gary,
Unfortunately the current guidelines on the Job Retention Scheme require employees to be on the PAYE system on 28th February. We are monitoring the government releases around the scheme closely and will update our FAQ page (https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19) if we see any updates on this point, but at present, it looks like you would not be eligible.
If you are not kept on by your employer as a result of this, you may be able to claim contributory Job Seekers Allowance if you have made sufficient National Insurance contributions over the past two years (more information on contributory JSA can be found on the FAQ page). If you find yourself on low income as a result of COVID-19 and your savings are less than £16,000, you may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can check your eligibility for these benefits using our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
I hope this was helpful, but please do let us know if we can help with anything else.
Hi my son works at a professional stadium which has been closed due to Covid -19. He has not been put on Furlough but instead been asked to go and work at a factory (nothing to do with the stadium) which is an hours drive away and which operates shifts. The shift he has been given is 2 – 10pm whereas he normally works 9-5. His girlfriend he lives with is asthmatic, so he is also worried about what he could potentially take home. All other employees have been furloughed but my son was told he was not eligible as he had no family to look after. Can the Company do this?
Hi Gill,
I am very sorry to hear about your son’s situation. Unfortunately the Job Retention Scheme relies upon employers offering it to their employees. It is at the employer’s discretion who to furlough. However, there is nothing in the scheme regulations that makes someone ineligible if they don’t have family. Any employee who was on the employer’s PAYE system on February 28th can be furloughed. If it is at all helpful, the official government guidance on the scheme can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.
If your son’s employer does not choose to furlough him, and your son loses his job, he may be eligible for contributory Job Seeker’s Allowance if he has made sufficient National Insurance contributions over the past two years. You can find out more information about contributory JSA on our COVID-19 FAQ page here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19. If he has less than £16,000 and is on lower or zero income, he may also be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. If this is the case, your son might find it helpful to use our free online calculator (https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free) to check his exact eligibility for these (and other) forms of support.
I hope this is helpful, but please do let us know if there’s anything else we can help with.
Hi, I was recently laid off without pay. Im not sure which kind of benefits I am entitled to
Hello Charlotte,
I’m sorry to hear you recently lost your job. There are many possible benefits out there and listed on this page, but they all depend on your situation.
– You may be eligible for New Style JSA. This is a benefit for people who have previously been working and have paid national insurance in the last 2-3 years. You can find out more information to see if you would be eligible here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-jsa.
– If your savings are below £16,000 you may be able to get support from Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. These are separate benefits and must be applied for separately. We suggest applying as soon as possible, as Universal Credit cannot be backdated and there is a minimum five-week wait for payments.
You can check this using our free online calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Hi I am currently working through an agency. My Manager has notified me that in by next week all staff will be furloughed, it is my understanding that they have asked the agency to put me on furlough and we are awaiting feedback. My manager feels I should not be discriminated against as he would like me to come back with the rest of the team when the company re-opens. Do I have to rely on the agencies discretion in this situation?
Hello Mandy,
As you work for an agency, who decides on whether or not to furlough you depends on your specific situation. According to the government website:
“Furlough should be agreed between the agency, as the deemed employer, and the worker, though it would be advised to discuss the need to furlough with any end clients involved. As with employees, agency workers should perform no work for, through or on behalf of the agency that has furloughed them while they are furloughed, including for the agency’s clients.
Where an agency supplies clients with workers who are employed by an umbrella company that operates the PAYE, it will be for the umbrella company and the worker to agree whether to furlough the worker or not.”
You can see the full guidance here on the government website https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#employees-you-can-claim-for
When employers are deciding who to offer furlough to, equality and discrimination laws will apply in the usual way.
I hope you are able to get the support you need, best wishes
Hi I work for an agency and I am paid by an umbrella company. I started work on the 24th February but the Umbrella company did not contact me for two weeks. In the end they backdated my pay to the 24th but I would not have been registered with PAYE until March due to their error. Will I still be furloughed? The contract was supposed to be until July so I have lost £10000 in wages. Thanks
Hello Lisa,
What unfortunate timing for you.
If your pay was backdated so you were PAYE on the 28th sounds perhaps you may qualify. The employer would need to take this up with HMRC on your behalf. It is also up to your employer whether or not to furlough you.
Best of luck and hope this helps
Wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction, My adult son moved to Spain October 19, stayed without luck of finding employment, came back to uk on February 12 th…his old employer asked him to start back to work on 16th February, moving forward to March when government closed cafes, my son was told for obvious reasons there wasn’t work, as the government announced furlough he didn’t worry….he’s now been told by his employer that he didn’t put my son onto his books until the 1st March…….meaning he isn’t eligible for furlough…..he’s tried to apply for universal credit but it’s asking for proof of identity…he only has 1 ( passport)…..he doesn’t have driving licence or utility bill……question I guess I’m asking is what does he do now……he’s staying with me but I only work part time and have a dependant son also so my money can only go so far.
Hi Helen,
I’m sorry that you and your son are in this situation. One thing to do would be to speak with the employer to ask them if it is possible for them to backdate your son’s payroll start date so that he was a PAYE employee on 28th February. The employer would need to speak with HMRC on this. If this is possible, his employer should then be able to place him on furlough.
Regarding Universal Credit – someone from the DWP should be able to get back to him via the phone to discuss his proof of identity. They are facing large demand at the moment so waiting times are longer than usual, but they have confirmed that they’ll be phoning people back to prevent you/ your son having to stay on hold for a long time.In the meantime, this citizens advice page explains exactly what he’ll need to make a UC claim: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/applying-for-universal-credit/
I hope this helps, and best wishes.
Hi I quit my job on the 15th march and I started a new contract on the 16th.
I would to know if I able to have the 80% of my wage with a contract full time in both of places. Thank you
Hi Emanuela,
Unfortunately, neither employer can request to put you on furlough at 80% of wages, which means you will not be able to claim this.
We are monitoring the government releases around the scheme closely and will update our FAQ page (https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19) if we see any updates on this. If your income and savings are low, you may be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support, which you can check using our online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
Best wishes.
Hi please could you clarify something for me I started a 2month contract on the 18th Feb 2020, & due to the coronavirus my contract ended on the 18th March, which the company paid me up until the 31st March, I asked if there was a chance I could be entitled to furlough as a difficult time recruiting . the company replied and have said The scheme will be subject to HMRC audits & there could be a question mark, if they where to place me on furlough,
given the short time & nature and the impending end date of the contract , previously I was made redundant on the 24/12/2019 after 12years,
Would I be entitled to any benefits my husband is working, , but I still have bills to pay. .
Hi Debbie,
Yes, if your capital is below £16,000 and your income is low, you may be able to claim benefits such as Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. There are also other forms of support available such as Discretionary Housing Payments (to meet housing costs – you can apply for these via your local council) and mortgage holiday (you will need to speak to your lender about this).
I hope this helps.
I am not being paid (previous message)
Hi Linda,
Yes – it is possible for you to be placed on the furlough scheme. In fact, the government specifically mention that needing to shield due to illness is a scenario where employers should consider placing people on furlough. I would recommend getting in touch with your employer to ask about this since the decision ultimately rests with them. You can find more information about how the scheme works here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
All the best,
Hi I am a carer( paid carers allowance) for my partner who has pulmonary fibrosis and heart failure among other illnesses my GP said not to go to work at Tesco I had to shield and we both had to self isolate. Tesco are my paying my wages cos my partner is vulnerable not me. Would I be covered by furlough scheme
Hi. I am a school mini bis driver, on a 0-hours contract,but paid via the PAYE scheme. What are my entitlements? I have been working for the school for over 12 months, and my monthly earning vary, dependent on the number of hours i receive? As i am already paid by the government, form the school budget, are my earnings protected? Any advice would be greatly received.
Thanks
John
Hi John,
You should be eligible for the Job Retention Scheme since you are paid via PAYE. This means you can get 80% of your wages paid by your employer. Since your monthly earnings vary, the amount you receive will be based on 80% of your earnings for the same month in 2019, or your average earnings in 2019/20. You can find more information about the Job Retention Scheme at the top of this page.
Hope this helps.
All the best.
Hi,
I am currently in contract (working through an umbrella company in their payroll , not through LTD company)since March 2019 till 17th April 2020.
I won’t be able to go for any other job after that and it will impact me severely to pay my bills.
As the Chancellor announced that 95% of the people will be covered with the Government Scheme, please can you advise how much I will be covered and who to contact to ?
Kind regards,
Joyirc
Hi Joyirc,
Since you were on your employer’s payroll in February, you should be eligible for the Job Retention Scheme. However, I would recommend getting in touch with your employer to ask if they would consider if they would keep you on as an employee after 17th April so that you can stay on the Job Retention Scheme. Since the government would pay your employer a grant to cover 80% of your wages, this option should not leave your employer out of pocket.
If your employer does not agree to this, you should be eligible for benefits. You may be eligible for New Style JSA. This is a benefit for people who have previously been working and have paid national insurance in the last 2-3 years. You can find out more information to see if your son would be eligible here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-jsa. If your savings are below £16,000 he may be able to get support from Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. They can check this using our online calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
All the best.
Hello , can I clarify , if I am working from home due to corona virus my attachment of earnings will be suspended until July ?
Hi Lisa,
Attachment of earnings to repay some types of debts have been suspended. These debts include DWP benefit overpayments, housing benefit overpayments, tax credit overpayments and Social Fund loans. These will automatically stop until July at the earliest. As far as we know, all other attachment of earnings will continue as normal.
I hope that helps.
All the best.
Please help…..I have worked For my present employers for 18 years, and recently had a pay rise at the end of January.
I have a contract for 40 hours per week at 12 per hour, and get paid weekly. I am now furloughed and the accountant has informed me that I don’t get 80% of my current wage but 80% of my average earnings from last year, leaving me around £70 per week down.
Is this correct?
Hi Ruth,
Unfortunately if your monthly earnings fluctuate then the retention payment for which you are eligible will be calculated on your average monthly earnings over the past 12 months. It is possible for your employer to top this up if they choose to, but they do not have a duty to do so.
Best wishes.
My employer has asked me to agree to be furloughed with payment only being made when they receive it from the government. Is it wise for me to accept this given I thought it was for reimbursement. My employer is basically saying they cannot afford to pay it out first due to cashflow.
Thanks
Hi Amy,
The funding for the Job Retention Scheme is expected to be available in the coming weeks. It is to the discretion of each employer whether they pay their staff before this payment comes through.
I recommend asking your employer to email you the furlough agreement as soon as possible to safeguard the payment if you are concerned about whether to trust your employer. Once you have each signed the document, you will be guaranteed the payment.
Best wishes.
Hi
My husband started self employment in March 2019 as a private hire. He is not working at present due to covid 19 .Do we have to report tax credits about change of hours? Because we have tax and working tax credits.We also have child care payments from them.We are sacred of applying for housing benefit as we dont want to be transfer to UC.Please advice us what are our options?
Hi Maria,
You do not need to report this change for at least the next 8 weeks. HMRC have confirmed that due to coronavirus, they will ignore changes to working hours and continue to pay tax credits as before. I would check this page before the 8 weeks is up, since it is possible that these 8 weeks will be extended.
I would recommend using our benefit calculator to see how much income you would receive under Universal Credit, as it may be that the housing element within UC would mean you are actually better off applying. However, it is also important to consider the five week wait for the initial UC payment, as tax credits would stop over this time. (You may be able to apply for an ‘advance’ loan payment during this time, though it would need to be repaid over the coming year).
Best wishes.
Hi Alannah.
Can you refer me to the HMRC announcement/confirmation that they will ignore changes to working hours for 8 weeks?
Hi Haider,
You can see the announcement on this page: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-overpayment-recovery-staff-guide?utm_source=914d2579-b73e-4796-97eb-ff7507522326&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate
Best wishes.
Hi,
I put in a claim for JSA which I know that I qualify for about 3 weeks ago. I got my notification of my universal credits on 2nd April for this months payment but firstly, there was no JSA on there so do you know how long that takes and is it backdated? do I get it separately or does it add on to my next UC payment? Also the government said a few weeks ago that there would be an extra £1000 UC but this was not added to my April payment. Is this going to be in May payment as I have struggled to pay my rent which is due on 1st of each month. Any advice would be helpful. Thank you.
Hi Louise,
Firstly can I check that your JSA claim was for new-style JSA? To be eligible for this you need to have paid sufficient National Insurance over the last two years. You will only be eligible for the other forms of JSA if you are in receipt of a severe disability premium.
If you are eligible then you should normally begin receiving payments within two weeks of your claim, this will go straight into your bank account and is backdated to the day that you claimed. Any JSA you receive is separate to your Universal Credit payments.
Regarding the increase to your Universal Credit, this £1000 is spread over the year so it could increase your monthly award by about £80. You should notice this on your first payment after the 6th April, as the change was brought in at the beginning of the new financial year.
I hope this helps, but please feel free to ask any further questions.
Hi
I work in retail we sell some essentials and are staying open during all this.
If I was to ask for the time off would I receive 80% of my salary from the government?
I started my job on February 24th.
I’m worried about taking anything back to my family as I’m the only one needing to leave the house for work.
Looking forward on hearing back from you.
Hello Tony,
Unfortunately, if you want to ask to go on furlough and receive 80% of your pay, you need to ask your employer – and it is up to them whether they will approve it for you. When on furlough, you cannot do any work for the company for a minimum of three weeks. Otherwise, if you are sick or self-isolating in line with government advice, you can claim statutory sick pay instead.
You can see the full government guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#employees-you-can-claim-for
Best of luck
Hi
I started a new job in a retail store on the 24/2/20 we sell very limited food, cleaning and medicine items yet we are classed as a key store and are remaining open during the scare.
They haven’t put any protection for us in to place yet we have been given gloves we are due to get face masks and visors sometime next week.
I stay at home with my family and I’m worried about bringing anything back.
Where do I stand in time off work and would I be eligible for the 80% of my wage.
Thanks
Hello Anton,
Unfortunately, if you want to ask to go on furlough and receive 80% of your pay, you need to ask your employer- and it is up to them whether they will approve it for you. When on furlough, you cannot do any work for the company for a minimum of three weeks. Otherwise, if you are sick or self-isolating in line with government advice, you can claim statutory sick pay instead. As you started before February 28, you should hopefully be eligible for this scheme if you were added to your employer’s PAYE prior to February 28.
You can see the full government guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#employees-you-can-claim-for
Best of luck
Hi, my husband and I are a self-employed partnership. Our total trading profits exceed £50,000; however, when split between us are below £50,000 each. Will we qualify? Many thanks
Hi Susan,
For the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, partnership trading profits are included within your self-employed profits. This means you will not be eligible for support through the scheme.
You may however be eligible for support through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.
All the best.
Thank you very much for your reply. Just to clarify we don’t have any separate self employed profits, just our partnership share, which is under £50,000 each. Essentially my question is – is the £50,000 limit for the partnership as a whole (both of our profits added together) or is the £50,000 limit applied to our individual share of the partnership profits? Thank you
Hi Susan,
If you are a partnership, the members of the partnership will each have submitted an individual self-assessment form with their share of the partnership profits. This is the amount that HMRC will use. If you shared your profits, then it will be your share that is taken into account.
Best wishes
Thank your very much, that’s very helpful!
Hi there. I have a rental property and the tenants have stopped paying rent. It is my only income. The property itself is over £16K. Does that count as an asset which would stop me applying for Universal Credit?
Hi Elizabeth,
If you are not living in that property then yes this will be included as savings, making you ineligible for Universal Credit. The amount counted as savings will be the current market value (‘surrender value’) of the property, minus 10% (this is disregarded due to the potential costs that would be involved in selling the property).
All the best.
Hi. I live in Northern Ireland but work in Republic of Ireland. My employer sent us home last week as I work on construction site. I got a letter from my doctor also to say I have to self isolate due to medical condition. Where do I claim – in Republic or UK and any idea what benefit I’m entitled to? My employer didn’t furlough me as he is Republic based.
Hi Stephen,
Since you are resident in Northern Ireland you can claim benefits in the UK. If you have made sufficient National Insurance contributions over the past two years you may be eligible for contributory Employment and Support Allowance, which is available to people who are self-isolating due to COVID-19.
If you have savings of less than £16,000 you may also be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can find out exactly what benefits you are eligible for, how much support you would receive, and information on how to claim using our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
You can also find detailed information about the support available to those affected by COVID-19 on our FAQ page: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/#1584897416428-ee884a83-f33e, which we are updating regularly as new information gets released.
I hope this is helpful, but do let us know if you have any other questions.
I started a new job on the 9th March 2020, but i have been told that i am not entitled to furlong pay as i started after the 28th February 2020. What can i do?
Hi Ian,
If you are on low income as a result of COVID-19 and have less than £16,000 in savings, you may be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You check your eligibility for these kinds of support and find information about how to claim on our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
If you lose your job as a result of COVID-19 and you have made sufficient National Insurance contributions in the last two years, you may be eligible for contributory Job Seekers Allowance. Again, you can find out more about this through the calculator linked above. You can also find more information about these (and other types of support you might be eligible for) on our COVID-19 FAQ page here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19.
I hope this helps, but let me know if there’s anything else I can help with.
Hi I was just wonding if this 80 percent is before tax because my normal wage is 1090 after tax so will I’ll get 80 percent of that or 80 percent of 1250 i get before tax thank you
Hi Bobby,
Wages that get reimbursed through the new Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme are largely treated as normal earnings, so will be subject to income tax, national insurance, pension contributions etc as normal. The 80% is therefore calculated before tax. Details of the scheme can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme, in case this helps.
Best regards.
Hi, I am.working in a company the last 18 months with contract. Due to coronavirus I am in a furlough leave since 1 st of April and until.the end of May. Can I apply for universal credit to get some help to pay my house rent? If yes ,in the question “are you curently working?” What is the correct answer? Since I not working at the moment, but also I cannot search for another job since I am not fired yet
Could you please help me?
Thank you
Hi Elena,
Yes, you can apply for Universal Credit whilst furloughed, if you have less than £16,000 in savings. You can find out how much support you would be eligible for using our free online calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. Just enter your income as it is under the furlough scheme. The results page also includes information and links for how to begin the Universal Credit claim process.
I hope this helps – do let us know if you have any other questions.
What is the position for a sole director of a company who takes all their income as a dividend? Ie not on PAYE and no trading income on tax return? Many thanks.
Hi Anna,
If you are only paid through dividends, unfortunately you won’t be covered by the self-employment income support scheme. However, if you also pay yourself a wage through PAYE, you should be eligible for the coronavirus job retention scheme. This means you should get 80% of the wage you pay yourself covered by a government grant. You can find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
In the meantime, you may be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support, as long as your savings are less than £16,000. You can use our online calculator (linked above) to see if you’re eligible.
Best wishes.
Hi. I am self employed and have a cafe. As I am a sole trader and it is a newish business, I have yet to make a profit in the last three years. This year was hopefully going to be the turning point and i would be able to make a profit. The government says it will help the self employed by giving them 80% of their taxable profit, but what happens if you are yet to make a profit. I have had to close due to the virus, so am losing money as i still have to pay rent, electric etc. is there going to be anything for me? Many thanks
Hi Debbie,
This depends on the type of profit you are talking about. The terminology used talks about trading profits which are generally assumed to be gross profits. If you qualify then HMRC will be in contact with you. If you pay yourself as an employee through PAYE you will be able to apply for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. If you need more immediate assistance you should certainly consider applying for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. Information about these is given on this page. You should apply as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated.
Best wishes.
Hi I’m self employed earning £10k per year plus £9k pension and have a portfolio of properties (not a limited company). Does the rental income count thus taking me over the 50% of income therefore making me unable to claim support for not being able to do my self employed job?
Hi Ian,
If your rental income is not part of your business then you should be eligible for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme as your profits are below £50,000. As the grant is only available from July, it would be worth applying for any benefits that you may be eligible for. To find out what benefits you could claim, try filling out our calculator, it is linked to at the top of this page.
Best wishes.
hi i was hoping you could help me…I am a limited company (been set up since march 2019). I am the only person in my company and I have been effected by Covid-19. My company is mb transport ltd (11877115). I had work fully booked up to October 2020, but when the virus hit in March I lost all of the work literally over night. I am a professional driver for the music industry and I was working for a firm called Starsleeper as their main lead driver. I have been doing work for them them since I set up my own firm in March 2019. I invoice Starsleeper every month for my services to them. As I am not classed as self employed due to being a limited company, I am unable to claim anything that the government has put out there. I am not able to apply for a grant as I don’t have business rates. I have applied for a company loan with Barclays who I have my company account with, but that have turned me down due to my company never having a loan or credit card. is there anything than I can apply for he help me through this uncertain time?
Hi Michael,
If you are self-employed through your limited company you will be eligible for Coronavirus Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. This will automatically be offered to you if you have submitted tax returns for the 2018/19 financial year, have less than £50,000 in annual profits, are trading in 2019/20 and intend to continue trading in 2020/21. Alternatively, If you have paid yourself as an employee through PAYE you can claim a grant for up to 80% of your PAYE income (up to £2,500). If you need more immediate assistance you should certainly consider applying for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. Information about these is given on this page. You should apply as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated.
Best wishes.
Hi I hope someone can help. My partner is a self employed construction worker and because of the virus is now not working. I work in a school and still on full pay (working 1 week out of 10). We will only have my wages coming in now, which only covers the rent (privately renting) and council tax. I have tried searching what benefits etc he could claim and nothing is coming back. We have no money to pay bills or buy food. What, if anything can we do?
Hi Lisa,
If your husband is self employed through his limited company he could be eligible for the Coronavirus Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. This will automatically be offered to him if he has submitted tax returns for the 2018/19 financial year, has less than £50,000 in annual profits, and is trading in 2019/20 and intends to continue trading in 2020/21. Alternatively, If he has paid himself as an employee through PAYE he can claim a grant for up to 80% of his PAYE income (up to £2,500).
If you need more immediate assistance you should certainly consider applying for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. Information about these is given on this page and you can use our calculator to see what you are eligible for. You should apply as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated.
Best wishes.
Hi all,
I have a question about something I don’t seem to find an answer anywhere, not even on the government website:
If I have work until April 9th (included), I get furloughed for the rest of the month (so my company meets the minimum 3 weeks required) and 80% of my wages are still above £2500 for the 3 weeks period, would I get paid in full from my company from 1 to 9 April plus £2500 from the government or would I get full pay from 1 to 9 from the company plus £2500×21/30?
Thank you for your help,
Alex
Hi Alex,
As the Government talks of a minimum furlough period of 3 weeks, we presume this is going to be pro-rata. In other words, the employer will give the dates of furlough and the monthly claim, and the grant will be calculated and passed to the employer on a pro-rata basis. If we hear any more we will update our website.
It’s worth noting that this just applies to the grant the Government pays to the employer. The amount the employer pays you may differ (it will need to be at least up to the grant amount). So your employer may decide to pay full pay for the full month. You would need to clarify this with the employer.
Best wishes.
Hi
I work in FE and my contract finishes this week and I am due to start my new contract in another FE College on 20th April, I have signed my new contract, but feel it is unlikely the new place will be open, where would I stand?
Hi Annie,
This means you would not be eligible for the furlough scheme with your new employer. If this is something they plan to do you might want to mention your circumstances (as the employer has discretion over who to place on furlough or let go). It is permitted, however, for your previous employer to rehire you and then furlough you. You would need to contact them to ask whether they will agree to this.
Best wishes.
I have been advised by NHS to shield due to underlying health issues. My employer says I must apply for unpaid leave. I have checked all the government sites and I am unable to claim any money.
1 I am not ill
2. My husband works and has a small pension
What can I do other than to go into work and take a chance
Please help or advise on what I can do financially
Hi Christine,
Your employer may be able to furlough you, meaning you would not need to go into work, and your employer would get a government grant to cover 80% of your normal wages. The government have confirmed that this is a recommended option for people who are shielding due to health issues. I would recommend bringing this up with your employer- you can find more information about the scheme here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.
If this is not possible, you might be able to claim contributory Employment and Support Allowance (‘new style ESA’ is the formal name). Eligibility for this depends on your employment history and whether you’ve paid enough National Insurance Contributions for the last two tax years: 6-April-2017 to 5-April-2018 and 6-April-2018 to 6-April-2019. During this period you will have needed to have worked and paid Class 1 or Class 2 contributions in one of the years AND have paid, or been credited, 50 weeks worth of contributions over the two years.
If you and your husband’s combined income is low and savings are below £16,000 you may also be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support, which our free online calculator can help work out for you: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. This would be on top of your contributory ESA (if you are eligible for this).
I hope this helps and best wishes.
can you possibly help, My son has been sacked from work as they cannot afford him. Where can we turn. He has a mortgage and cannot claim anything for this because he hasnt had the mortgage very long. Im extremly worried for his metal health
Hi Julia,
I’m sorry to hear about this worrying situation. If your son has been working for the last 2-3 years and paying National Insurance contributions, he may be eligible for New Style JSA. You can find out more information to see if your son would be eligible here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-jsa. Your son may also be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if his capital savings are below £16,000.
This can be checked using our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. The final thing to consider is to have a further discussion with his mortgage provide to explain his situation and that current payments place him at risk of being unable to pay.
I hope this helps and best wishes.
Hello – I was working at a company from Nov-19 until 20 March 2020 on a temporary basis, employed and paid by a large recruitment agency. I’m presently not working. I knew at the outset that the arrangement would end in March, and I was paid a fixed day rate with PAYE deducted. a) Does it seem likely that I could receive the 80% Job Retention Scheme grant, provided that the agency would agree to re-hire me and put me on furlough? b) If they were to do this, what would be the effect on my entitlement to new style Jobseekers’ Allowance? (I had applied online for JSA on 21/3, but I haven’t heard back from the government as yet). Thanks, Dave.
Hello Dave,
This is a tough situation. She can only be put on furlough if her employer lets her do so. Employees with caring obligations can be put on furlough for that reason- but her employer will need to consent to it. I recommend she ask her employer as soon as possible to see if they can come to an agreement before the end of her maternity leave. I wish you and your daughter all the best.
Best wishes.
Hi Dave
Our understanding is the agency can re-hire you and furlough you. This would be up to them. In which case you would need to cancel your JSA claim. It is probably advisable to check with the agency if they will do this before cancelling the claim.
Best wishes
Self employed expecting max £1300 per month from grant. I am now claiming UC when I get grant in June do I have to pay uc payments for March and April back?
Hi Linda
No, you will not have to pay the grant back but it is taken into account as your self-employed earnings for the month in which it is paid so you will not get UC for that month. There is a little-used rule in UC called “surplus earnings”. This is likely to come into effect for those accessing the grant. it means that the grant will continue to be taken into account for the following months. Each month, the “surplus” is reduced by the amount that would be needed to reduce your UC to nil. There is also an amount ignored each month (£2,500). If you have no work allowance, then for you the amount would be £3,445. That means that the £7,500 grant is taken into account in month 1 and you will get no UC. In month 2, this is reduced by £3,445 leaving £4,055 to be taken into account as income and so again you will get no UC. In month 3, this is again reduced by £3,445 and £610 is taken into account as your income. That means you will start getting UC again from Month 3 after the grant. You will need to remember to reclaim your UC in this month.
I hope this helps
Best wishes
I’ve recently accepted a new job; and handed in my resignation a couple of weeks ago; but since this pandemic the new job have had to wait out employing me for a while till this blows over. So I’m stick in limbo between jobs. I said to my current employers that I’m my final date of work would be the 16th April. When talking to them about increasing my stay they said they couldn’t. Would I be entitled for the furloughed scheme by the company I am still under contract for? I have been working for the company before February last year too.
Hi Raj
Yes, your current company can include you in furlough. You can then terminate your employment once furlough ends or your new company is ready to employ you. You will need to discuss this with your current employer.
Best wishes
I am an exam invigilator, employed by a school, on PAYE and have two years work history with them. With the exams being cancelled, I am losing a few months almost full time work. I thought this would be covered by furlough under zero hours contracts. However my employer has said that as I am employed on a casual basis, based on need, it does not apply. They have also stated the following – “At this time, anybody who is employed/on a casual contract in the public sector cannot be furloughed”. Please can you offer some advice.
Hi Joanna
The Government has recently issued further advice re contingent workers in the public sector. There is explicit mention of furlough if the person cannot work in the office, or because of illness, or due to childcare. However, none of these apply in your case. It does appear though that the intention is to furlough employees like you that have been affected. You should ask your employer to reconsider this decision in the light of the new guidance. It would be useful to find out how they interpreted the advice to reach this conclusion. You may then need to take this up with an employment specialist.
Whilst you are waiting for this to be resolved you should consider claiming Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. These should be claimed as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. Further information is on this page.
Best wishes
I am a joint director of a company with my husband with a PAYE scheme running. Work has dropped and he can do my job. Can he furlong me and
carry on running the company>
Hi Carol
Yes, this is possible. He can claim a grant up to 80% of your PAYE amount (up to £2,500/month). If he goes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme website there are details of the application process.
Best wishes
Hi , i am an Optometrist and was made redundant on the 20th of March 2020 from an employed position ( this constituted 60% of my salary) . I also do self employed locum work which has been cancelled for the foreseeable future and constitutes 40% of my annual salary. I now have no income for the foreseeable future. Can i : A. Claim for furlough even though i am now redundant ? B. Claim for self employment help for my cancelled locum work ?
Thank you
Hi Summer
You would need to go back to your accounts for the financial years 16/17, 17/18, 18/19. If during those years your self-employment was on average more than half your taxable income, or in 2018/19 alone your self-employment was more than half your taxable income you may be eligible for the self-employment grant. You do not need to do anything about this as HMRC will contact you. You are also eligible to be furloughed by your previous employer. They can rehire you to ensure you get the furloughed amount. They would claim 80% of your salary from HMRC and use this to pay you. This will be up to your previous employer and you should discuss this with them.
Best wishes
Sorry I couldn’t find my earlier post, so my daughter works in a children’s nursery, apparently they are a registered charity and has a board of trustees. Some of her colleagues selected to go home and pull their children out of School as that would ease the pressure on schools for key workers children. Some of her colleagues including my daughter were told to go home and do this and they would get 100% of their salary until 1st of April and then after that 65% of their salary. My daughter has just received an email from her manager to say that they haven’t been furloughs and from the 20th of April will be sent by email courses to complete whilst at home, so they will be working from home. The nurseries are still operating and remain open. The managers are working from home on 100% salary, the few that are still working are on 65% + any hours they work + 10% bonus. Where does this leave my daughter and her colleagues ?
Hi I’m sure she get 65% of her wage as the government are paying 80% but they then will take tax off that as well so it will be about 65 of our wage
Hi Bobby,
The Government is indeed making a gross payment of 80% wage, with income tax applied afterwards. Just under £720/month will be untaxed, after which National Insurance contributions will be deducted. Up to around £1,040 will be free of income tax, but anything above this will be subject to 20% income tax.
Hope this helps.
Hi Naomi,
It sounds like this nursery has set up its own specific plan to deal with the pandemic. The national Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, when used, covers 80% of an employee’s (gross) wages, so it doesn’t sound like that’s what they’ve used (unless the 65% is perhaps a working out of 80% but after tax). If she has been furloughed using the national scheme she would not be allowed to do any work at all while furloughed. Given the government would provide a grant to cover that 80% of wages it is surprising that the nursery would not take advantage of that, so it may be worth asking them whether they might reconsider (or if there’s a particular reason they can’t use the scheme).
As the scheme that your daughter is on sounds like it is bespoke and unique to this nursery, she may want to seek specialist employment advice to see what rights her contract gives her around things such as reduced pay. ACAS (or alternatively, a trade union) should be able to provide more detailed advice specific to her situation: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
Best wishes.
Hi,
I hope you can help. I left my last job on 28 Feb because they had told the staff they were winding the company down. I started a new job on 2 March but they closed the office on 23 March because of the Coronavirus. Although we were told we would be furloughed, I found out 2 days ago that I wouldn’t qualify. I’ve asked my old boss if she would put me back on her books (as they’re still trading) but she’s told me she can’t because she’s made some staff redundant who were employed prior to me, and has not furloughed anyone as the reason for giving people notice was not due to the Coronavirus. Does that make a difference or can I push her do you think? Is my only other option to take unpaid leave or can I claim the new JSA if I’m still technically employed by my new company?
Many thanks.
Hi Shirley,
Your old company might be able to rehire you and place you on furlough, but the decision will be up to them. With your new company, I’m not sure what your current status is but if they haven’t placed you on furlough and are still employing you, you would need to agree to any pay cut or changes to your contract. It might be worth seeking employment advice about that to see what your current status is and what rights you have: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
If you are still employed by your new company you may still be able to claim new-style JSA, as well as Universal Credit. You can see how much you might get from both Universal Credit and JSA with our benefits calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free For new-style JSA, you need to be working less than 16 hours per week on average, and you will also need to show you’re looking for work to get payments – so it will depend whether you meet those criteria. On top of that, you need to meet the national insurance payment criteria over the last few years – you can read more about them here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance. If you’re not eligible for JSA you may still be eligible for Universal Credit – you can see how much by using the calculator above.
Best wishes.
I am a mature PGCE student with 2 children and another due in June. I am still receiving a bursary and completing academic work from home, but my wife is now off work due to the pregnancy and risk (physiotherapist self employed). Can you clarify if our universal credit application will likely be successful as submitted online but as a student it is not clear anywhere I read whether this income fully counts as earnings? We don’t currently claim any benefits other than child benefit each month, and it may be June until my wife receives any income from self employed earnings
thanks
Hi Sam,
It can be complicated depending on what sort of bursaries, loans or grants you receive. Our benefits calculator has questions for various different kinds of student income, so if you enter your details in here, it will give you an estimate of how much Universal Credit you might be eligible for.
You can register for a free account here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. The calculator will also let you know if you might be eligible for various other benefits such as free school meals.
Best wishes.
This one is on behalf of a colleague. We’re all on 0-hour contracts and over the past couple of weeks hours were reduced. Some were offered shifts, but reduced hours, otheres missed out. Under normal circumstances those who missed out would have worked.
My colleague has now been officially furloughed from 6th April, but the employer is refusing to backdate it to cover the 2 weeks she was offered no shifts. The employer’s stance is that it would be unfair on those who did work some reduced shifts.
Hi Roman,
Claims can be backdated until the 1 March so it sounds like your employer could claim for those further two weeks. However, the decision is up to your employer on whether they decide to do that.
In terms of the argument they’re making about unfairness, those other employees who worked reduced shifts will not lose any income if your colleague is paid more from the grant, so shouldn’t be impacted. Additionally, it might also be considered unfair for her to lose out on income unnecessarily, particularly if it is all funded by the government, so it could be worth talking to your employer to see whether they might reconsider, or you might also consider consulting ACAS (https://www.acas.org.uk/contact) or a trade union for their advice. Ultimately though, it is likely to be your employer’s decision whether to backdate the claim.
It could also be worth your colleague filling in our benefits calculator if her income is now lower, as she may be eligible for further support such as Universal Credit: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
Hi
I am employed PAYE through an umbrella company and carry out contract work. The contract I was working on finished 17.02.20 and my new contract was cancelled due to the Corona scare. Because of this I wasnt actually on asignment on 28th Feb but was still employed by the umbrella company.
Am I eligable for the government job retention scheme ?
Thank you
Hi Mark,
Are you still employed by the same company, despite working on a new contract? If so, our expectation would be that you could be eligible for the scheme – but it is up to your employer whether they choose to claim on that scheme. We would recommend speaking to your employer about taking advantage of the scheme. You can find full details about eligibility for the scheme here, so you and your employer can see how it fits your circumstances: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Best wishes.
Hi my son works in the middle of London as an electrician apprentice he has been told he can come in if he wants but is not entitled to 80% of his wages. His girlfriend is heavily pregnant what can he do? Thanks
Hi Nicola,
Apprentices should be paid for their working hours, so if he is still working then he would ordinarily expect to be paid. It will depend on his contract and any agreement they’ve come to, but if he is being asked to work unpaid I’d recommend speaking with some employment rights specialists to make sure he’s getting everything he is entitled to: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact If he’s choosing to still go in for education purposes it could be different, but I’d still recommend being absolutely sure of his rights.
The 80% of his wages would be relevant if his employer decides to use the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, in which case he should be furloughed (and should not be asked to do any work) and paid 80% of his wages, which would be refunded to his employer by the government. The decision on whether to apply for that scheme will be up to his employer, but if they don’t then the normal conditions of his contract should apply.
If he is currently not receiving any wage, he is likely to be eligible for Universal Credit. He could see what support he’s eligible for using our calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
If he is eligible for Universal Credit, it is important to claim as soon as possible after his last pay has been received into his bank account as there is a 5-week delay to payment (although advances are possible) and his claim will take effect from the date of claim.
Maternity Action’s FAQs may also be a useful source of info about further support they could be eligible for: https://maternityaction.org.uk/covidmaternityfaqs/
Best wishes.
Hi, I have a question regarding child benefit if someone could please help. We have two young children and stopped claiming child benefit some years ago when the government introduced the salary cap and I was no longer eligible.
Now I have been furloughed from work under the government’s coronavirus job retention scheme and my effective salary is now under the £50000 threshold for at least the next three months (the scheme obviously only pays up to a maximum of £2500/month and my employer will not be topping this up). Can I now claim child benefit for three months as it seems a bit unfair otherwise (my income is now over 50% down). Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
Hi John,
Yes, you can make a new claim for child benefit. The current rates are £21.05 a week for your first child and £13.95 a week for subsequent children. However you will need to report all changes in circumstances immediately, for example if your income increases again in a few months (link: https://www.gov.uk/report-changes-child-benefit) and you can refer to the government calculator here to see how claiming Child Benefit may work based on your income and revenue: (LINK: https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-tax-calculator). If your income over the course of the year ends up being over £50,000, you risk paying the High Income Child Benefit Tax Charge- the government calculator linked here helps to estimate this.
All the best.
What if you just gone back to Spain due to the corona virus , I am still employed by our company . Am I still entitled to the 80 percent pay even though i have gone back to Spain until this has finished
Hello Daniella,
I don’t believe there is anything stopping you from getting the payment as long as you meet the requirements to be eligible for the furlough scheme (which you can find on this page, and you can also check with your employer), and as long as your employer agrees to furlough you.
Hope this helps.
I have worked for an agency since Oct 1019, I am unable to work because of underlying health problems and I am self isolating. The agency won’t pay me the 80% because they have work available. Is this correct?
Hello Geoff,
Unfortunately it is up to the employer whether they put you on furlough or not. Being furloughed is left to the discretion of the employer, since it is the employer that requests the grant to finance the scheme. However the government have confirmed it is possible for employers to place employees on furlough if they fall into a “vulnerable” category that has been advised to stay at home. It might be worth mentioning this to your employer to check if they would re-consider.
If this is not possible, you may be able to claim contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). You will be able to claim this if you are ill or self-isolating due to Covid, and have made sufficient National Insurance contributions over the past two years (details on this page above). ESA is paid at £73.10/week. If this would bring your income down and you have low savings, then you could be eligible for other assistance, like Council Tax Support and Universal Credit.
I’m very sorry for your situation and I hope you are able to find a solution that works for you.
Best wishes.
I am currently in receipt of working tax credits. During this lockdown period ,my work activity is limited but will be able to continue once the lockdown is lifted. I believe I am eligible for council tax reduction on my low income and low savings situation. If I apply for the council tax reduction will I automatically be transferred to universal credit and council tax reduction benefit and lose my working tax status?
Hi Jane,
Applying for council tax reduction shouldn’t mean you are transferred to Universal Credit. You are required to report if you start claiming any DWP benefits, but as council tax reduction is administered at a local level, you do not need to report it to the DWP and it should not have any impact on your Working Tax Credits. You can find your local council’s council reduction scheme here to apply: https://www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction
Even though you can continue to receive Working Tax Credits, you may be better off claiming Universal Credit (alongside council tax reduction too) if your income has reduced, but it is worth noting that if you move to Universal Credit you will not be able to return to receiving Working Tax Credits and will remain in receipt of Universal Credit once your work returns to normal. You can use our calculator to compare how much you would get under both systems on your reduced income: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
Hi there , I started my business in January 2020 so became self employed then therefore I haven’t submitted a tax return as of yet . I have registered with HMRC . Where do I stand with any self employment help ?
Many thanks
Hello Lucy,
I am afraid if you only started self-employment in January the self-employment scheme will not apply to you. If you have low income and less than £16000 in savings, you could potentially apply for Universal Credit and, if you are liable for Council tax, Council Tax Support. You can use the calculator (links on this page) to see how much you would get. Further information is available on these pages. You should not delay claiming as these cannot be backdated.
Hope this helps.
Hello. I work full time for a company but wages change every week due to shift premiums.
Is the payment on flat 39 hours pay or is it average pay due to shift premiums
Hi Duncan,
If your employer decides to claim furlough (as part of the Job Retention Scheme) they can choose to pay 80% of the higher of either (i) the same month’s earnings from the previous year; or (ii) your average monthly earnings for the 2019/2020 tax year. You can consult with your employer about what they will intend to do.
Best wishes.
Hi my daughter works for a care home on night shift so keyworker. She is a single parent due to go back to work from maternity on the 22 April. She does not have childcare as that would mean the child going to grandparents which obvs can’t happen due to not leaving the household. Can the employer furlough her in this circumstance.
Hi Dave,
I’m sorry to hear that, it sounds like a really difficult situation.
The Government has just updated the advice to cover your daughter’s situation. A person can now be furloughed if they have to care for others (eg childcare). Now that this has been clarified by HMRC, I would advise your daughter to speak to her employer.
Best wishes.
I’m due to start working with my new employer at the end of April which is still going ahead. Where I wont be eligible for the job retention scheme as I have started after the 28th February. What happens in regards to my pay as wont be classed as a furlough worker.
Hi Karl,
Hopefully if it still goes ahead you’ll be paid as normal. Your employer might seek to change your pay but will only be able to do that within the bounds of your contract, and will usually require your agreement too.
If it doesn’t go ahead, it may be worth talking to employment specialists ACAS (or alternatively, a trade union) to see what your rights are: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact.
In terms of your income, should the job not go ahead, you might become eligible for Universal Credit, so it’s worth entering your situation into our calculator to see what support you might be eligible for https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
Hi i was wondering if you could please advise me? I am self employed, usually work 16 hours, I receive working tax and child tax credits, am I allowed to still claim the working tax as obviously not working at the moment, I’m
Really reluctant to go over to applying for universal credit ! But I don’t want to be claiming working tax credits and it to catch up with me later on. I know it’s not my fault I can’t work at this time but I’m not sure where the land lies with this question and don’t want to be stuck on the phone for hours on end! Thanks in advance !
Hi Jenny,
Usually, you would need to get in touch with HMRC in relation to tax credits if your hours change, within 4 weeks of your change of circumstances and this would indeed usually trigger a move to Universal Credit (the exception is for those receiving disability premiums or in temporary accommodation).
However this has been extended to 8 weeks now. It means you will not need to report a change of circumstances until 8 weeks have passed. You can therefore wait for 8 weeks to pass before contacting HMRC about the changes. Your tax credits will continue to be paid based on your old working hours. Do check back on this page in a few weeks time, since these 8 weeks might be extended.
Best wishes.
Hi, I’m a lorry driver working through an agency, I’m out of work because of covid 19 can I qualify for the 80% scheme? Also i tried to apply for universal credit but my wife has a limited leave to remain hence she has no recourse to public funds however the online system keeps telling me that we have to apply jointly, please assist. Thank you
Hi Sadik,
Thanks for your query. First, in relation to the 80% scheme: The 80% Job Retention Scheme is available at the discretion of the employer (in your case, your agency would be deemed the employer). In other words, the employer has to apply for the scheme for you to be able to access it. Your employer can do this for you if you are paid by PAYE and had been employed as such on the 28th of February.
You should speak to your employer about whether they are thinking of doing this, and the Government guidance has been updated to refer to agency workers specifically (here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme).
In relation to Universal Credit: provided that you have full recourse to public funds, you can still apply. The application will, however, be on an individual basis and will not cover the needs of your partner (unless they are a Turkish national). This can be an especially difficult time and I’m sorry about this – I know that organisations such as the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants have urged Government to reconsider, so you might wish to check their page for updates on this: https://www.jcwi.org.uk/covid-19-and-spousepartner-visas.
Best wishes.
My employer has agreed to furlough some of us. We are on 0-hour contracts. We don’t get annual leave but we receive holiday pay at 12.07% of the hours worked in lieu. This is stated in our contracts as an entitlement and is in line with legislation.
For the average wage calculation they’ve used the last 12 months and have not included any bonuses in line with the guidelines, but they are also refusing to include the holiday pay component, even though this always makes up part of our ‘normal’ pay. This will mean those selected for furlough not receiving that entitlement, whilst those selected to work will.
It’s my understanding that the government have made it clear that only bonuses, commissions and fees are to be excluded from the calculation (assuming this is because it’s an unknown amount), but holiday pay in lieu which is calculated on the basic pay must surely be included? You wouldn’t be able to deny a permanant worker on furlough the accrual of their annual leave, so how is this any different? The purpose of the payment in lieu is to put the amount aside to allow you to take time off without losing pay.
Hi Roman,
The government’s current advice to employers is “You can claim for any regular payments you are obliged to pay your employees”. They don’t specifically mention holiday pay, but as you say you may be able to make a case that in your situation this is an obliged payment – we’re yet to see any specific guidance for this scenario and I’m not certain of the precise details of your contract.
The final decision is up to your employer, but as whatever they pay you, plus their NI contributions, will be covered by the government grant, they may be open to persuasion. I’d recommend talking to ACAS or a trade union to see how the specifics of your contract might be interpreted in this scenario. https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
While your (and colleagues) pay is much lower than normal, you might also be eligible for further support such as Universal Credit – you can use our calculator to see: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes,
My wife started a new job after February 28th. Is there any support for her as the company she has joined needs to reduce staff salary costs urgently?
Thank you
Hi John,
Your wife is outside of the cutoff point for furlough. One option could be to request that her previous employer re-hire her to be put on furlough (if the previous employer is furloughing workers). Another option would be to speak with her current employer to highlight that she cannot be put on furlough (some employers are putting some workers on furlough while maintaining others under regular pay).
Lastly, if your wife is let go from her employment or has her hours reduced, you may be able to get support through Universal Credit, if your savings are less than £16,000. You can check your eligibility here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. She may also be eligible for New Style JSA, as long as she’s been in employment and paying national insurance for the last 2-3 years.
You can find more information here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-jsa
Best wishes.
Hi there, really hope you can help. My dad has been on a zero hours contract for over 15 years. In December he was taken to hospital and after various tests in the last couple of months has been diagnosed with a serious but fixable heart problem. He needs surgery which has now all been postponed due to covid 19 risks. His place of work has now put everyone else on furlough but not my dad as he is on sick pay. He will need that sick pay money though when things change and the covid 19 risk is lower and they are able to do his heart surgery and he will need to recover from it. He is 72 so will not be able to claim any new sick benefits once SSP ends. Can his employer furlough him too? They don’t think they are able yo do this so I wondered if you knew.
Thank you for your help
Hello Catherine,
I’m sorry for this unfortunate timing for your dad, this must be very stressful for everyone.
According to the current guidelines for the Job Retention Scheme (link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#who-can-claim)
“Employees on sick leave or self-isolating should get Statutory Sick Pay but can be furloughed after this. Employees who are shielding in line with public health guidance can be placed on furlough.”
If he was already on sick leave, he should continue to receive Statutory Sick Pay. Once this runs out, he can be put on furlough.
You are correct in that he will not be eligible for any working age benefits or Universal Credit. However, he may be eligible for Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, and/or Council Tax Reduction. You can use our free calculator (https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free) to see if he may qualify.
Hope this helps.
Hi we have had our hours reduced down from 40 to 10 due to covid 19 in our hotel we are only working small hours as we have nhs doctors at our hotel
Do we qualify for the 80 %
Hello Amanda,
I’m afraid that because you are still working some hours, you will not be eligible for the furlough scheme. However because your income has decreased so much, you may be eligible for other help, like Council Tax Support and Universal Credit. You can check your eligibility by putting in your new lower income into our calculator: (https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free)
It is important if you are eligible to apply as soon as possible, as claims for Universal Credit cannot be backdated and there is a five week wait for payments.
Hope this helps.
I am not able to work at the moment. I can’t claim jsa. Can I get any help as I have no money coming in. My husband is retired on pension its not enough to pay the bills He is also waiting for hip operation so is somewhat disabled as he can hardly walk without being in pain. And has had his operation cancelled so I need to assist him too. I therefore need to know what can I claim if anything as things are not getting paid
Kind regards
Hello Gabrielle,
I think we would need more information as your situation is not clear and seems quite complicated. Your best first step with a situation like yours is to use our free calculator (https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free) which can give you an idea of every type of benefit you may be eligible for due to your situation, which may include Universal Credit if you are working age.
If your partner is disabled and over Pension Age, they may be eligible for Attendance Allowance. You can find more information on the government website here: https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance
If you care for your partner for more than 35 hours a week, and they receive Attendance Allowance, you may be eligible for Carer’s Allowance. More information here: https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance
You may want to get some in-depth welfare benefits advice if you are still unsure about what you’re eligible for. You can find your nearest Citizens Advice here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/search-for-your-local-citizens-advice/
Hope this helps, and all the best.
Hi my fiance has been told by the doctor because he is high risk that he needs to stay off for 3 months they are sending a letter out. But because he works as a support worker his work has said they cant apply for the 80% as he hasn’t been lyed off. Is there anything else we can do as my money wont cover everything.
Lynsay
Hi Lynsay,
The government have confirmed that people who are in high risk groups who have been asked to stay at home are able to go on furlough. However the decision to do this ultimately rests with your fiance’s employer. I’d recommend that he gets in touch with them to ask about this. You can read more about the 80% furlough scheme at the top of this page.
If his employer does not agree to the 80% scheme, he should be eligible for benefits. If he’s been working and paying national insurance for the last 2-3 years, he may be eligible for New Style JSA. He can find more info here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-jsa. He may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support, though this will depend on your joint savings and income. You can use our online benefit calculator to see what you’re eligible for: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
All the best.
Hi,
My employer has advised me that they are not allowed to make individual calculations and all employees furlough leave is based on their average weekly pay over the last year. I work in hospitality and my hours vary a lot. The payments I received in the months of May and April 2019 are far higher than what they have suggested.
Is this true? He said he could not ‘cherry pick’ the higher amounts for each employee.
Thanks
Callum
Hi Callum,
The furlough guidance for employees with variable pay says that for any given month, employers can get reimbursed for either the same month’s earning from the previous year or the average monthly earnings from the 2019-20 tax year, whichever is higher. If it would be of help to your employer, this guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme. However, it is up to the employer how they interpret and apply for this.
I hope this is helpful, but do let us know if you have any other questions.
Hi
I have been made redundant due to Covid 19 from a sessional job, can I claim unemployment benefit I do have savings will this make a difference ?
Hi Susan,
If you have made sufficient National Insurance contributions over the past two years you may be able to claim contributory Job Seekers Allowance. You can find out more details on our COVID-19 FAQ page (there’s a tab on the right hand side for contributory JSA): https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/#1584897549458-829488e3-0bcc. Having savings does not affect your eligibility for contributory JSA.
Savings do, however, affect your eligibility for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can (currently) only claim Universal Credit if you have less than £16,000 in savings. This is usually also the case for Council Tax Support, although some local councils have different limits on savings. You can check your eligibility for Universal Credit, JSA and Council Tax Support using our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
I hope this helps, but do let us know if you have any further questions.
Hi,
I am on furlong at my work due to the coronavirus, my husband has just found out he is not entitled to this due to starting work after the required date. I have a 2 year old and 1 on the way was wondering would I or we be able to claim anything from the universal credit? Thanks for helping.
Hi there,
If you have less than £16,000 in savings you may be able to claim Universal Credit, yes. I would suggest entering your household’s details on our free online calculator to find out exactly what you should be eligible for: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. If you are eligible for UC, you will often also be eligible for Council Tax Support. You should claim these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated.
I hope this helps, but do let us know if you have any further questions we might be able to help with.
Hi,
I am self employed but this week my work has dried up and I’m not longer receiving any phone calls and therefore income. On the Universal Credit form it asks ‘In the next month, are you going to be self-employed?’
I don’t know what this means. I mean I am still self employed but I am getting any phone calls and therefore work as of this week, so what should I put ? Yes or No?
The same question for ‘Are you starting any employment in the next month?’ … I don’t know if I will get any phone calls next month so I don’t know what to put.
Hi Joel,
I would recommend that you continue to record yourself as self-employed on the Universal Credit form. You should use your journal to explain the situation to the DWP.
In addition to UC, if you have submitted tax returns as self-employed for the 2018-19 financial year, you may be eligible for the government’s newly announced Coronavirus Self Employed Income Support Scheme. This is expected to come into effect in June, and will pay self-employed people 80% of their average profits, up to £2500/month (based on your last 3 years’ profits). You can find out more information about the new Income Support scheme on our COVID-19 FAQ page here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/#1584897549458-829488e3-0bcc.
I hope this is helpful, but do let us know if you have any further questions.
Hi
I’m a travel agent and a significant part of my monthly salary is made up of commission (with my basic being much lower). I’ve just been furloughed and told I’ll only get 80% of my basic – which will leave me with much less than my usual net pay. Shouldn’t my average monthly pay over the last 12 months be used as the basis of my salary instead, upon which the gov then covers 80%?
Hi Matt,
Unfortunately if you have a set salary then the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will only cover 80% of your basic salary. This excludes any bonuses, commission or fees.
Given that your income is set to reduce by quite a large amount, it would be worth checking which benefits you are eligible for and claim as soon as you can. You can find out which benefits you are eligible for using our benefits calculator. A link to this can be found at the top of the page.
All the best.
Hi Alannah
Please can you help me, is this answer still the same since the recent update. What if you are salaried and also receive a regular monthly commission? My understanding is that you pay 80% of the basic salary and it appears commission already earned not average. Due to closure, further sales will not be possible and I would like to understand if we are required to pay average commission (the contracted hours are 40 and do not vary, but the monthly commission is regular but dependant on performance) Many thanks in advance for advice given
Hello Ro,
It’s difficult to say which is the case without knowing your full details.
If your earnings vary, then the grant would be based on 80% of your earnings for the same month in 2019, or your average earnings in 2019/20. If you have a set salary, the 80% is based on your salary without any bonuses, commission, or fees.
But below this is what the government website states regarding commissions:
“You can claim for any regular payments you are obliged to pay your employees. This includes wages, past overtime, fees and compulsory commission payments. However, discretionary bonus (including tips) and commission payments and non-cash payments should be excluded.”
You can read the government advice here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#how-much-you-can-claim
Hope this helps
Hi there,
I wonder if you could advise me. I started a new job on 10/02/2020. On my wages slip it shows PAYE Tax £0.00 as I have not yet earned enough to be taxed. I do pay National Insurance though. I am presuming that although I have paid no tax yet , that I would be entitled to the 80% retention payment when my employer furloughs me.
Sorry I am just a little confused over the PAYE definition.As I say it does state PAYE on my wages slip, but then I haven’t paid any tax yet so just looking for clarification
Hi John,
You are correct that you will be covered by the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The requirement is that you are paid via PAYE, there isn’t a need to have paid any income tax on your earnings.
All the best.
I’m totally confused I recently started a new job and I’m on a probation period of 6 months because of this I haven’t yet signed a contract so my boss said that his account has told him he hasn’t got to pay me as I’m not covered by the 80% government scheme but obviously I can’t clame job seekers allowance or universal credit as I have a job currently getting no help from anywhere and bills will soon be mounting up. What am I entitled to.
Hi Dean,
I’m sorry to hear that. At the very least you should be eligible for some benefits, most likely Universal Credit and council tax support. You can use our free calculator to see an estimate of what you might be eligible for https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
If you put in your current reduced income/hours you should be eligible for Universal Credit. Even though you’re technically still employed, how much you are eligible for will be calculated based on your income over a one month assessment period (which starts the day you claim). So if the calculator suggests you are eligible, you should apply ASAP. You may also be eligible for an advance during this assessment period. You might also want to read more about Turn2us’s Coronavirus grant here: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/Turn2us-Funds/Turn2us-Coronavirus-Grant-Fund
On the subject of your contract, it may be worth asking your employer to reconsider placing you on furlough. First of all, if you were furloughed, the 80% of your wages you would receive would be refunded by the government, as would the employer’s NI contributions, so there should be little cost to your employer once that was refunded. So long as you were employed by them on the 28th February 2020, they should be able to claim for 80% of your pay (you can see the full conditions for this scheme above). Secondly, Citizens Advice states that “There is always a contract between an employee and employer. You might not have anything in writing, but a contract still exists. This is because your agreement to work for your employer and your employer’s agreement to pay you for your work forms a contract.”. If you’ve only just started working there within the last two months you might not have signed a contract yet, but otherwise, this sounds unusual.
You can read more about your rights, including a section on probation, here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/basic-rights-and-contracts/contracts-of-employment/
If you do think your employer may not be giving you all of your rights it may be worth speaking with employment advice specialists ACAS: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact or an adviser in your area: https://advicelocal.uk/
I hope that helps – please do let us know if you have any more questions.
Best wishes
Hi,
I have a few questions with regards to my benefits given the current situation-
1) I am self employed and I am wondering if I am eligible for the income support scheme if I was on maternity allowance last year? (I have traded anyway during my 10 KIT days)
2) Can I apply for ESA and child benefit right away and also get the income support scheme grant?
3)- Can my ESA claim and child benefit be backdated to 13th March (The date of the lockdown) how do I make a claim?
4)- For how many months can I get this?
5)- Can I switch to tax free childcare from child benefit once things return to normalcy?
Thanks very much
Hi Natalie,
As long as you have been self-employed since at least April 2019 then you will be eligible for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. It’s worth noting that when calculating your grant, HMRC will use your last three years profit which may have affect your support.
Regarding you benefits claims, its worth quickly noting that to make a claim for ESA you need to to have an illness or disability that make it difficult for you to work. As you are self-employed it sounds like you may not be eligible for ESA. Instead you may want to make a claim for Universal Credit. You can check which benefits you are eligible for by filling out our benefits calculator which is linked to at the top of this page.
On your other questions, yes you can claim child benefit straight away. It can be backdated for up to three months from when HMRC receive the claim if you were eligible during this period. This will have no impact on the grant you receive through the income support scheme. Any other benefits you receive also will not change the amount you receive, but if you claim Universal Credit, the amount you receive is likely to reduce once you start receiving these payments.
Finally you will continue to receive child benefit until your child reaches at least 16. You will continue to receive Universal Credit for as long as your income is low enough.
You can receive childcare support through Universal Credit or you can use the tax free childcare system. There are rules around each and you will need to see which suits your circumstances best.
I hope this helps and that you and your child stay safe.
All my staff are on furlough.
If I can go back on a few jobs, can I give work to self employed and keep my staff on furlough?
Hi Marcia,
As far as we know yes, you can keep some staff on furlough, and cover work from other employees or contractors. The important rule is that staff placed on furlough cannot do work for their employer during this period.
Best wishes
Hi, I have been a zero-hour contract worker (and supervisor) with a regular income for about 8 years, my company is encouraging us to work in either supermarkets or hospitals, for now, or to claim Universal Credit.
No one can live on universal credit and will take 5 weeks to recieve. But also my company hasn’t said about being able to get 80% of our wages, i’ve asked if they could sort it out so that we can claim it but they aren’t really saying anything about it. Not being given any info from them about why they aren’t doing the 80%.
In two minds on what to do?
Hi Mollie,
Employers can certainly claim reimbursement for 80% of employee wages through the new Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (details of the scheme can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme). They need to notify you in writing that they are retaining you as a non-working employee (known as a ‘furloughed worker’). They will then be able to claim reimbursement for up to 80% of your wages when the scheme comes into effect in April, though they will be able to backdate the claim to the beginning of March.
In the meantime, it may still be worth submitting an application for Universal Credit (as well as for Council Tax Support). The government has increased the amount of Universal Credit by £20/week, and have increased caps on the housing element meaning that UC may now go further towards covering rent payments. You might find it helpful to use our free online calculator to find out how much Universal Credit you would be eligible for: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. You can also get an advance payment of Universal Credit, meaning you can get your first payment a few days after applying rather than having to wait five weeks. However do bear in mind that this advance payment will then be deducted from your future UC payments.
If your employer does not choose to make use of the Job Retention Scheme, you may be able to claim contributory Job Seekers Allowance if you have made sufficient National Insurance contributions over the past two years. You can also get information on contributory JSA through the calculator linked above.
I hope this is helpful, but do let us know if you have any other questions.
Hi there,
My work has put me on furlough and I’ve signed for 80% but I already put in a successful universal credit application a week or so ago. Will this be effected or will I be able to get both?
Hi Matt,
You can claim Universal Credit whilst furloughed, so no problem there. The wages you are paid whilst furloughed will be treated as normal earnings for the purposes of your UC claim. If your furloughed earnings are still high, this might of course reduce your Universal Credit award, but that will be adjusted automatically.
I hope this helps, but let us know if you have any other questions.
Hello, I work and get working tax and child tax credit. I’m off as term time only, My sons nursery as closed so won’t be able to go back after Easter, do I apply for the 80% scheme or does my company do it??? If i’m not paying child care can the council make me pay more rent. Thank you
Hi Lucy,
Your employer would have to make the decision to put you on the 80% furlough scheme. I would recommend getting in touch with your employer as soon as possible to ask about this.
The council cannot change your rent because you are no longer paying for childcare. I would recommend checking your tenancy agreement- this should include a section about when and how your rent can be increased. If your rent was to increase for any reason, your landlord usually has to give you at least four weeks’ notice in writing. If you are still worried about this, I would recommend getting in touch with the council and they should be able to give you some up-to-date information.
All the best.
Our sole income for the last 5yrs has been a widows pension of about £230 per month and £1000 per month rental income from a property. 3 months ago, the tenants decided to stop paying rent. We have been exemplary landlords, dealing with any issues that have arisen very promptly. As it is virtually our only income, we therefore were forced into the process of eviction, in order to regain our income with new tenants. Due to government policy, aiding tenants remain in rental properties, we have effectively had our income reduced to a total of £230 per month for the foreseeable future. Is there any help available, as we’re going to struggle to pay bills, let alone buy any food.
Hi Kevin,
I am very sorry to hear about your situation, that sounds extremely difficult. If you have less than £16,000 in savings, I would recommend you submit claims for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support as soon as possible. You can find out exactly how much you would be eligible for (as well as find information and links for how to claim) on our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
If you have made sufficient National Insurance contributions over the past two years (classing ‘landlord’ as your main occupation) you may be eligible for contributory Job Seekers Allowance (you can also find more info here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance)
I hope this is of some help. Unfortunately, I am not currently aware of any specific support for landlords affected by the restrictions under COVID-19. However, we are updating our COVID-19 FAQ page whenever new information is released, so it might be worth checking here for updates: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/#1584897549458-829488e3-0bcc.
Please do let me know if you have any further questions.
Hi there, I am a single mother with two children claiming Child tax credits and WTC. I work as a waitress and my earnings vary month to month due to gratuities.
I’ve been told that I’m likely to receive 80% of my basic wage (which is minimum wage) and the gratuities will not be included in this figure……Is this so?
I pay national insurance and tax on the gratuities so am finding it difficult to understand why an average of tips can’t be calculated and included in the 80%.
I’ve been on the government website and can’t see any information on this subject for waiting staff.
Also, should I need to apply for universal credit, do I need an exact expected pay figure from my employer?(they seem not to know at the moment)
Regards
Fay
Hi Fay,
For employees whose pay varies, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme allows employees to claim either the same month’s earning from the previous year or the average monthly earnings from the 2019-20 tax year, whichever is higher. This should at least bring the amount above 80% of your basic wage. If it is helpful to your employer, this guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme (under the section ‘Employees whose pay varies’).
As for Universal Credit, if you do end up claiming then the amount you receive will be based on the actual amount you earn in the previous month. You do not need to know your upcoming expected pay when you apply. Your first UC payment will be based on earnings during the first assessment period (which falls within the five week wait that you may have seen referred to in relation to Universal Credit). If you’re still unsure about Universal Credit, we’d recommend speaking to a benefits advisor before making a claim, since once you move over you cannot return to tax credits. You can find your local citizens advice here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/search-for-your-local-citizens-advice/
I hope this is helpful, but do let me know if you have any further questions.
Hi Janet, Thank you so much for your response. I have looked at the government website and have forwarded details to my employer.
My employer has spoken with his accountant who – at the moment – is saying gratuities aren’t included as a wage……..
On our payslips we have two separate payments. 1) salary 2) gratuities. Do you think gratuities would still be included in the variable wage amount?
Am really concerned as gratuities make up two thirds of my total wage. If they are not included, this will mean I’ll only get one third of my total salary.
Hope you can help me gain some clarity with this..
Kind regards
Fay
Hi Fay,
The guidance that the government have released is not currently clear on how gratuities will be treated. However, we have seen opinions from various sources saying that they are unlikely to be included in the wage calculation.
If this ends up being the case, and your income is lowered substantially as a result, you may be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if you have savings below £16,000. I would recommend submitting a claim as soon as possible if you are eligible (which you can check using our free calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free). If you are having difficulties meeting rent payments, your local council may also be able to support you with a discretionary housing payment (DHP). If this is the case, you can contact your local council directly to find out more.
I’m sorry that we don’t have more information currently about the treatment of gratuities. We will be sure to update our COVID-19 FAQ as soon as any new information is released relevant to this.
In the meantime, do let us know if we can help with anything else.
Hi there,
thank you so much for the information you’ve sent so far.
I’ve looked at the calculator and Universal credit will pay me £88 per week, and with this I would have to forgo my Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits.
I’m finding it difficult to understand why the government wouldn’t accept my P60 for my earnings 2019-20 and take an average for the time of furlough?
It’s clear on there I’ve paid National insurance and Tax on the total sum earned.
I don’t have any savings and we’re talking 80% of £15,000 earnings from my sole employer.
On the government website it says they will not pay out on ‘discretionary bonus (inc tips)….having looked up the meaning of DB, it says this is an amount paid by the employer and is NOT expected by the employee and the employer has not set an expectation that the bonus will be paid. Also the amount and timing of the bonus are not given in advance.
However, we know exactly how much we earn every shift in tips and receive what we are expecting every payday (every month)….does this make a difference?
I know most people are in a difficult situation right now, just feeling really let down by the system at the moment.
If you can help me any further with this I’d really appreciate your time.
Regards
Hello Fay,
I am really sorry that we cannot help further, the guidelines are quite clear in that tips are considered discretionary bonuses. What you are describing (knowing exactly how much you will receive in advance) doesn’t sound like tips per se but the discretion is up to HMRC. You should ask your employer to reach out to HMRC to double check if you are still unsure of where you stand.
Hope this helps.
Hi Janet, Was wondering if you could respond to my previous reply April 3rd 22:29?
Also, have just spotted on the government website that discretionary bonus(including tips) should be excluded from the 80% payment……
Discretionary bonus, as I understand it, is an irregular payment I wouldn’t expect to receive on a regular basis….am I correct in thinking this?
Because our customers tip on average at 10% and we are aware of our income at the and of every shift: We know what to expect as a complete wage on pay day.
Can my employer use the month of March 2019 or an average for the year of our total wage (including gratuities) to find our 80%?
I really appreciate your help with this.
Kind regards
Fay
Hi Fay,
As I understand it you are correct about discretionary bonuses. Gratuities are a separate issue. Whether or not these will be included will depend on whether or not these are included in your employment contract. In most cases, if the gratuities are tips coming from customers, these will not be included in your employment contract, so unfortunately will not be included in the 80%.
I hope this helps. As with before do let us know if there’s anything else we can help with while we try to get clarity on the gratuity situation.
Hi
My husband is a sole trader (joiner) – he has had a letter to isolate for 12 weeks as he has a chronic lung disease. He used to received DLA, but, when assessed for PIP was refused. As he is not able to work long days because of his disability, his profits are quite low, and so won’t get a large grant, and as he isn’t able to work for, at least, the next 12 weeks, he won’t be earning anything. We have savings of just over £16,000, but only because of my work (I work in the NHS, and so am still working at present) – is there anything he could claim, as the business still has some expenses even though he isn’t working (insurances etc) – sorry if you have already answered this, I couldn’t find a reply
Hi Rosemary,
Aside from the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, which as you say may not provide too much if your husband’s profits have been low (worth claiming nonetheless), if your husband has made sufficient National Insurance claims over the last two years he may be able to claim contributory Employment and Support Allowance. This is available to people who are either too ill to work, or who are self-isolating due to COVID-19. You can find more details about contributory ESA on our COVID-19 FAQ page here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/#1584897549458-829488e3-0bcc.
It may also be worth filling in our benefits calculator just to double check whether there might be any extra support you are eligible for: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free Once you have, I’d recommend also looking at the green “Information about your case” box on the right hand side of the results page to see what other support you might be eligible for.
Best wishes,
i was laid of January 2020, and went self employed February 2020, the work has dried up for now, can i get any help.
Hello Pete,
I’m sorry your timing is so unfortunate. Because you started in January 2020, and thus did not file your Income Tax Self Assessment for the tax year 2018-19, you are not eligible for this support specific to the self-employed.
You may be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support in the meantime. You can use our free calculator, linked above, to see how much support you would be eligible for to top up your income.
It is worth noting that UC will increase in April by £20/week. You should claim these straight away as they cannot be backdated. Further information about these benefits is on this site.
I hope this helps, best wishes
Hello ! I am agency worker. I have asked my agency if they will be put me on furloughed and they’d said they are looking at this. I started before Feb 28th. I’m wondering if they don’t agree and don’t give me any work. What can I do?? O applied for UC but should they still legally furlough me as they have no work and also I’m sure the government is paying them the money for this. Thanks
Hello,
Unfortunately, it is truly up to the employer whether or not to furlough you.
It is good that you have already applied for UC, you may also be eligible for other support like council tax support which can also help.
Wishing you the best of luck for your situation.
Hi
I hope you can help. I’m on a zero hours contract (paid through employer’s PAYE payroll) for bar work just on match days for a premiership rugby club. My employer says that as I am event staff they are waiting to see if I meet the eligibility criteria pertinent to zero hours event staff in order to be furloughed. I can’t find any information on this. Is there any specific guidance for zero hours staff who only work on an ad hoc basis or should we be covered by the CJRS?
Thank you
Hi Melanie,
Zero-hours staff are included in the scheme. The Government advises the employer to claim based on the highest of the amount you earned in the same month last year OR your average monthly earnings over the financial year 2019 – 2020. There is nothing to indicate that you will not be eligible. It is up to the employer whether they apply for the scheme for employees and your employer may just be waiting for further information. I hope this works out for you.
Best wishes.
My son left his last job on 31st March and has been two weeks into his new job but it looks as though the company will start furloughing people soon. Is it correct that my son { who is a family man ) will not qualify for furlough because he wasn’t employed with his new company on the 28th February 2020.
There is no way that his old company will re employ him after leaving them , so how does he manage to maintain his wife and children etc?
Hi George,
I’m sorry that your son is caught in this situation. Yes, the cutoff of 28th February remains which means he would be unable to be included in a furlough scheme.
There are other forms of support available. One first thing for your son to consider is to speak with his employer. The employer may seek to furlough some workers and retain others (depending on business need). Aside from that, he may be eligible for New Style JSA. This is a benefit for people who have previously been working and have paid national insurance in the last 2-3 years. You can find out more information to see if your son would be eligible here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-jsa. If he and his wife’s savings are below £16,000 he may be able to get support from Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. They can check this using our online calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
Hi, i have a few questions regarding how the government scheme applies to my situation
i was contracted to work 10 hours per week at a supermarket whilst also working full time else where however at the end of January 2020 the full time employment ended
i have continued my 10 hours a week at the supermarket however due to a surge in demand my hours were re contracted to full time 48 hours a week
i worked these hours from the 1st of march til the 8th however due to business decline and the lock down situation iv been placed on a break and told to accept the government scheme of furlough worker due to my employers small business being unable to afford to pay all his staff as a result in profit and demand decline
i guess what i’m asking is do i get 80% of my 10 hour contract that i worked between august 2019 til the end of Feb or 80% of my new contracted hours which are the hours i will return to work on after the corona virus situation settles
Hi Nav,
If your hours often vary, then the employer can claim for either the highest of the amount you earned in the same month last year or an average of your earnings over 2019 – 2020. If you generally have a standard contract then it will be the contract that was live on teh 28th February 2020. In your case this is your 10 hour contract.
If this does not leave you enough to live on and you have under £16,000 in savings you may wish to apply for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. The links to these are on this page and you should apply as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated.
I wish you all the best.
but my employer transfer 1288.48 £ ( 80% of my total salary in respect of 48 hours per week ) what should i do now?
Hi Nav,
Sorry it’s difficult to say precisely what’s happened here without knowing the full details, but generally, it’s up to your employer to apply to the scheme, so if they are applying and they think this is the accurate amount based on your circumstances and the guidance then hopefully that’s the right amount. If you’re not certain, you might want to ask them how they have worked it out.
If you have any disputes about it or want more detailed advice on your situation it might be worth getting in touch with ACAS (employment rights specialists) or Citizens Advice:
https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/
You can also use our benefits calculator to see if you might be eligible for any more support: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes
Hi
I am employed PAYE through an umbrella company and carry out contract work. The contract I was working on finished 17.02.20 and my new contract was cancelled due to the Corona scare.
Am I eligable for the government job retention scheme ?
Thank you
Hello Keane,
Really sorry to hear this. I’m afraid you are not eligible for the job retention scheme unless you were on PAYE payroll scheme on 28 February 2020.
There are other options in the meantime. If your savings are under £16,000, you may be able to apply for Universal Credit or Council Tax Support. You can check your eligibility and the amount you may receive using our free calculator linked above.
You could also possibly be eligible for New Style JSA, depending on your NI contributions over the past two years. You can find more information, how to apply and the criteria for eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance
Hope this helps
Hi. I am both employed (18 hrs per week) and self employed (profit under 20k). Am I able to furlough and claim self employed help? Many thanks
Hi Glyn,
You might be – for each scheme it will depend on whether you meet the specific criteria. There is currently nothing to stop you from receiving both if you do meet the criteria for both.
For the 80% Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the decision as to whether you are furloughed will be down to your employer so it’s best to talk to them. Your self-employed income should not impact their ability to claim for this scheme to cover 80% of your wages. You can see the full criteria which they should take into account for the scheme here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/
For the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, again there are several criteria you will need to meet, but the most relevant, given your question, is whether your self-employed income makes up more than half of your taxable income. So if your income from self-employment is more than your income from your employment (and assuming you have no other sources of taxable income), you should meet that criteria. You can see the other criteria you’ll need to meet here too: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/
Income from the self-employed scheme won’t reach you until June at the earliest, so in the meantime, if your income is lower, you may want to claim for Universal Credit. You can see what support you might be eligible for here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free If you are eligible for Universal Credit, we recommend applying ASAP because there will be a five-week wait between application and your first Universal Credit payment (though you may want to consider applying for an advance in the meantime).
Best wishes,
My Employer has put us on unpaid leave with intention to join 80% government scheme. We have had to sign paperwork to agree to be Furloughed. Why has she put in it that we are on unpaid leave?
Hi Sharon,
I’m sorry to hear that. Without seeing the contracts, it’s difficult to answer this question specifically, so it may be better to consult an employment specialist with this question. I’d recommend getting in touch with ACAS or perhaps a trade union if you or a colleague are members of one. https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
There is also some advice here about what employers are able to do, so that may be helpful to read through. Any changes to your employment will depend on what’s written in your contract, and usually, the employer and employee both need to agree to any contract changes, so I would certainly recommend looking for more specialist advice on why your employer has done this.
https://www.litrg.org.uk/tax-guides/coronavirus-guidance/coronavirus-information-employers#toc-can-i-change-my-employee-s-hours-or-pay-during-the-outbreak-
If your income does drop during this period you may become eligible for more benefits support, so I’d also recommend filling in our benefits calculator if your income has changed: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free If you are eligible for Universal Credit, we recommend applying ASAP because there will be a five-week wait between application and your first Universal Credit payment (though you may want to consider applying for an advance in the meantime).
Best wishes,
My wages have gone down due to covid 19.I am being paid 80% of my wages on my contracted hours which is 14 hrs. How do I know what or if I can get any extra benefits.
Hi Jane,
If you enter your situation into our benefits calculator it will tell you what support you might be eligible for: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free From 6th April support rates for Universal Credit will increase by £20/week too so you may be eligible for more after that.
For your wages, is that 80% being paid as part of the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme? If so, the amount your employer can claim to pay your wages might be based on your average earnings in the past, rather than just your contracted hours, so it could be worth checking that with them. If you have a set salary, the 80% is based on your salary without any bonuses, commission, or fees. But if your earnings vary (eg your earnings are based on hours worked), then the grant will be based on 80% of your earnings for the same month in 2019 or your average earnings in 2019/20.
Best wishes.
Hi,
I’m a self employed farrier and was wondering if I was still able to claim although my work load/profit is massively reduced I’m still dealing with emergencies so making a little bit of money? Thanks
Hi Paul,
You can qualify for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme so long as you have reduced trading profit due to COVID-19. So even if you are still making some money, if it is reduced, that will be enough. There are also several other criteria you’ll need to meet, which you can see at the top of this page.
https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/
You may also be able to claim Universal Credit, particularly while you’re waiting for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, which may not provide you with any income until June. You can check whether you’d be eligible on your current income using our calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free If you are eligible for Universal Credit, we recommend applying ASAP because there will be a five week wait between application and your first Universal Credit payment (though you may want to consider applying for an advance in the meantime).
Best wishes.
Hi, I’m wondering about support for those on legacy benefits like income support, many of whom are long term carers or disabled. They will not get the extra £1000 to those on UC or any benefit from working tax. Is there anything they can access?
Hi Lyndsay,
You’re quite right to draw attention to those households as unfortunately they are currently not receiving the same boost to income as those on Universal Credit will. If they are in receipt of housing benefit, they may be eligible for more now the LHA rate (used to calculate housing benefit amounts) has been increased. Beyond that, it’s certainly worth checking with local councils, Turn2us grants and mutual aid groups to see what other support might be available in their area. If there are any changes or further sources we become aware of we’ll do our best to share them with you.
https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/
https://freedomnews.org.uk/covid-19-uk-mutual-aid-groups-a-list/?fbclid=IwAR2mb3JYJ0GBm8Vg1O_sBGw9eP9_EsVUsBeUoEtxas5aEUzRe7OoYg7hXeo
Best wishes,
Hi,
My employer has started the redundancy process independently of the covid situation in February due to financial reasons. The company went ahead with the redundancy process as planned, but at the same time, they said that we are key workers who have to work on site whenever the work cannot be done at home. I find it weird to lay off key employees. Do key workers have any protection against redundancy?
I have asthma, which puts me into a more vulnerable group against covid. If I am made redundant, I likely cannot take up a new job for several months as I have to self isolate as much as possible. Should this be considered by my employer by providing more financial support if my job is terminated? I will also loose my access to private health care if I am made redundant. I tried to organise a cover for myself, but as we will learn the outcome of the process on a short time frame, it is unlikely that I can get private health insurance for myself on time. Should my employer consider this?
Thanks for your help!
Hi Nico,
Unfortunately if your employer has decided to make you redundant, the COVID-19 situation will not automatically change this. However, it is possible for your old employer to re-employ you and place you on furlough – this would mean that you wouldn’t need to go into work, and would be paid 80% of your wages. I’d recommend getting in touch with your old employer to see if this is a possibility.
If not, you should be eligible for benefits to help during this period. If you’ve been working and paying national insurance, you should be elgible for New Style ESA whilst you are having to self-isolate due to your asthma. You can find more info here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance
You may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if you have savings under £16,000. You can use our benefit calculator (linked above) to see if you are eligible.
All the best.
My employed contract naturally ended 31.3.20. I was p/t employed and p/t self employed but not entitled to the SE scheme as wages from employment was higher. My husband works. Am I entitled to any benefits and who do I contact to find out which benefit I’m entitled to?
Hi Caroline,
If you were on your old employer’s PAYE payroll on 28 February, you may be eligible for the job retention scheme (meaning you could get paid 80% of your wages). However this would require your old employer re-employing you and placing you on furlough. The government have confirmed that this option is allowed, but this decision would ultimately rest with your old employer. I’d recommend getting in touch to see if this is a possibility.
.
If not, you may be eligble for New Style JSA if you have been working and paying national insurance for the last 2-3 years. You can find more info here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-jsa
You may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support, but these benefits depend on your savings and your husbands income. I’d recommend using our online benefit calculator (linked above) to see if you’re eligible.
All the best.
Hi, I have been furloughed from my company and will get 80% pay. But I was employed in January, so only been there 2 months. Will the 80% be an average of them 2 months salary?
Hi Emily,
In your case, the 80% will be worked out based on an average of your monthly earnings from the last year since you started the job.
Best wishes.
I just wanted know can u claim UC if employment has decided to give 80% pay?
Hi Sally,
Yes, it is possible to claim UC whilst you are receiving 80% of your usual pay. However, your eligibility for UC will depend on your household circumstances such as your income, savings and housing costs. I’d recommend using our online benefit calculator (linked above) to see if you’re eligible.
All the best.
If you’re are going to receive 80% of your wage are you allowed to work somewhere else rather than apply for universal credit and how much are you allowed to earn?
Hi Vicki,
Yes, there is nothing to stop you topping up your income by working for a new employer while being furloughed by your original employer. As far as we know, there is no limit to how much you can earn. However, do check your job contract before doing this, since many employers do not allow you to do more than one job.
All the best.
Hi there, if I currently claim working tax credits for 30hrs a week and work on the frontline and work more than 30 hours during the pandemic to help will this affect my tax credit payments??
Thanks
Hi Rebecca,
No – HMRC will ignore this change to your working situation for 8 weeks and will treat you as working the same hours as before COVID-19. After 8 weeks of different working, you should inform HMRC of this change. Do check this site again before informing HMRC, since this 8 weeks may be extended. If this change becomes permanent (for example, these become your normal working hours), you should tell HMRC as soon as this is confirmed.
Hope that helps.
Best wishes.
Hi, my partner is self employed and is unable to work currently due to covid19. I have a joint tax credits claim with him. Do I need to notify HMRC that he isn’t working because of this?
He will be returning to work as soon as possible after this.
Many thanks
Hi Hannah,
No – HMRC will ignore this change to your partner’s working situation for 8 weeks and will treat him as working the same hours as before COVID-19. After 8 weeks of reduced/ no working, he should inform HMRC of this change. Do check this site again before informing HMRC, since this 8 weeks may be extended. If your partner’s change becomes permanent (for example, he no longer intends to resume his self-employment in the future), he should tell HMRC as soon as he knows this.
Hope that helps.
Best wishes.
Hi if you claim universal credit from. Now until June as no income from self employment due to work stopping as a resultof covid19, will this effect the self employment scheme that eligible to claim. In June.
Hi Eamon,
Claiming Universal Credit in this time will not impact your eligibility for the Income Support Scheme. I would suggest using our Better Off Calculator to see how much you will be eligible for. You may also want to consider applying for Council Tax Support. You should apply for these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated.
Best wishes.
Hi there,
In Oct 2018 my brother and I entered into a partnership with our dad. My income increased significantly and based on this my wife, son and I moved into a bigger house.. We are renting. Naturally our living costs increased. The grants for self employed are currently calculated on incomes up until 2019. This however would mean that my current income would not be represented and thus any help will be very small and will do little to cover our costs. I was self employed prior to the formation of the partnership. My question is…will I be able to enter my tax return on April 6th and have my last years figure used in the calculation for help? I can of course provide bank details and contracts to show the date of the partnership formation.
Hi Ben,
No, unfortunately the guidance is clear that the 80% you will be paid through the self-employment income support scheme will be based on your income in the tax years 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19. You can find more information about the scheme here:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme
Best wishes.
Hi, these comments are really helpful, thank you.
I temped through a recruitment agency from 21 Jan then the company I was temping at took me on permanently from 10 Feb. However, they forgot to put me on the Payroll in time for the first Payday on 21 Feb, so my first payday was 21 March when I got paid 6 weeks. They furloughed me Monday morning then called me back in Monday lunchtime saying I’m not eligible for furlough or the 80%, and I may need to take unpaid leave when work dries up – which will happen soon I imagine. Is that right even though I had/have a contract with them since before 28 Feb, and it’s their mistake?
I was meant to get married this May so have no savings as they all went on that, which isn’t even happening now 🙁
What are my options please? Would it be to ask the recruitment agency to take me back on as I’ve seen you mention, or Universal Credit, or JSA? If the agency took me back on would I need to leave my current job? My other half is currently furloughed.
Hopefully that’s enough info… Thank you so much in advance.
Hi Sarah,
I’m so sorry about this. Did the employer explain why you weren’t entitled to furlough? If on the 21st March you were paid for 6 weeks of work this would indeed suggest you were working on the date of the cut off, 28th February. It might also be worth revisiting the date stated on your contract as your first day of employment. It is, however, left to the discretion of the employed to choose which employees to furlough. If this gets technical it might be a good idea to get in touch with employment specialists on this (our focus is more on the interaction between benefits and work, or just benefits, rather than employment law).
Regardless of the outcome, there will be options for you. If you have previously paid sufficient National Insurance contributions you may be eligible for contributory (or new-style) JSA. If you have savings under £16,000 you may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council tax Support. You can use our calculator (links on this page) to see if you qualify and how much you would get. You should apply as soon as possible for all of these as they cannot be backdated.
If you have a mortgage, discussing your new financial situation and coming to a revised payment plan with your lender is an important step, and the Government has introduced a 3 month mortgage holiday to help with these costs. Similarly with household bills and rent costs, it is a good idea to contact your providers to discuss your circumstances and if you are struggling to pay (evictions from rented properties have been suspended for 3 months, which can help if you would otherwise feel uncomfortable discussing your income and ability to pay with a landlord or agency).
I hope this helps and best wishes.
Just wondering if there was any advice for individuals who have lost their jobs due to covid19 but who are not eligible for any benefits due to having a property they rent out? Apparently this is classed as savings however we are not able to evict and sell our rental property obviously and have zero income coming in. Any advice greatly welcome.
Hi Bekki,
If you were previously working and have paid sufficient National Insurance contributions you may be able to claim contributory JSA (often called new-style JSA). This does not take account of the level of capital you have. Further information is available on this page.
Best wishes.
I am a key worker and my company is giving me a 10% bonus. I claim universal credit as I work 20 hours per week. Will I have to pay the 63p reduction on my bonus?
Hi Victoria,
The bonus will be taken into account for the assessment period in which it is paid. If you already earn higher than your work allowance then your UC would reduce by 0.63 for each additional pound you receive. If you earn less than your work allowance then you will keep all the increase up to the level of the work allowance and your UC will reduce by 0.63 for every additional pound. You can use our calculator (links on this page) to see the impact.
Best wishes.
Hi, i have a few questions regarding how the government scheme applies to my situation
i was contracted to work 10 hours per week at a supermarket whilst also working full time else where however at the end of January 2020 the full time employment ended
i have continued my 10 hours a week at the supermarket however due to a surge in demand my hours were re contracted to full time 48 hours a week
i worked these hours from the 1st of march til the 8th however due to business decline and the lock down situation iv been placed on a break and told to accept the government scheme of furlough worker due to my employers small business being unable to afford to pay all his staff as a result in profit and demand decline
i guess what i’m asking is do i get 80% of my 10 hour contract that i worked between august 2019 til the end of Feb or 80% of my new contracted hours which are the hours i will return to work on after the corona virus situation settles
Hi Nav,
If your hours often vary, then the employer can claim for either the highest of the amount you earned in the same month last year or an average of your earnings over 2019 – 2020. If you generally have a standard contract then it will be the contract that was live on the 28th February 2020. In your case this is your 10 hour contract.
If this does not leave you enough to live on and you have under £16,000 in savings you may wish to apply for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. The links to these are on this page and you should apply as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated.
I wish you all the best.
I believe that I meet the full criteria to receive the self employed grant. However I believe there is discrepancy;
in 16/17 + 17/18, well over less than 50% of my income was from self-employment;
in 18/19, well over 50% of my income was from self-employment;
will they not count 16/17 + 17/18 when calculating the grant, due to over 50% of income from those years being PAYE?
or will they count 16/17 + 17/18 on top of 18/19 when calculating the grant, despite over 50% of income in those two years being from PAYE?
Hi Angus,
You can get the grant if you either have either a) less than £50,000 trading profits and more than half your income from self-employment in 18/19 OR b) have average trading profits in 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19 of less than £50,000 and these are more than half your taxable income over the 3 years.
If you received over half your taxable income form self-employment in 2018/19 then you have met the first condition and will be eligible for the grant.
Best wishes.
I am a self employed construction worker and think I will qualify for the self employment payment scheme, however, I cannot afford to wait until June for this payment as I have rent and bills to pay. Someone has suggested I can apply for universal credit. However, if I do this will this mean I will no longer qualify for the self employment scheme?
Hi Lesley,
Universal Credit is for working and non-working households. Application and receipt of Universal Credit will not affect your eligibility for the self-employed income support scheme or the amount you get from the scheme. Universal Credit is calculated on earnings that hit your bank account in the assessment period. This is a calendar month that will start each month on the same day as the day you first made your claim.
The grant will be treated as self-employed earnings. So if two months go by before you get the grant you will be treated as having nil income and receive UC based on this. In the month you receive the grant, you obviously wouldn’t qualify. You should claim Universal Credit as soon as possible as this cannot be backdated. You may also be entitled to Council Tax Support and should also claim this as soon as possible.
Best wishes.
Hi, I have a problem, me and my boyfriend,we were working through agencies, (my boyfriend) employer has shutdown the company, due to Covid-19 from 23 march, my employer as well they’ve put shutdown, what we can do in this situation as universal credit, they didn’t give us money this month because we earned enough money last month. My boyfriend has asks his agency, if he can takes that 80% job retention scheme, they said if he is eligible, but I think yes because he is working from 2 years. In my situation I am not eligible due to job changes. Can you give me some advice what can we do? Thank you.
Hi Diamanta,
If you or your boyfriend were paid through an agency by PAYE then you are eligible for the Job Retention Scheme. It is up to employers if they access the scheme so you and your boyfriend should discuss this with the agencies.
If you do not qualify for the first month of UC you can ask for an advance at the start of the second month (in which you will qualify) and this can help to tide you over until your UC payment is received at the end of the second month.
Best wishes.
Hi I recently become self employed at the start of this year and due to COVID-19 I’m currently completely out of work for the foreseeable future!
Is there anything that can be done to help?
Many thanks
Hi William,
If you were previously self employed and paid sufficient National Insurance contributions you could claim contributory JSA (new-style JSA). If you have less than £16,000 in savings you may qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can use our calculator (links on this page) to see what you may get. These benefits should be claimed as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. Further information on all of these is available on this page.
Best wishes
Hi. Just a quick bit of clarity if you can help – re the self employed assistance grant. There is specific reference to ‘taxable income’. Is this the true ‘taxable income’ after accounting for the Personal Allowance (c11-12K)? Any help much appreciated. Many thanks.
Hi Dale,
This your gross trading profits. So trading income, minus expenses, and excluding and deductions for assets. It is before application of the personal tax allowance.
I hope this clarifies things.
Best wishes.
my 16 year old son works part time in a hotel, around 20 hours a week and he is now not getting any work as it is closed. can he claim anything or be entitled to furloughing?
Hi Paul,
I haven’t seen any age limits on this. He can be included in the scheme even if he works part time (my daughter is in a similar position and has been informed she is being furloughed).
His employer needs to decide if they are going down this route and then inform your son. It is probably worth him discussing this with his employer.
I wish him all the best.
I am currently serving my notice period , following my resignation. However, With the unexpected turn of events I have now found myself in a difficult situation.
The plan was to sell or rent one of our houses over the Easter break to give us an income, however I will soon be in a position with no income and a mortgage, council tax, etc still to pay. I contacted my employer to ask if i could retract my notice and be furloughed. this is the response i received.
Apologies for the delay in responding to your e-mail. Following your request for your furlough period to be extended beyond your final day of employment of 17 April I wanted to take legal advice to see what might be possible.
I understand your concerns and I can appreciate that you find yourself in a difficult situation due to unforeseen circumstances. However, the purpose of the Coronavirus Retention Scheme, based on the guidance issued to date, is to assist employers to keep employees employed where otherwise the employer would have to make redundancies. Unfortunately, we have been advised that the scheme does not permit nor is it intended to allow the school to extend the employment of employees who were leaving the employment anyway. In the circumstances, we believe that extending your employment beyond 17 April 2020 would not be in accordance with the purpose and intention of the scheme. We would therefore be unable to claim your employment costs from HMRC beyond your current final date of employment.
This seems to differ from the advice I’ve seen on the Martin Lewis website. Please can you advise ? Also how would I approach my employer?
Hi Ray,
I agree with you. There does not presently appear to be any reason that your previous employer could not offer to furlough you. But they are also right that this is not the intention of the scheme and they may have chosen to follow that intention. It is up to the employer whether they wish to furlough staff so there is little you can do in this circumstance.
You may qualify for contributory JSA (new-style JSA) if you have paid sufficient National Insurance contributions, this does not take account of your capital. You would not be able to qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support due to the capital in your additional houses. Further information on JSA is given on these pages.
Best wishes.
If permanent nightshift for last 4 years and getting a nightshift allowance which is the same each month and doesn’t vary. Should this be included as part of the furloughed pay?
Hi Alistair,
At the moment we are unclear about what constitutes regular salary and what constitutes a variable salary. it may come down to an interpretation by your employer or we may see further guidance in the future. If you are classed as regular salaried then it will be your basic salary without overtime. However, if this forms part of your contract then it will be included. if you are classed as a variable hours worker (ie you have an hourly based contract) then it is likely to be taken into account. If we hear more we will update these pages.
Best wishes.
Hi
I’ve was made redundant yesterday by my employer, this was due to funding. I enquired on Monday with my employer whether I would be entitled to go on Furlough but was told the following;
as you have been made redundant for a reason that is not connected to a downturn in business as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak, your redundancy will proceed as previously notified to you.
But my issue is that i cannot feasibly find alternative employment due to covoid19 therefore i am are directly effected by the current situation. Where do I stand?
Hi,
If your employer has decided not to access the scheme then options open are contributory JSA (if you have paid enough National Insurance contributions), Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. For these last two, you must have savings under £16,000. You should claim all these benefits as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. You can use the calculator (links on this page) to see what you would get. You can also find further information on these benefits on this page.
Best wishes.
Hi, if you have been furloughed by your current employer are you able to go and do extra work elsewhere? Would this effect receiving your 80% ?
Hi Amy,
This may have issues depending on your work contract. The general advice is that you could work outside your usual work hours so that you are not breaking your current work contract. I hope this helps.
Best wishes.
I have heard that the government bailouts to employees could be means tested, i.e. if you have savings above a certain level.
Any mention of this anywhere?
Hi Michael,
No, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme does not depend on savings. You will be eligible for this scheme as long as you were on your employer’s PAYE payroll on 28 February 2020. If put on this scheme, you will be ‘furloughed’, meaning you won’t be able to do any work for your employer, and will instead receive 80% of your wages, up to a monthly cap of £2,500. You can find more information about this scheme at the top of this page.
I hope this helps. Best wishes
Hi, my boyfriend and I have recently moved into a privately rented house together. He was a self-employed plasterer (subcontractor) from January, before this his company (the contractor) was paying a mixture of his wages and his dads wages all into his dad’s bank, so it was all getting taxed as one, despite my boyfriend demanding on multiple occasions for this to be rectified. He was self-employed in 2016 also and has been on and off self-employed over the years. I was wondering if he would be entitled to anything? I can not get through to the tax helpline as he can not access his HMRC account and have applied to universal credit. However, universal credit is asking for it to be a joint claim as we live together, but I am a university student and therefore not entitled to anything, I do not wish to be either as my student finance is sufficient for just my half of the rent and my living. Universal credit has not contacted either of us, despite several journal entries and they have put me on a job-seeking allowance contract, I do not need this. And have not yet to contact either of us to help.
Hi Sophie,
Your boyfriend may be eligible for support through the Self-employment Income Support Scheme. To qualify, he must meet the following conditions-
1) he must have submitted his Income Tax Self Assessment tax return for the tax year 2018-19, 2) have traded in the tax year 2019-20, 3) be trading when he applies (or would be except for COVID-19) and intend to continue to trade in the tax year 2020-21.
His self-employed trading profits must also be less than £50,000, and more than half of his income must come from self-employment.
If you think he meets these conditions, he can find more information about the scheme here.
Regarding Universal Credit, you and your boyfriend may be eligible even though you’re a student. Students are eligible as long as they live with a partner and the partner is eligible. You can register for a free account to use our benefit calculator (click ‘Register here’ on this page) – this will allow you to see if you’ll be eligible for Universal Credit, as well as other support such as Council Tax Support.
Finally, if you’d like some more in-depth advice about your situation, Citizens Advice may be able to help.
All the best
Hi there,
I became a partner in the family business (not limited) in Oct 2018. My income increased dramatically last year and based on this we moved house and our expenditure increased. The government are saying help for the self employed will be based on tax returns up to 2018/19. I was self employed before this but not as a partner. I can prove the creation date of the partnership using bank accounts and partnership contracts. Will I be able to file my 2020 return on April 6th and have that counted? As my income was so much smaller before the calculated grant would not help much in meeting our costs.
Hi Ben,
No, unfortunately the guidance is clear that the 80% you will be paid through the self-employment income support scheme will be based on your income in the tax years 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19. You can find more information about the scheme here:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme
You may be able to get help with your rent/ mortgage during this period. You can find more information about this at the top of this page (https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/)
All the best.
Hi, my wife is self-isolating due to being in the at-risk group and has received an NHS letter saying she should self-isolate for at least 12 weeks. When the Coronavirus outbreak started she was confirming a start date for her new job, having left her old job on March 6. We have asked her new employer, a sixth form college where she will be working as a teaching assistant, if she can be furloughed but they haven’t got back to us. Although she hasn’t actually started the new job yet, her contract and all of the relevant forms, including the payroll one were completed and returned in early February. As such we’re not sure where we stand on the furloughing side? Otherwise as someone who is self-isolating and cannot look for alternative work in the meantime, with the college being closed, would she be eligible for Employment Support Allowance? Many thanks.
Hi Sam,
If your wife has made sufficient National Insurance contributions over the past two years, then she should be eligible for contributory Employment & Support Allowance. If she would like to check her eligibility, she might find it helpful to enter her details on our free online calculator. We also have this Covid-19 FAQ page that we’re updating regularly, which includes details of the exact requirements for contributory ESA relating to National Insurance contributions. If your wife is not eligible for contributory ESA and you have less than £16,000 in savings, she may be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can check eligibility for these too using the calculator linked above.
As for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, by the sounds of things your wife should be eligible, it is just down to your employer to let her know in writing that she will be furloughed. Most types of workers can be furloughed, and if she has officially started the position then she should be eligible.
I hope this helps – do let us know if you have any further questions.
I am having to isolate with my husband who is highly vulnerable due to a transplant for at least 12 weeks. I have been told by my employer that I am not entitled to any pay sick or the retention scheme which means I have no income after the end of April being my last monthly wage due.
Hi John,
You cannot get Sick Pay unless you have Coronavirus or are looking after someone with Coronavirus and unfortunately neither of these apply in your case. Entitlement to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is pretty broad and – did your employer explain why they thought you were not eligible?
You do not go into detail about the work situation of your husband. He may be entitled to Sick Pay or Contributory ESA. Further advice on these is given on this page. If you have less than £16,000 in savings you may be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can use our free online calculator (https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free) to check exactly what support is available to you (the calculator also includes links and instructions for how to begin the claim process). You should claim all benefits as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. You might also find it useful to take a look at our COVID-19 FAQ page (https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/), which includes more information about everything I’ve mentioned and is being regularly updated as new information is released.
I hope this helps, but do let us know if you have any other questions.
Hi I worked half a month and got furloughed on the 18th should my employer pay me full wages until the 18th then 80% for the remainder. They are saying we will get 80% for the whole of March.
Hi Ben,
Yes, from the sounds of it, you should be paid your normal wage for the days you were working and 80% for the rest of the month.
Whilst furloughed, you cannot perform any work for your employer. This means that they can only claim reimbursement of your wages for periods when you are not working. Your employer can find contact links and more information about what is required to claim wages back through the government website here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.
I hope this helps, but please do let us know if we can help with any other questions.
Hi, I am employed from 17/02/20 in this job. My employer said I can’t go on furlough as I they didn’t put me on payroll in February. I got my salary for February and March in March. Is there anything I can do about that?
Just for clearance I am EEA national and have pre settle status.
Thank you
Ewa
Hi Ewa,
Unfortunately the Job Retention Scheme can only be used for employees who were on the PAYE system on the 28th of February, so as far as I’m aware your employer would not be able to furlough you.
If your wages are reduced as a result, you should be able to claim Universal Credit and Council tax support if you have right to reside (in addition to your pre-settled status) and you have savings of less than £16,000. You can find more information about right to reside here, and you can check your eligibility for Universal Credit using our free online calculator.
I hope this helps, but do let us know if you have any further questions.
Hi I work as a part time taxi driver (for someone), i work as and when required i earned £6,413 up to end of March, I also received a private pension which is paid monthly £987.50 (£849.61 after tax & ni) (£11,850 per year) I also have savings of about £8,500, I would like to no if I would qualify for any government help and if so what, than you.
Hi Stephen,
Because your savings are below £16,000 you may qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if your household is considered to be ‘working age’ (i.e. if you or your partner, if you have one, are aged below 66). You can find out your eligibility and how much this would be using our online calculator.
If you and your partner (if you have one) are aged 66 and above you may be eligible for support under the ‘legacy’ system that was in place before Universal Credit came in. You can also check this on our calculator. Both benefits are means tested and depend on your circumstances so it is worth checking before you apply.
I hope this helps and best wishes
Hi My Dad is a sole Trader and just received a letter from the NHS to say due to risk of illness he has to self isolate for 12 weeks. My step mum is still currently working but naturally cannot afford the household bills alone on her salary. Is he still able to put in a claim at all being sole trader? They have been told they cannot seek universal credit as she is still working. He is not registered on company house so i don’t think the business interruption loan applies. Any help would be greatly appreciated
Hi Vicki
The best options for your father depend on timing. In the immediate aftermath of seeing his income drop dramatically, your father may be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if he meets eligibility criteria (note that if your step mum and father live together, your father’s claim would be on a joint ‘couple’ basis – this means joint income and savings are taken into account). To check the support your father and step mum can get they or you can use our online calculator.
In the medium term your father may be eligible for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme if he submitted a tax return for the tax year 18/19, his trading profits were less than £50,000/year in 2018/19 (or average less than £50,000/year in the three years 2016 – 2019) and if more than 50% of his trading profits come from self-employment. HMRC will be in touch with those eligible for the scheme.
Best wishes
Hi, I meet all the criteria to claim through the Self employment income support scheme. However I am living in the UK on a spouse visa which states I am not entiitled to public funds. Does this situation differ from other benefits so would I still be eligible for the scheme? I can’t seem to find any information on this. Thanks
Hi Mike,
The information on this is not easy to dig out in explicit terms, but both the Self Employed Scheme and the 80% scheme for PAYE workers are not covered by “no recourse to public funds” clause. So you should still eligible for the scheme if you meet all the other criteria. This is mentioned by Immigration Law specialists JCWI (see question number 4): https://www.jcwi.org.uk/covid-19-and-spousepartner-visas.
I hope this helps and best wishes.
I am currently being furloughed by my work for up to 3 months and am only getting 80% of my wage. If I have universal credit I have to let them know? I ask because is very hard to contact them at the moment. Thank you
Hi Elena,
Universal Credit and the furlough scheme are separate, however you do need to mention your change of circumstances to your work coach. You can do this by updating your online journal.
Best wishes.
Good morning,
I have been in negotiations with my current employer regarding a settlement agreement. I am currently employed but my final date under this agreement is the 19th April.
I am just about to sign the agreement but have not done so yet – would I be eligible to access the furlong payments?
Thanks
Hi Ed,
As long as you were on the payroll on February 28th 2020 your employer has the option of placing you on furlough regardless of when you leave. The decision of whether to furlough employees is down to the employer so you may want to discuss this with them to see if they are open to taking this route.
Best wishes.
Hi
My husband is a sole trader (joiner) – he has had a letter to isolate for 12 weeks as he has a chronic lung disease. He used to received DLA, but, when assessed for PIP was refused. As he is not able to work long days because of his disability, his profits are quite low, and so won’t get a large grant, and as he isn’t able to work for, at least, the next 12 weeks, he won’t be earning anything. We have savings of just over £16,000, but only because of my work (I work in the NHS, and so am still working at present) – is there anything he could claim, as the business still has some expenses even though he isn’t working (insurances etc)
Hi Rosemary,
If your husband has made sufficient National Insurance claims over the last two years he may be able to claim contributory Employment and Support Allowance. This is available to people who are either too ill to work, or who are self-isolating due to COVID-19. You can find more details about contributory ESA on our COVID-19 FAQ page here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/#1584897549458-829488e3-0bcc.
In addition, the government has recently announced a new Coronavirus Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. This will automatically be offered to self-employed people who have submitted tax returns for the 2018/19 financial year, have less than £50,000 in annual profits, are trading in 2019/20 and intend to continue trading in 2020/21. We have more information about this scheme on our FAQ page linked above, and you can find the government guidelines here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme. I should note that the scheme is expected to come into effect in June (although payments will be backdated to March), so I would recommend applying for contributory ESA as soon as possible.
I hope this is helpful,
Best wishes
I’m a single parent who works, that was until the schools closed, my employer is telling me they wont pay me as I’m off to look after the children, I private rent and desperately need help as I dont know what financial help I can get?
Hi Soph, if you were on your employer payroll on 28 February 2020 then your employer may be able to access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and receive a grant for 80% of your earnings. This grant can be used to pay wages through this period. It is up to your employer whether they access the scheme so you may need to discuss this with them.
If this is not possible, you should be eligible for benefits. If you’ve been working and paying national insurance for the last 2-3 years, you may be eligible for New Style JSA. You can find more info here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-jsa
If you have less than £16,000 in savings, you may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can use our Better Off Calculator (linked above) to see what you are eligible for. I would recommend claiming benefits as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated.
I wish you the best of luck
Good morning,
Prior to the coronavirus I was temping for a company throught a recruitment agency. The company’s office had to close and I was no longer required st that time. They have stated that once their office opdnd back up I will be required again. The recruitment agency have informed me that they have had to P45 me as this is standard if not on a assignment t for 3 weeks plus. I have read all about the retention scheme and furlong employees. I def qualify for this I have been in this assignment for over 6 months, I wrote to the recruitment agency and they are looking into this. Shld they have me on furlong now and be paying me to then in turn get reimbursed by goverment or would I get paid this in bulk once they receive their grant to cover my missed payments? I’m not sure, also how long should I wait until I’m informed from my employer that I am a “furlong” employee? At least then I will know I have some income at some point coming to me and it eases the stress of having no money.
Also once I had stopped working I applied for job seekers allowance…will this effect my missed wages through retension scheme? Shld I cancel my application for the job seekers as I will hopefully be reimbursed through retention scheme? Just a bit confused
Sorry .Regards
Hi Charlene,
No need to apologise at all – it is an extremely confusing time. If they furlough you, your employer will get reimbursed for 80% of your wages when the Job Retention Scheme comes into effect in April (though they can backdate their claim to the beginning of March). So, they can continue to pay your wages until then. They should notify you in writing that you have been furloughed (including the date that the furlough status begins). If it is helpful, you could direct your employer to the government guidance on the scheme here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.
As for JSA, the government have announced that they can furlough employees who were let go, but subsequently re-hired after the announcement of the Job Retention Scheme. However, until you have confirmation of your furloughed status (and of your wage payments until April) I would not recommend cancelling your JSA application. The application for JSA should not affect your eligibility to be furloughed. If your company effectively re-hires you in order to furlough you, you would no longer be eligible for JSA, but at that point you would hopefully be more secure in your income so could safely cancel the application.
I hope this helps, but please do let us know if you have further questions we might be able to help with.
If I have just started a new job is my employer able to claim for me ?
Hi Phillip,
Your employer will be able to claim reimbursement for 80% of your wages through the Job Retention Scheme if you were on the PAYE payroll system on 28th February 2020.
If you were not on the payroll then and your wages are reduced, you may be able to claim benefits. If you’ve been working and paying national insurance for the last 2-3 years, you may be eligible for New Style JSA. You can find more info here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-jsa. If your savings are less than £16,000, you may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can check your eligibility for these types of support using our free online calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
I hope this helps, but do let us know if we can help with any further questions.
I started my new job after the 28th Feb 2020 is there any help for somebody like me My new boss has said he will pay 50% of my wages out of his own pocket which I think is admirable but I’m still left short is there any help for people like me
Hi Michael,
If you are no longer earning, or have a very low income because of this, you could be eligible for Universal Credit (so long as you have settled status in the UK and your savings are under £16,000). You may also be eligible for Council Tax Support and/or ‘new-style’ Jobseekers Allowance (depending on National Insurance contributions over the previous 2-3 years). You can use our benefit calculator to assess your eligibility to each of these types of support.
All the best
Hi.
The company I worked for went into administraion on 28th Feb. I left and stated work under a paye umbrella company on 9th march but the company I’m working for has had to let me go due to covid. Is there any way I can claim under the job retention scheme? Thanks
Hi Nick,
The government has confirmed that employers can claim reimbursement for workers they have re-hired since the announcement of the Job Retention Scheme. If your previous employer is in a position to do this, then you could be furloughed and have 80% of your wages covered. However, given that they have gone into administration, this may not be possible. If this is the case, you should apply for contributory Job Seekers Allowance (if you have made sufficient National Insurance contributions over the past two years – you can find out the exact NI requirements for contributory JSA on our COVID-19 FAQ page here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/). If you have less than £16,000 in savings, you may also be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can check your eligibility, and find instructions and links for how to claim Universal Credit using our free online calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
I hope this is helpful, but please do let us know if we can help with any further questions.
Hello,
I’m a self employed entertainer receiving tax credits who has been adversely affected by the Covid-19 lock down.
The government has announced a £1000 increase in tax credits from 06/04/2020 for existing claimants affected by Covid19 measures. Does this mean I can continue claiming even though my working hours have dropped though no fault of my own?
Many thanks for your help
Hi Stuart,
If your self-employed income has reduced, HMRC will ignore the change for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks of reduced income you should report the change to HMRC. But check this site before you do as the 8 weeks may have been extended.
If you are no longer trading due to COVID-19, likewise HMRC will ignore this and continue to treat you as self-employed for 8 weeks as long as you haven’t closed your business and intend to return to self-employment once you are able. After 8 weeks you should inform HMRC that you are no longer trading, but again check this site to see whether the period has been extended. If you have permanently closed down your business you need to inform HMRC.
If your income is severely reduced you may qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support in the meantime. You can use our calculator to see if you would qualify. It is worth noting that if you move to Universal Credit you will not be able to return to receiving Working Tax Credits and will remain in receipt of Universal Credit if you return to work.
Best wishes
Thanks for the advice.
It would seem impractical to push people from WTC to UC in these circumstances given the increased workload. Lets hope they continue to waver the change in circs rules since its a government decision thats effected my trade.
Hi Stuart,
We are expecting this to continue as long as the crisis does. We will keep this page updated.
Best wishes.
Hi my friends employer can’t pay furlough until end of April he wanted to go on to universal credit.. can he? Or will this mess his furloughed payment thanks.
Hi Laura,
Yes he can – it shouldn’t interfere with the 80% job retention furlough scheme. You can read the full criteria above but essentially the crucial point is that he was employed by them before 28 February and was paid via PAYE. It’s up to his employer to apply for the grant to cover that payment, so it shouldn’t take into account any of his other income such as Universal Credit.
He can use our benefits calculator to see how much he might be eligible for. We recommend applying ASAP because there will be a five week wait between application and his first Universal Credit payment (though he may want to consider applying for an advance in the meantime).
Best wishes
Hi,
I’m a self employed domestic electrician and work has stopped as I can’t go into peoples houses unless essential and also since last week I need to look after my 2 boys at home who are off school. My wife has been furloughed and will get the £2500 capped amount but is doing some voluntary work.
This is what I have earned, working 5 days a week but shorter days due to school runs.
2016/17 – became self employed in last few weeks and earned £1K
2017/18 – self employed earning approx £10k
2018/19 – PAYE £11K (3 days of the week) and self employed earned £4k (2 days per week)
2019/20 – mostly self employed no longer working for company from June 2019, earned approx £10K but this year of course does not count.
So will the self employed grant be approx £(15K/3) * 0.8/12 = £111 per month as PAYE and year 19/20 will not count
When using the universal credit calculator on the government website, I entered my income as 0 and my wife’s income as £2500, we have no savings, and it gives a result of approx £15.68 per week, is this correct, can I apply for anything else?
Many thanks
David
Hi David,
From the advice we’ve seen so far your calculations sound correct – the government say “To work out the average HMRC will add together the total trading profit for the 3 tax years (where applicable) then divide by 3 (where applicable), and use this to calculate a monthly amount. It will be up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for 3 months.” Assuming that stands, it matches your calculations.
While you are waiting for that grant (not expected until June), as your income is lower you can claim based on that lower income. I’d definitely recommend double checking what you might be eligible for using our calculator and claiming ASAP so that any money you are eligible for will come in sooner (there’s a five week wait from the day you claim). I’d also recommend looking at the green “Information about your case” box on the right hand side of the results page to see what other support you might be eligible for. From April 6 (Friday) Universal Credit support rates will also be made £20/week more, so that is also worth taking into account.
https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
Can I go and work for an other company if my job has no work for me
Hi Gerry,
Thanks for getting in touch. Employment law isn’t our specialty, but it’s likely to depend on what your contract says about you taking on other work. If you’re not sure, it might be worth consulting ACAS.
You might also want to talk to your employer about whether they might take advantage of the 80% job retention scheme so you could retain some income from them while furloughed.
We’d also recommend filling in our benefits calculator to see if you might be eligible for any extra help while your income is lower.
If you are eligible for Universal Credit, we recommend applying ASAP because there will be a five week wait between application and your first Universal Credit payment (though you may want to consider applying for an advance in the meantime).
Best wishes
Hi, Please help. I am a full time student. Last year I decided to invest my student finance/loan and bought a taxi, allowing me to earn around £150 at the weekend bringing people to/from nightclubs etc. Since they are now closed I have no income from this. I am currently trying to survive on £45 per week. I am not entitled to UC because I am a student and I don’t qualify for the 80% self employed grant because the £150 i used to earn is not more than 50% of my self employed income. What can I do?
Hi Terry,
I’m sorry to hear that. There is still a chance you might be eligible for the 80% self employed grant – your self-employed income only had to make up half of your taxable income, and as your student loan/grant wouldn’t have been taxed, that isn’t counted as part of this taxable income. So it will depend on whether you started being self-employed with the taxi before April 2019? If so, you can then work out whether income from that self-employment made up more than half of your taxable income (so don’t include student finance, but do consider any other income from employed work you might have had) during the tax year 2018-19. You can find more information about this grant at the top of this page.
If you are eligible, unfortunately you will probably not receive that grant until June. So I would also recommend double checking with our benefits calculator to see if there is any extra support you might be able to get: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free Sadly we are seeing a lot of students who have been badly affected by these Universal Credit rules in the current crisis, so there are a few places you might be able to look for extra support.
Your university might offer support such as the below if you get in touch with them:
https://www.gov.uk/extra-money-pay-university/university-and-college-hardship-funds
https://www.gov.uk/extra-money-pay-university
You can also find other support such as extra grants you might be eligible for here: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/About-Us/News/Financial-help-for-uni-students. It might also be worth getting in touch with mutual aid groups in your area to see if they know of any further assistance where you are: https://freedomnews.org.uk/covid-19-uk-mutual-aid-groups-a-list/?fbclid=IwAR2mb3JYJ0GBm8Vg1O_sBGw9eP9_EsVUsBeUoEtxas5aEUzRe7OoYg7hXeo
Best wishes.
I use public transport but they have cut the service I cannot get to work after next week. I am on a full time contract can I ask my company to put me on furlough.
Hi Michelle,
I think you could certainly ask them if they are considering putting anyone on furlough and whether your position might be one of those, though the final decision is likely to be up to them. It might also be worth asking them if they might be able to make any alternative arrangements for you, and you could also check your contract to see if it says anything relevant. It might also be worth consulting ACAS for more in depth advice around employment: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
If you do find your income reduced because you can’t make it to work, you might be eligible for more support so it’s worth filling in our benefits calculator (with your current details or with your details if you could no longer make it to work) to see what you might be eligible for: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free And if you are eligible for Universal Credit, we recommend applying ASAP because there will be a five week wait between application and your first Universal Credit payment (though you may want to consider applying for an advance in the meantime).
Best wishes.
I receive Child Tax Credit, do I need to let them know if both my husband and myself have been put on furlough leave
Hi Sharon,
The hours’ rule for working tax credits has been relaxed for the Covid19 period and has been extended to 8 weeks. This means you can retain tax credits if you’ve had a reduction in hours, for up to 8 weeks. The 8 weeks may be extended so do check these pages for any updates. In the meantime I would suggest that you plan to contact HMRC after 8 weeks in your situation. You don’t need to do this any sooner.
I hope this helps and best wishes.
hi I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO STAY OF WORK FOR 12 WEEKS due to me having asthma am I ENTITLED TO BE PAID FOR THE TIME OF MY EMPLOYER HAS JUST TOLD ME I WILL ONLY GET 2 WEEKS WAGES
Hi Mary,
The advice from the Government is to work from home where possible. If this is not possible for you and you received a letter from the NHS saying that you’re in a vulnerable group, then you can be furloughed (to receive 80% of your wage for the whole 12 weeks), but this will need to be done by your employer as they will need to apply for the grant. You will need to discuss this further with them but they should be aware that they need to comply with Government guidance on this. You might want to seek advice if you believe your employer is not taking the appropriate steps to protect you at work. You can search for advice here: https://advicelocal.uk/.
Best wishes.
Hi I have left my previous job after three and half years of working on Febuary 2 and then i went for holidays to Asia and decided that i will start a new job after March 20( which was promised by a friend but there was no written contract yet) but because of current situation i am not able to go back to UK and do not know when i will be able to travel as there are travel restrictions.My question is, am i eligible to claim any kind of benefits in this situation? if yes then how?My previous years earning before taxes is £25000.
Kind Regards
Hi Wasif,
I hope you’ve made it back to the UK safely. Because you are not a PAYE employee that was employed on 28th February and furloughed thereafter, you will not qualify for the Job Retention Scheme.
If you’re in the UK: if your income is low and your savings are less than £16,000 you may be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support (if you pay Council Tax) – you can check this using our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. If you are back in the UK you may also be able to claim National Insurance based JSA: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-jsa.
If you’re still abroad: you need to pass certain residence tests to be eligible for Universal Credit and temporary travel in this regard is ignored only when it is for one month. This doesn’t mean you can’t claim but means you need to be back in the UK in order to apply. Contacting the UK embassy in the country that you are in will help you to get information specific to your circumstances.
Best wishes
Hi there I started a new job with a new business on the 15th March, but I also fell out with the previous employer. What can I do to get income support. I also fall into the high risk group because of ore exisiting conditions
Hi Caius,
The Job Retention Scheme for employees (which pays 80% of your wages) is available only to those who were with that employer on the 28th of February and have subsequently been ‘furloughed’.
In the absence of furlough, if your savings are below £16,000 you may be able to claim Universal Credit and /or Council Tax Support (if you pay Council Tax), which you can check using our online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/#/free. You should also take a look at other help available depending on your circumstances on this page.
I hope this helps. Best wishes.
Can an employer stop my london weighting allowance? They have furloughed some employees but still want me to work and have stated I will lose it. I am a boiler engineer. Thanks.
Hi Sammie,
London weighting is not a legal requirement, but Policy in Practice are not employment law specialists, so you may want to get in touch with a specialist organisation on the legality of this and your basis for disputing a reduction to your wage.
Depending on your earnings savings (if they are below £16,000) you may be able to claim Universal Credit Council Tax Support. You can check this with our online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
Hi
This extra £20 per week for tax credit is that given automatacliy or do i need to make a claim.
Also my working hours are the same but my sales bonus is effected can i get extra help.
Hi Rukhsana,
Yes, the increase to Tax Credits will come into force automatically from the 6th of April. £20/week is the maximum increase but this could be different depending on your circumstances.
If your income has dropped you may be able to get more help, but this will likely trigger a move to Universal Credit, which would replace your Tax Credits. You can check what this would be using our online calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
If you are unsure about your situation, we’d recommend getting further advice before making a claim for Universal Credit, since once you move over you cannot return to Tax Credits. You can find your local citizens advice here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/search-for-your-local-citizens-advice/
Best wishes
Hi. I started a new job on 23/03/20 and was let go yesterday (30/03) due to insufficient work for me. I cannot be furloughed by this employer as I wasn’t employed by them on 28/02, however I was in my previous employment on 28/02 and left on 17/03. I have contacted this employer as well and the same applies, as apparently I’m not in contract with them anymore they cannot claim back 80% of my salary from the government. Is there anything I can do? Is it likely that this loophole will be picked up on and solved? I appreciate the situation that both employers are in, however I can’t see why I should miss out just because I was unfortunate to start the day before lockdown. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks
Hi Laurence,
As you left your job after 28 Feb, your old employer can rehire you and furlough you (meaning you’d get 80% of your old wages). This money will be paid by the government rather than your old employer. This decision does rest with the old employer, so I’d recommend getting in touch to see if they would agree to this.
If this is not possible, you should be eligible for benefits. If you’ve been working and paying national insurance for the last 2-3 years, you should be eligible for ‘New Style JSA’ – you can find out more here. If you have savings under £16,000, you may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can use our online benefit calculator, linked above, to see if you’re eligible.
All the best
I accepted my new job offer on the 19th Feb and started on the 3rd March. I therefore do not qualify for the job retention scheme so what can I do?
Hi Emmy,
Assuming you were not on the payroll with your previous employer on the 28th of February then you will not be eligible for the furlough scheme. If you were still on your old employer’s payroll on 28th February, it is possible for them to re-employ you and put you on Furlough if they choose to do so. You should discuss this with them.
If this is not possible, you should be eligible for benefits. If you’ve been working and paying national insurance for the last 2-3 years, you may be eligible for New Style JSA. You can find more info here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-jsa
If you have under £16,000 in savings, then you may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can use our Better Off Calculator (linked above) to see what you are eligible for, I would recommend claiming benefits as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated.
Best wishes
I am high risk but my husband still works if he iisolates for 14 days dose he qualify for 80% wages
Hi Linda,
If your husband isolates for 14 days because he is ill with Coronavirus then he will be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay. If he is not ill himself and not looking after a child who is ill, he won’t be eligible for Sick Pay. However, he may be eligible for 80% of his pay if his employer agrees to furlough him. This means his employer gets a rant to cover 80% of your husband’s wages, and he won’t need to go into work. If your husband self-isolates during this period it will not affect his status as a furloughed employee.
I hope this helps and wish you all the best
Hiya,
I’m just wondering- I started a new job on the 6th Of March however was offered and given the job on the 19th of Feb. I started the 6th and on the 21st of March my shop was shut due to the virus. I am just wondering if I am still in the scheme where I will be getting 80% of my wage? I’m really not sure what type of wage I will be getting. I am a home owner and wouldn’t like to start missing payments etc.
thank you.
Hi Alison,
This will depend on when your contract started. If it was before the 28th February then you will be eligible to be furloughed if your employer goes down this path. If it was after the 28th then you cannot be included within the scheme. If you cannot be furloughed and are on unpaid leave, and have below £16,000 in savings, then you could claim Universal Credit or Council Tax Support. You should claim these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. Details are on this site. If you have been laid off, you may also be able to claim contributory JSA, again details are on this site.
Best wishes
Hi,
I began to self-isolate from mid March for 2 weeks with suspected covid-19 symptoms. My employer has agreed to pay us 80% of our wages. However, working in the service industry I receive a various wage (as I’m on a zero hour contract) and my service charge which I receive each shift in cash which various depending how busy we are (which is also taxed) – what will I expect to receive in my next pay check, 80% of my average wage or 80% of my average wage AND average service charge?
Thanks so much for your help,
Brandon
Hi Brandon
As you receive variable wages and are on a zero-hours contract your employer can claim the highest of either your earnings in the same month last year or the average of your wages over the 2018/19 financial year.
Best wishes
I’ve been working for a agency for the last 2 years at the same company, 2 weeks ago they said there’s no work and the agency isn’t answering any calls, are agency workers entitled to the 80%??
Hi Tony,
I’m sorry to hear that they aren’t getting back to you. As an agency worker, you are eligible to receive 80% of your average earnings through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme as long as you have been paid through PAYE. The agency can then choose to top up your earnings by the additional 20% if they wish.
If you are not already claiming, I would recommend checking which benefits you are eligible for and applying as soon as you can, especially if you the agency continue to not answer your calls. You can use our benefits calculator to see which benefits you may be eligible for, there is a link at the top of this page.
All the best.
My husband and I are working from home as our employers have closed premises. We have a family of 4 and have been informed by our employer that we are going to 80%salary. For us this is a drop of arch month of around £1400. Are we entitled to claim anything as this Ian going to mean we cannot afford to pay our monthly outgoings.
Also our mortgage is offset. Can we still take a repayment holiday, or is there anything else we would be entitled to?
Hi there,
Firstly it may be worth double checking with your employer if they will cover the remaining 20% that the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme does not cover.
As you have seen a reduction in your income its worth checking on our benefits calculator which benefits you may be eligible for. You can find a link at the top of this page. You may be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if your savings are below £16,000, this could help to cover some of the gap that is left by the reduction in your income.
Regarding your mortgage you may be eligible for a payment holiday, but this will vary from bank to bank, especially as you have an offset mortgage. It would be worth contacting your bank to find out more. It’s worth noting that if you do take a payment holiday then later payments are likely to be higher than they currently are.
If your bank is not offering holidays for those with offset mortgages then another option may be an SMI (Support for Mortgage Interest) however this requires that you have been in receipt of a benefit for about 9 months. You can find more information about SMI here: https://www.gov.uk/support-for-mortgage-interest
I hope this helps and all the best.
Hi, I was working for a big brewery in a hotel bar full-time for over 8 months.
I attended an interview on the 27th February and was offered the job on the same day.
I handed a weeks notice in with the current employer meaning that my last day was 7th March. I received my last weekly pay packet which was the final holiday I was owed on Friday 20th March . My first day at the new hotel was the 16th March. And it was my last! After the PM’s speech that day advising the public to avoid restaurants and bars my nephew employers contacted me straight away to say they had no hours for me but they still wanted me to be ‘part of the team’.
Even though there was a seamless transition earnings-wise I now am devastated to realise that I am one of the unfortunates that have slipped through the net as it turns out I am on NO-ONES pay-roll . I am owed for ONE DAY at that place and they have my national guard insurance number and bank details.
Would it be possible for my former employer to re-hire me on paper as I was a very good employee and I had only just left, even though I’ll be going back to the other place when this is over? The grant won’t cover me at the new place as I was brand new.
I am so so frustrated that I’ve paid into the system consistently and am now going to end up on universal credit which isn’t enough to cover my outgoings at all.
Both just living on my mums pension at the moment and we haven’t got enough money.
Hi Lucy,
Unfortunately, as it stands you need to have submitted your Income Tax Self Assessment tax return for the tax year 2018-19 to be eligible for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. Without that, you would not be eligible for the scheme.
If you are not eligible, you may still be able to access other government support, including benefits, deferred VAT and Self-Assessment payments, and business support grants. https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme-cbilshttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses#support-for-businesses-through-deferring-vat-and-income-tax-payments
If you can’t receive the grant and you have less than £16,000 in savings, you may qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You should claim these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. You can use our calculator to see what you might be eligible for: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
Hi I was looking some advice if possible. I was made temporarily redundant and furloughed a few weeks back I have applied for new style jsa. We have not yet been told as and when if we will get the 80 percent wage entitlement. If this is approved by my work will I be entitled to it even tho I have claimed for jsa. Or if i cancel my jsa when we are told it has been approved. Thanks
Hi William,
You’ll only be eligible for out-of-work benefits like New Style JSA if you have been laid off. From reading your message, it sounds like you are being kept on as an employee and being placed on furlough, so you will not be eligible.
Although the furlough payments wont be available to you immediately, they will be backdated to 1 March.
I’d recommend using our online benefit calculator (linked above) to see if you are eligible for any other support such as Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You may be eligible even once you start receiving the furlough payments, depending on how high your income is and whether or not you have savings.
All the best
My daughter works for a. Children’s nursery they recently sent home all workers who had children to ease the pressure on schools ‘re key workers children. She has been told that she would only receive 65% of her salary , why is this ??
Hi Naomi,
If your daughter has been furloughed, she should be getting 80% of her wages, up to a monthly cap of £2,500. The government will be paying this 80%, so it doesn’t sound right that her employer has said she’ll only receive 65%. I’d recommend that she queries this with her employer. You can read the official government guidance here.
All the best
Aapparently the nursery is a registered charity and has a board of trustees, would this make any difference ?
Hello Naomi,
That doesn’t sound right if she has been truly put on furlough. There are no special exemptions for charities. She should ask her employer why they are calculating her salary as 65% and ask about the Job Retention Program, linked in the comment above.
According to the government website, there can be some very specific exceptions that her employer may fall into: “Where employers receive public funding for staff costs, and that funding is continuing, we expect employers to use that money to continue to pay staff in the usual fashion – and correspondingly not furlough them. This also applies to non-public sector employers who receive public funding for staff costs. Organisations who are receiving public funding specifically to provide services necessary to respond to COVID-19 are not expected to furlough staff.”
They go on to say “In a small number of cases, for example where organisations are not primarily funded by the government and whose staff cannot be redeployed to assist with the coronavirus response, the scheme may be appropriate for some staff.”
As we don’t know the details of her employer or her situation, we suggest she goes to her employer to better understand why they have offered her only 65% of her pay and push them to find suitable options, including the Job Retention Scheme wherein she could get 80% of her pay if they fulfill the conditions.
Hope this helps, best wishes.
I get income support does anyone no if I will get the same increse (20 pound more a week )
Hi Charlotte,
Unfortunately, as it stands there has been no indication that legacy benefits such as Income Support will be increased in line with Universal Credit. The increase to the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) may still boost your income though – if you are in receipt of housing benefit, you may be eligible for more now the LHA has been increased.
The changes to Universal Credit haven’t yet come into effect, but once they have (by 6 April), you will be able to use our calculator to compare what income you would get under Universal Credit and the legacy system: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free It may be that after that your income is more on Universal Credit, but it is worth checking first to make sure that’s the case.
Best wishes,
Hi
I’m a little bit confused to what i am classed as I.e Self employed or employed as I am a director of the company in which I’m the only employee. I’m unsure of the best way to go as i have no work at this moment in time. Do i furlough my self or do i claim universal credits.
Thank you for any advice or guidance you can give me.
Hi Karen,
If you pay yourself through PAYE, you will count as employed and will be able to place yourself on furlough. You can find more details about this scheme here.
You’ll count as self-employed and be eligible for the self-employmet income support scheme if this is not the case, as long as you submitted an Income Tax Self Assessment tax return for the tax year 2018-19 and traded last year. Your self-employed trading profits must also be less than £50,000, and more than half of your income must come from self-employment. More information about the self-employed scheme is available here.
If you think you count as self-employed, you may be able to claim Universal Credit until the income support scheme starts in June. You can use our online benefit calculator (linked above) to check if you’re eligible.
All the best
Hi ,
As a full time worker as a chef , the management of the company just contacted me today to tell me that I will be only getting 80% of my half salary where my full salary meet the conditions that the governement gave us to grt 80% of the salary of peoples who gets up to 25 000 a month.
So I’m a bit worried how this is could be right .
Hi Lyes,
You should be getting 80% of your normal monthly wages (up to the monthly cap of £2,500/month) since this money is coming from the government rather than your employer. You can find more details about the scheme here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme/
In the first instance, I would recommend querying this with your employer. If you suspect that they are not complying with the guidance, you may need some specialist employment support to make sure you’re getting the full amount you’re eligible for. Citizens Advice may be able to help: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/
All the best.
hi i have been informed by my employers they will be closing and declaring myself furlough, what do i need to do and who do i need to contact re council regarding council tax/ housing benefit I’m already on and hmrc ……do i need to tell them or does my employer ??
Hi Jenny,
You do not need to do anything to be placed on furlough – your employer will do this and should then notify you in writing.
If you’re receiving tax credits, you do not need to inform HMRC. They have amended the tax credit rules for the next 8 weeks (and maybe longer), meaning that your tax credits will continue to be paid based on your old working hours. You should inform your council about your change of circumstances, but you should be able to continue receiving Council Tax Support and Housing Benefit. In fact, your Housing Benefit is likely to increase, since the ‘LHA rate’ used to work out your Housing Benefit award has been increased for the new financial year.
All the best,
Hi, I work for a small mobility company, and due to coved 19, 4 staff have been put on furlough leave. However , my boss is not shutting our business down , so I am having to work a reduced week I.e down from 36hrs a week to 20 hours as I am the only one who can go out to repair a variety of stairlifts for a wide range disabled/elderly people.thus ..for doing my job and losing 50% of my wages I am being penalised !!!!!!Is there any assistance for someone in my current work position, regards Andrew.any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers
Hi Andrew,
Sorry to hear this, it sounds like you’ve been put in a really unfortunate situation.
I would recommend using our online benefits calculator to see if you’re eligible for any benefits to top up your wages. If you have savings of less than £16,000, you may be eligible for Council Tax Support and Universal Credit. You can access the calculator here: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
All the best.
I am wondering what way it will work for people who move between self employment and PAYE. I do freelance IT work and was PAYE/ Self employed during tax year 18/19 with a self assessment amount to the tax office of about 28K, 19/20 I was PAYE until December 31st and have been self employed since. However my latest work has ended due to the virus situation and any future contracts I was working on moving to after the current one all have been put on hold. So I have been neither self employed or PAYE only and I have not seen anything that covers this situation. Do you know would I be covered under either of the schemes for a grant?
At this moment of time I have zero income coming in and am unaware f any grant that will cover me.
Hi Andy,
To our knowledge the two schemes are not mutually exclusive, so provided you meet the requirements for each one you should be able to claim support.
However since you were not PAYE on 28th February 2020 you will not qualify for furlough as an employee.
You may qualify for Self Employment Income Support, provided your self-employed trading profits are below £50,000 and more 50% of your income comes from self-employment. The 50% rule is determined by at least one of the following conditions being true: (i) having trading profits/partnership trading profits in 2018-19 of less than £50,000 and these profits constitute more than half of your total taxable income; or (ii) having average trading profits in 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19 of less than £50,000 and these profits constitute more than half of your average taxable income in the same period. If eligible, HMRC will be in touch with you.
Depending on your income and savings (savings below £16,000) you may also be able to claim Universal Credit or Council Tax Support, which you can check using our free online calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/#/free. This webpage also lists help paying for housing (mortgage holiday) if this applies to you.
Hope this helps. Best wishes.
Hi
I live in the UK with spouse visa which no access to public funds
My company is considerating to lay off me
My question is am I eligible for job rentention scheme?
Thanks
Lynn
Hi Lynn,
Yes, as long as you were on your employer’s PAYE payroll on or before 28 February 2020, you should be eligible for the job retention scheme. You can find full details here.
All the best
The link does not mention people on spouse visas. Where can I find information for my wife, who is here on a spouse visa, and is being offered furlough by her employer.
Hi John,
There is nothing to suggest that your wife won’t be able to access the furlough scheme. As long as she was on her employer’s PAYE payroll on 28 February 2020, she should be eligible.
Best wishes,
Hi, I handed my notice in and was on the payroll for my previous employer until the 11th March. My new employer has delayed my start date until at least June or July. Is there any help for people between jobs? Thanks
Hi Helen,
You may be eligible for the 80% scheme if your old employer chooses to re-employ you and place you on furlough. Since the government will be paying the 80% of your wages, your ex-employer shouldn’t be left out of pocket as a result of re-employing you. I’d recommending contacting your old employer to discuss this.
In the meantime, you may also be eligible for benefits. If you’ve been working and paying national insurance for the last 2-3 years, you may be eligible for ‘New Style JSA’. You can find more info here. You may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if your savings are less than £16,000. You can use our online benefit calculator (linked above) to find out if you’re eligible.
All the best
Just received esa form wanting bank statements. I’m in isolation how do I go about this. Cheers Ste
Hi there,
I’m assuming this is a form for New Style ESA, like the ones on this webpage: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance-esa-claim-form?
If so, you may be able to provide alternative documentation if you cannot send a bank statement, for example your birth certificate, council tax statement or NHS card. If you cannot provide these or any of the other suggested forms of ID, I’d recommend getting in touch with the DWP to ask their advice. You can phone them on 0800 328 5644 (choose option 2), though unfortunately there may be a delay to get through at the moment.
I wish you all the best.
Best wishes.
Hi
I am a sole trader and have averaged £49500 over last 3 tax returns. In addition to this I have received £2800 a year from rental income on a flat which as I understand it is classed as unearned income. Do you know if I qualify for the £2500 a month payment from the government. My business has stopped now for 2 weeks and I now have no income. I don’t qualify for UC as I have money in bank ready to pay taxman.
Hi Steve,
As far as we are aware, the £50,000 cap on the new Self Employment Income Support Scheme is based on trading profits only. So long as your rental income is not part of your business, I do not think it would be taken into account.
Although the new scheme will include payments backdated to March of this year, it is due to go live in June. In the meantime, you may still be eligible for other forms of support such as business support grants (more information on these can be found here). Finally, although the £16,000 savings limit is currently prevention you from claiming UC, a number of organisations are calling for this capital limit to be lifted in response to COVID-19. If any such changes are announced, we will update our FAQ page right away, so you may want to check back in regularly for any developments.
I hope this is helpful. Do let us know if you have any other questions.
Thank you so much.
Hi, my partner works part-time employed (15hrs) and part-time self employed (10hrs), due to the Covid-19 the self employment net profit is not being met. We are in receipt of WTC. Can you advise what is the best policy on what to do as we receive housing benefit.
Hi Ali,
If more than half of your partner’s income comes from self-employment, then they may be eligible for the Covid-19 Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. There is more detailed guidance about eligibility for this scheme on this Covid FAQ page, but in particular your partner will need to have submitted tax returns as self employed for the 2018-19 financial year, have been trading in 2019-20 and be intending to continue trading in 2020-21, and have less than £50,000/year in average profits for 2018-19 that constitute more than half of their taxable income.
If your partner is not eligible for the new Income Support scheme, they may be able to claim Universal Credit or Council Tax Support if they have less than £16,000 in savings.
Hi
I have been on Universal Credit whilst looking for a job, I had just started a job working one month between February and March, and now have been put on furlough. My UC is currently still active, do I continue to get UC whilst on furlough, and would this be in full including the additional amount that is now given due to Covid-19. Thank you
Hi Ree,
Yes, you can continue to receive UC (including the additional £20/week recently announced) whilst on furlough. Your wages paid through the Job Retention Scheme will be treated as income for the purposes of your UC calculation, so if you would like to check how much you’ll be eligible for you can use our free online calculator here.
I hope this helps – do let us know if you have any other questions.
Thank you for all your help regarding answering questions.
Up until 20th March 2020, I was a director and shareholder of a business. I have now left that employment by way of settlement and am currently unemployed. My wife works a full time job, we have 2 dependants, a mortgage and a PCP contract for my car. I have no idea how to work out if and what I might be entitled to claim through the benefits system. Is there any advice you can give as to what I might be able to claim?
Hi Christopher,
My main advice would be to enter your household details into our free online calculator. This will show you what benefits you are eligible for, and includes links to the claims process where applicable. You can let us know through the built-in help function if you need any assistance with the calculation.
As a quick summary – if you have made sufficient National Insurance contributions over the past two years, you may be eligible for contributory Job Seekers Allowance. If you have less than £16,000 in savings, you may also be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. If you are not already, you may be able to claim Child Benefit for your two dependents. As I say though, your best bet would be to fill out the calculator to see the full range of options.
I hope this helps – please let us know if you have any further questions.
Hi I’m on a salary and I get paid 15th if each month
I have opted with my company to be furloughed will I still be paid on the 15th of each month
Hi Sandra,
The furlough system is funded by the government and paid through employers, so if you prefer to be paid on 15th of the month this is something to discuss with your employer. They may not be able to accommodate this in the first instance, as the funding may not come in by 15th April but in the following payments you may be able to arrange this.
Hi, We are a public house and employ some under 18 year olds on just over minimum wage for waitressing, they do not pay Tax and NI, they have asked me if they will be entitled to the job retention scheme? I didn’t think they would be as they don’t pay a Tax and NI, is this the case?
Hi Janine,
You can claim reimbursement of wages for workers on part-time, agency, flexible or zero-hour contracts, so as far as I’m aware you should be able to furlough your employees under the Job Retention Scheme if they are paid through PAYE. You can find the full guidelines on the scheme here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.
I hope this helps – do let us know if you have any other questions.
My fiancé started work on 3rd March 2020. She had previously been working and paid NI contributions. She is currently employed by them but will not be getting the 80% from the company as she started after 28th Feb. She will get 70% of her salary using some her holiday entitlement for 7 weeks then she will get no income from the company until they open again. What benefits would she be entitled to as the options are confusing.
Hi Sunil,
If your fiance has been paying Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance over the past 2-3 years, then she will be able to claim ‘new-style’ Jobseeker’s allowance once she stops earning. You can find more information about that here.
Depending on your combined earnings, you may also be able to claim Universal Credit as a couple if your savings are below £16,000. You may also be able to claim Council Tax Reduction, though this policy varies by local authority. You can use our benefit calculator to assess your combined eligibility here.
All the best
Hi,
My dad is high risk and has to isolate for 3 months due to his condition. Luckily he is still paid however my mum works in a busy post office and is worried she’s putting my dads health at risk. She feels she should isolate too until this all dies down. Is she entitled to anything? Her employer has been no help. Thanks
Hi Sarah,
If your Dad is self-isolating due to COVID-19 and your mum has to do the same she can claim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). She could get SSP for every day she’s in isolation, though she must self isolate for at least 4 days to be eligible.
She should also discuss with her employer the possibility of being placed on ‘furlough’, which means she wont need to go into work and will be paid 80% of her wages. The government have confirmed that this scheme can apply to people who are staying at home in accordance with public health guidance.
All the best
Hi,
My partner hasn’t got a tax return filed for 18/19 so isn’t eligible for the 80% self employed return we could have applied for in june. He currently pays in to a CIS scheme, works for an agency. The site he was on has now closed due to covid 19. So is he eligible for the furlough money? Once this is over he still has a job to go back to through the agency, so wouldn’t he be eligible? The agency is saying no as he is on the CIS scheme. I can not find much online to help with this particular thing. Thanks
Hi Pacha,
Eligibility for the the furlough (Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme) scheme depends on whether someone is paid via PAYE. Usually being a subcontractor on the CIS scheme means you are self-employed, in which case his agency wouldn’t be able to access the job retention grant because he wouldn’t be paid through PAYE. However if he was paid via PAYE, he might still be eligible, in which case he could ask his employer to consider taking advantage of the scheme.
If he was self-employed during 18/19 and intends to continue being self-employed after this, the Government has extended the deadline for filing an 18/19 tax return to 23 April 2020 for those that missed the October deadline. So if he can file a tax return before then, he should then be eligible for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (assuming he meets the other criteria, detailed here.
Finally, he should enter his details into our online benefit calculator to see if he’s eligible for any benefits, such as Universal Credit and Council Tax Support.
Best wishes
If I am furloughed do I have to wftc? And if so, immediately or within 4 weeks?
Hi Claire,
The policy on updating HMRC about changes to hours for working tax credits has now been updated and you can read the full advice above.
If you have been furloughed, but you expect to return to working your previous hours at some time in the future, HMRC will now ignore your reduction in hours for 8 weeks and treat you as working the same hours as before Covid-19. After 8 weeks of reduced hours, you should inform HMRC of your reduced hours. But check this site to see if the 8 weeks has been extended. If a temporary change becomes permanent (for example, a temporary lay-off is made permanent), you should tell HMRC as soon as you know about the change.
Even if you can continue to receive WTC, you may be better off claiming Universal Credit if your income has reduced. It is worth noting that if you move to Universal Credit you will not be able to return to receiving Working Tax Credits and will remain in receipt of Universal Credit once your work returns to normal. You can use our calculator to compare how much you would get under both systems on your reduced income.
Best wishes
hi – my husband normally does several hours overtime. he is still working at the moment, but if his business was to close, how is the 80% pay calculated? is it based on his basic salary or will they take an average of his previous earnings from last year?
Hi Karen,
If his employer decides to furlough him under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, if his earnings vary (eg it is based on hours worked, like when he does overtime), then the grant would be based on 80% of his earnings for the same month in 2019, or his average earnings in 2019/20. If he has a set salary, the 80% is based on his salary without any bonuses, commission, or fees.
It’s difficult to say which is the case without knowing the full details, but from your mention of overtime, my expectation would be it’s more likely to be the former, and it will be based on his average earnings from 2019/20.
Best wishes
Hello
I am currently being furloughed by my work for up to 3 months and am only getting 80% of my wage. Can I claim universal credit?
Hi Chloe,
Yes – money paid to you through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is treated as normal income, so you may still be eligible for Universal Credit as long as you have savings less than £16,000. The exact amout of Universal Credit you’ll be eligible for will depend on your income, housing costs etc. To find out your exact eligibility for Universal Credit (and other benefits like Council Tax Support), you can use our free online calculator.
I hope this helps – do let us know if you have any other questions.
Hi my partner is is the food machinery manufacturing business his company wont shut, its not essential as they dont produce any food here. It’s all sent to the factories but non of them are needing them urgently. He is self employed there, is he entitled to any help? I’m also having to self isolate as I’m pregnant so in the vulnerable category.
Hi Chantelle,
If your partner has submitted a tax return for 2018/19 then he will be able to receive 80% of his average monthly salary. HMRC will contact him to provide this support if he is eligible. If he did not submit his tax return on time for 18/19, there has been an extension to 24 April to submit the return.
This support may not be available until early June. In the meantime, you may be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Reduction as a couple, if you have low earnings and savings below £16,000. You can use our online benefit calculator (linked above) to see if you’re eligible.
All the best
Hi, my son was made redundant recently due to the corona virus and made a new style job seekers allowance application, which was successful as he got an email confirmation. The problem is that it states that he would be contacted within 2 days for an interview. The application was made on 19/3/20, but he has not been contacted or heard anything further. He has tried to call the DWP for an indication as to its progress, but cannot get through. Could you offer some advice as to what steps he should take next?
Hi Eddie
The advice from the DWP is not to worry about this as they will be in contact. One of the problems they have is that people are not answering phones so please do pass this on to your son so he can make sure he has his phone with him and answers if it shows an unknown number. DWP are extremely busy at the moment but they will get back to everyone.
Best wishes
Hi, sorry if this seems slightly vulgar in these times of uncertainty. I work for a company who have furloughed my role for at least the next 8 weeks. My annual salary is £105k.
With the max monthly grant per employee being £2500, what level of income tax will I be liable for?
Many thanks
Hi Rich,
From April, your payments will have 20% income tax applied to earnings above the lower threshold. This means that roughly the initial £1,040 will be untaxed, and the rest subject to the 20% income tax rate.
Best wishes
Hi just wondering if anyone can help, I get paid a basic salary and also commission and bonus each month based on previous months sales. My work have informed me they will be furloughing me from April 1st however have stated they are not aloud to pay me any earned bonus or commission already earned whilst I am on furlough ? My understanding is they can they just cannot claim that element from the government. Please can someone help on this as I have built up earned commission which I am due to be paid over the next few months but could be on furlough like everyone else for the next few months also. Seems strange that the government are encouraging company’s to top up people’s pay to 100% which my company are not but then apparently stopping a company who is claiming furlough to pay a employee commission already earned ? Thank you.
Hi Daniel,
Yes you’re absolutely right – your employer is not restricted in how they pay you beyond the funding provided by the government through the retention scheme. So there is nothing stopping them paying you commission or bonus. The only restriction is that you cannot work during the time for which they are awarded the grant.
All the best
Hi my work place is still open, i live with my parents and my daughter at the moment.. my parents have beem looking after my daughter whilst i work. But my mum is disabled and they are finding it hard at the moment as my mum is in alot of pain and so they are struggling with having my little girl. Am i entitled to the retention scheme? As i cant afford to lose my job but really dont want my daughter leaving the house. Also if you get that scheme can you still claim working tax?
Hi Tara,
Yes, I would advise that you ask your employer to put you on the job retention scheme. The decision does ultimately rest with your employer, but in your situation it sounds like the most suitable option.
You can still claim working tax credits (which will increase in April) while you are being paid through the retention scheme. As you will be paid 80% of your salary on this scheme, you may also become eligible for other types of benefits, which you can check on our benefits calculator.
All the best
I am self employed for 4 years , I am also receiving state pension and dividends from share and rental,I have £30,000 in total on my tax return, £18,000 profit from self-employment and £12,000 from state pension, dividend and rental
My question is : will I be qualified for 80% self-employment on total or will be on profit from self-employment
Hi Feri,
Eligibility for the 80% self-employment scheme will be based on your last 3 years profit and will be worth 80% of your average profit up to a limit of £2500/month. You can also see the other criteria under the relevant section of this page.
The other most relevant one for you is likely to be that your trading profits are less than £50,000/year in 2018/19 (or average less than £50,000/year in the three years 2016 – 2019). Again that’s based on profit from self-employment, not your total income.
Best wishes
Hi, I am in a minimum wage job and my company has put us on the job retention scheme, would I be able to claim to help with prescription costs etc? Thank you
Hi Pip,
Yes, depending on your circumstances you might be eligible for free prescriptions. I recommend filling in our benefits calculator here to check.
The calculator will also tell you what extra income you might be eligible for such as Universal Credit. When you get to the results page, on the right hand side there should be a green button saying “Information about your case”. If you click on that, if you might be eligible for free prescriptions, it will appear in the box which pops up, alongside other assistance such as the warm homes discount which you might be eligible for.
You can also check the NHS criteria for free prescriptions in full here.
Best wishes
Hi. My partner works through the CIS scheme and so currently is included in the self employed grant scheme that is being set up. However, although he is used to working full-time hours, there is a possibility that the company he works for will have odd days here and there, where he is able to work. They are all small jobs where only he and one other person is needed and safe distancing practices are in operation. What he would like to know is, how these extra days here and there would effect the self-employed grant he will get in June. Should he stop working completely to protect the grant or will any money made over the next few weeks, just get deducted from the grant? He’d rather work but doesn’t want to be left with just a handful of paid work days. Any help would be much appreciated.
Hi Lucinda,
Based on current guidance, self-employed must have reduced trading profit due to COVID-19, but this should not mean they cannot have any profit. Self-employment must also make up more than half of their taxable income. So if your partner meets these criteria (along with the other relevant criteria – see https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/), he should still be eligible, even if he does a few days work (but less than usual).
The grant will be based on his last 3 years profit (or less if his self-employment begun less than 3 years ago) and will be worth 80% of his average profit up to a limit of £2500/month. The grants won’t be available until the beginning of June but should be backdated to March 2020. So as far as we understand, the few days of work over the next few months (so long as they amount to reduced profit due to COVID-19) won’t be taken into account when deciding – it will be the average from the last three years.
If your household income is low whilst you wait for a grant and you have less than £16,000 in savings, you may also qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support for the intervening period. You should claim these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. You can check if you are eligible here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes.
Hi I am just wondering. I am employed through a gym but also self employed.
I also have a 3rd job which was occasionally a carer but now, until this situation is over, I am working full time there.
Will I be entitled to both 80% due to furlonged AND the government grant as the self employed income is more than 50% of my income?
Hi Becca,
Whether you receive the 80% job retention scheme will be up to your employer(s). If they decide to place you on furlough and take up the grants, you should receive 80% of your average earnings from that job.
For the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, if you meet the criteria – especially that one you mention about self-employment must make up more than half of your taxable income – then you should be eligible. That grant may not be available until June, so in the meantime you might want to use our benefits calculator to see if you might be eligible for any further support over the next few months.
As far as we’re aware there is no conflict between the two schemes so if you meet all the criteria detailed you might receive income from both.
Best wishes
Hi
Can you still claim the Job retention scheme if you have never earned enough to pay any tax or NI?
Hi Helen,
The job retention scheme should apply to any worker paid through PAYE with a bank account in the UK, so if that’s the case you should be eligible. It will be up to your employer whether they decide to furlough you and apply for the grant to cover your pay, so you will need to speak to them to see whether they will be using the scheme.
Best wishes
Hi,
I could really do with you help desperately. I have a new colleague who joined us on the 3rd of March where he had left an external company to join us. I am aware that the company we work for will be putting him on furlough. The last thing I want is for him to be made redundant and not get any help at all as he wasn’t on the PAYE on or before the 28th Feb. He, like many of us also has a family to feed.
Could you kindly advise what he’s best options are please?
Thank you ever so ,much for you response In advance.
I would like to also add, he had left his old employment on the 28th Feb and joined us on the 3rd March. Could you take this into account in your response please?
Would he be required to go back to his old employer and ask if he can be put onto Furlough?
Hi Shah,
Hopefully our previous reply answers your query.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any further questions.
Best wishes.
Hi Shah,
Sorry to hear about this. If he is made redundant, he should apply for Universal Credit as soon as possible after his last pay has been received into his bank account. He can see how much support he might be eligible for here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
As you allude to, because he joined after 28 Feb he won’t be eligible for the job retention scheme. It is probably also worth him speaking with his old employer to see if they might want to consider keeping him on and furloughing him then continuing working there after this, but that will of course depend on his old employer.
I hope that helps somewhat. Thanks for getting in touch and I hope it all works out ok for you both.
Best wishes.
Hi I am a level 3 apprentice hairdresser who works as an apprentice in a salon and at college 3 days a week and then I work self employed as a junior stylist on a Saturday and only and warm commission for that .. my salon has closed and college ( one day a week is remote learning) what can I claim now as I have no income ..
Hi Sarah,
As long as you are employed by the salon where you are an apprentice and are paid through PAYE, you should be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Rentention Scheme. This means your employer would place you on ‘furlough’ (meaning you don’t have to go into work) and you would get paid 80% of your wages. This government would cover the cost of your wages during your period, meaning your employer won’t lose out. I’d recommend discussing this with your employer as soon as possible. I’d also get in touch with your apprenticeship provider to check how Covid-19 will affect your apprenticeship end date etc.
You may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can use our free benefit calculator (linked above) to work out if you’re eligible.
All the best
Hi,
I became self employed at the end of 2018, although remained in paid employment until january 2019. The costs of setting up were significant and therefore recorded a loss on this tax return. Due to covid 19 i have had to stop working temporarily… rendering my income £0 (business insurance won’t compensate).
I have a partner who has around £8,000 in savings and earns 30,000 a year. We have 2 children although childcare costs are 0 during this time as nursery’s are closed and I am home. Is it correct that i am only entitled to less than £10 a week through universal credit to support our family? Although we have some savings (which technically aren’t mine but were earmarked for home improvements) I just wanted to check as feeling very worried about the longevity of this potential arrangement and the lack of success I have had in finding alternative employment in the current climate.
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Hi Alison,
So sorry to hear about how the current situation is affecting you. You may be eligible for help through the COVID-19 Self-employment Income Support Scheme. To qualify, you must have submitted your tax return for the tax year 2018-19 (which it sounds like you have done – if not, the government has extended the deadline to 23rd April.)
Your self-employed trading profits in 2018-19 must also be less than £50,000, and these profits must have made up more than half of your total taxable income.
If you meet these conditions, you will get a taxable grant which will be 80% of your average profits. You can find out more here. The government have predicted that this support will become available in June.
In the meantime, if your savings are less than £16,000, you may be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. Further information on these is given on this page. You can work out if you’re eligible by using our free online benefit calculator.
All the best
Hello,
After working as an electrician for the same company for the past 3 years they decided on Friday to make me redundant. About 2 weeks ago we were notified that the company would be shutting down for 2 months from the beginning of April. A week later we were told that instead of receiving furlough for the first month of the shut down we had to use all of our annual leave, which I contested. I believe this is the reason I was made redundant, also stopping me from receiving any furlough payments as some form of pay-back. I am interested to know if I have grounds to approach my ex-employer and request furlough payment? Thank you
Hi Joel,
So sorry to hear about this.
First of all, I’d recommend checking out your redundancy rights here to make sure that your ex-employer complied with these. The government have also been clear that employers can re-employ people who they’ve made redundant and place them on furlough instead, so you could mention that if you are in discussion with your ex-employer. If you think that they did not comply with your redundancy rights and want more support, Citizens Advice may be able to give you advice. You can find their details here.
In the meantime, you should be eligible for ‘New Style JSA’ since you have been working for over 2 years. You can find out more and apply here.
You may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if your savings are less than £16,000. You can use our free online benefit calculator (linked above) to see if you’re eligible. If you are, I’d recommend applying as soon as possible since these cannot be backdated.
All the best
HI
I was made redundant from my previous employer on 15th Feb and I did not start with my new employer until 5th March. Can you please advise if I am eligable from my previous employment as I am not from my current as I was not employed on 28th Feb. Thanks
Hi Paula,
You may be eligible if your previous employer agrees to re-employ you and place you on furlough instead. They’ll still be able to claim a grant to cover 80% of your monthly earnings, up to a monthly cap of £2,500. This decision has to come from your ex-employer, so I’d recommend getting in touch with them to ask about this. I wish you the best of luck.
Hello – I can see that if you were employed after 28 February your employer is not eligible to claim the 80% but it does not make it clear what happens to the employee – how he/she may make a claim. I can only see claims for self-employed people or people unable to work due to illness. How does a person who has given notice and effectively will not be paid by current employer and has accepted a new position but has been told due to Covid-19 not able to actually start – but upshot is that there is no salary?
Hi TJ,
The government has announced that if you gave in your notice shortly before 28 February, you may be able to access the 80% scheme if your employer re-employs you and puts you on furlough. If you think this will apply to you, I’d recommend getting in touch with your old employer to ask about this.
If this is not possible, you should be eligible for benefits during this period. If you have been working and paying National Insurance for the last 2-3 years, you may be eligible for ‘New Style JSA’. You can find more info here.
If you have savings less than £16,000, you may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can get these at the same time as New Style JSA if you’re eligible for both. You can use our benefit calculator (linked above) to work out your eligibility.
I hope this helps, and all the best
Hi,
My employee resigned and is due to leave in a few weeks and is currently on furloughed leave he is worried his new job is going to push back his start date. He asked if we can continue his furlough after until he starts his new job. Is this allowed?
Thanks
Hi Jamie,
In this situation, you could re-employ your employee and continue to keep him on furlough during this period. As long as he is counted as your employee, you can continue his furlough. Full guidance for employers is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
I hope this helps.
I work as an exam invigilator on a zero hours contract though a school- peak work time is April-end June- now all work gone. Cannot claim income support of Universal credit as I have savings with my retired husband. Can I claim anything like to 80% of income using last year’s income or not?
Hi Caz,
You may be eligible for the 80% scheme if you were paid via your employer’s PAYE payroll- the government has been clear that it can apply to people on zero-hours contracts. If you’ve been working for a year or more, the 80% will be worked out based on the higher of: a) the amount you earned in the same month last year, or b) an average of your monthly earnings from the last year. If you’ve been working for less than a year, you can claim for an average of your monthly earnings since you started work. You can find more info here.
You may also be eligible for ‘New Style JSA’ – this does not have a savings limit. However, to qualify, you must have been in employment and paying National Insurance for the last 2-3 years. You can find out more and see if you qualify here.
I hope this helps, and all the best
Been ltd director 15 years . April 6th 2019 went to sole trader, 2019 tax return was low wage + dividends as ltd director. Any idea what I would be entitled to as unable to work at present due to coved 19. Thanks
Hi Neil,
If you are only paid through dividends, unfortunately you won’t be covered by the self-employment income support scheme. However, if you also pay yourself a wage through PAYE, you should be eligible for the coronavirus job retention scheme. This means you should get 80% of the wage you pay yourself covered by a government grant. You can find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
In the meantime, you may be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support, as long as your savings are less than £16,000. You can use our online calculator (linked above) to see if you’re eligible.
All the best,
I am a retail worker on an hourly rate who’s pay packet flutuates from month to month. It is my understanding that the 80% gross pay will be calculated as an average of what I have earned thus far. However, my first monthly pay packet was considerably lower as I started mid-way through the month, and thus lowers my average gross pay significantly. Does anyone know if this will be factored for in the calculation?
Hi Luke,
As your earnings vary, the grant will be based on 80% of your earnings for the same month in 2019 or your average earnings in 2019/20.
It’s worth highlighting that to receive the grant you needed to have started work before the 28th February 2020.
I hope this helps.
Hi if self employed for a company scaffolder and entitled to grant in june can i work in the meantime at ssda to keep an income coming in or will this affect my grant
Hi Trudy,
The current guidance suggests that taking another job will not impact your self-employed grant as long as you plan to keep your self-employed business running in the future.
All the best.
Hi. Over the last 3 years I have an average net income of £49500 from my self employed business. In addition to this I recieve £2800 in rental income from a flat which I believe is classed as unearned income. My business has completely stopped 2 weeks ago. Will I qualify for the £2500 a month grant. Nobody seems to know the answer. Thank you.
Hi Steven,
If your rental income is not part of your business then you should be eligible for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme as your profits are below £50,000.
As the grant is only available from July, it would be worth applying for any benefits that you may be eligible for. To find out what benefits you could claim, try filling out our calculator, it is linked to at the top of this page.
All the best.
Hi
I am very confused about what I can do. Both me and my husband are key workers and work long hours. I have had to stop working to look after the children as there isn’t anyone to look after the children outside of school hours. Am I able to claim anything it get any help in any way??
Oh and I forgot to add I am bank and zero hour contracts
Hi
Can I claim JSA while I am waiting furlough government sceam.?
Hi Yaw,
If your employer has notified you in writing that you are being furloughed, then you are technically still employed by them, so would not be eligible for JSA. However, while waiting for wage payment covered by the Job Retention Scheme, you can apply for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if you have less than £16,000 in savings. If you want to check your eligibility for these types of support, you can use our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free (this also includes information and links for how to start the claim process).
I hope this helps, but do let us know if you have further questions.
Hi Rebecca,
You may be eligible for benefits yes. If you’ve been working for the last 2-3 years and paying national insurance contributions, you should be eligible for ‘New Style JSA’. You can find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance/ You may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if your savings are less than £16,000. It would be worth filling out our calculator if you haven’t already. This will let you know which benefits you are eligible for and has links to the relevant application pages.
All the best.
My daughter has been temping for the last six months following sometime away from work last year to deal due to ill health. She has been told today that her job is no longer required because of the impact of COVID-19 on the business. Is she entitled to any support from the temping agency as she has been employed under PAYE? If not would she be entitled to JSA?
Regards
Shelley
Hi Shelly,
Your daughter should be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme through her temp agency if this is who has been paying her through PAYE. The government have confirmed that this scheme applies to all workers on a PAYE payroll. This will mean the Government will cover 80% of her salary. She should check with the agency to confirm this.
She should also try filling out our calculator to see which benefits she would be eligible for – she may be eligible for benefits as well as the Job Retention Scheme. The main benefits would be Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. The sooner that she claims the better since these cannot be backdated.
All the best to you and your daughter.
Hi,
I have left my old employer as of the 31st March 2020 and start my new job on the 1st April 2020 with this my new employer can’t pay me furlough as I wasn’t on the payroll from the 28th February 2020 and my old employer has taken me off the pay roll already and are saying they won’t put me back on. what are my options to have some form of income?
Kind regards
Be
Hi Ben,
Unfortunately it sounds like you have fallen through a gap in the provision like many others. If your previous employer definitely cannot put you back on the books then your best bet would be to start the application process for benefits.
To check which benefits you are eligible for you can fill out our calculator which is linked to at the top of this page. If you have paid National Insurance over the past two years then you may be able to claim ‘New Style JSA’- you can find more info here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance. Alongside this, if your savings are below £16,000 you may also be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support.
I hope this helps and all the best.
Hi,
I handed my notice into my current employer on the 19th of March and was due to start my new job on the 4th May my final day at current would be 1st of May, so had given them upwards of 6 weeks notice which more than what was required. My new job however retracted their offer on the 24th March due to them having a freeze on recruitment so i requested that my notice be retracted. My employer has said they are unable to retract my notice due to the current situation leaving me jobless. I have been speaking with them about being put on Furlough. Could you let me know if there are any legal restrictions to them retracting my notice and putting me on Furlough until i am either able to find a new job or start with the new company i had accepted an offer from when they are able to recruit again?
The only response from our financial department & HR i have had is that the company is worried about having an audit after this is over and retracting my notice would be unlawful and result in ‘possible prison time’ for whoever okays this decision.
Many thanks for any help you are able to give me.
Hi Staci,
I’m very sorry to hear about your situation.
My understanding is that there shouldn’t be a reason as to why your old company cannot take you back and then furlough you. It may be worth contacting you local Citizens Advice as they will be able to assist you on the legal matters. You can find their details here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/search-for-your-local-citizens-advice/
In the meantime I would recommend ensuring you are claiming any benefits you are eligible for. You can check this by filling out our calculator which is linked to at the top of this page.
I hope this helps and wish you all the best.
Hi, im agency chef. I haven’t worked with agency from end of February, agengy didn’t have any work for a while. Agency start to pick up upwords work and i was promised some hours beginning of March. But doing COVID-19 my work been cancel and i have no income right now. Please can i have some advise. Thank you
Hi Avi
If you were working for your agency on 28 February and they paid you through PAYE they may be able to furlough you and get 80% of your wages as a grant and use this to pay you. It will be up to the agency if they do this so you should discuss this with them.
Otherwise, if you have been working and paying National Insurance contributions for the last 2-3 years, you should qualify for New Style JSA. You can find more info here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance. If you have under £16,000 in savings, you may be able to qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can claim these in addition to the JSA. Details of all these benefits are given on this page. You can also follow the calculator links on this page to see what you may be entitled to.
Best wishes.
Hi , I have starter new job 9th March , ( been working in other company till 7th March) current company went to administration saying I can’t get 80% . Please help,what support I can get
Hi Dovile,
Your previous company could re-hire you as you were working there on the 28th Feb and furlough you. This means they could get a grant for 80% of your wages. I’d recommend getting in touch with your previous employer to see if this is possible for you.
You may also be eligible for benefits. If you have been working and paying national insurance for the last 2-3 years, you should be eligible for New Style JSA. You can see details about this on this page. If you have savings of less than £16,000, you may also qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. Further details on all these benefits are given on this page. You can also use our online benefits calculator (linked above) to see how much you would get.
Best wishes.
In response to my earlier question you said that
You will definitely be entitled for 80% of your normal pay, since this money is being paid by the government rather than your employer and that it’s up to your employer to give the additional 20%
In the letter from my employer it states the following
•the scheme allows employers to claim up to the 80% wages up to a max of 2,500 per month.
It then says
•You will receive 80% Of your current hourly rate based on 45 hours per week.
I am confused as when I work out my normal weekly rate at the 80% allowance it would be exceed government Caped rate of 2500pm !
Do you think this means I will get 80% of my normal take home wage ?
Or will it be based on the new scheme? max of 2500pm
Desperately trying to sort this out.
Hi Amanda,
If you are paid via the government furlough scheme it will be 80% of your salary and as you said that amounts to more than £2500 a month, it will be capped at a total of £2500 a month. It is worth noting that the £2500 is before tax.
Best wishes.
I work for a company independent living but l have been self isolating for 2 weeks back at work on Friday l have a permanent contract of 30 hours but I have been told l won’t get my hours at the moment but will get some hours l asked if I could get furlough but because l am getting some hours I don’t qualify but l have bills to pay we’re do l stand regarding this
Hi Annette,
If you are furloughed by your employer under the new Job Retention Scheme then yes, you cannot do any hours. Your employer should notify you in writing if they are furloughing you, and can then claim 80% of your regular earnings (or an average of your earnings for 2019/20, or your earnings from the same month last year, whichever is highest).
Whilst furloughed, you can still claim for support such as Universal Credit and Council Tax Support (if you have less than £16,000 in savings). You can check your eligibility for these benefits using our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free (just enter your income as 80% of your normal earnings).
I hope this helps, but do let us know if you have any other questions we might be able to help with.
Hi I get JSA at the moment which runs out soon..I can’t seek work as from 4.weeks ago I’m suffering mental health issues again..Can I claim ESA I have tried phoning but cannot get through..Do You know if I can claim ESA Or will I have to wait to JSA Ends
Hi Michelle,
You should be able to switch to ESA. Work Capability Assessments are suspended at the moment but you may have to do one eventually. You will need to keep trying to get through to the DWP to let them know you about your change of circumstances They will be able to advise you further.
Best wishes.
Hi there,
I can’t find any info on this anywhere, so was wondering if you can help? I am an actor, so am self-employed but when not acting I do PAYE work. I have just been offered Furlough with one of my PAYE jobs but think I will be (slightly) better off waiting for the self-employed scheme to kick in. Do you know if you are stopped from applying for the self-employed scheme if you accept furlough? I imagine you do, but unsure. It’s just worrying to turn down an offer of furlough as it is happening right now, when I have no way of knowing FOR SURE if I will be offered the self-employed scheme later on. On paper I qualify for it, but there’s no way of knowing if I will get offered it. Many thanks your your time and help. Alan
Hi Alan,
You can receive payment from both furlough schemes, so long as you meet the individual criteria for each one (that is, there is no ban on receiving both that we are aware of). Crucially for self-employment one of the requirements is that 50% of your profits must be from self employment (and there are other criteria you may wish to check, here).
Payments from the Self-employment Income Support Scheme may take longer to kick in (with the invitation to apply expected in June), so you may find that a furlough payment as a PAYE employee helps in the meantime. Depending on your income and savings you may also be able to claim Universal Credit.
Best wishes
Hi, what options do my wife and I have? I was employed full time until August 2019 (self employed at the same time) then had no work until March this year when I was employed again, my wife works at a seasonal restaurant and she was only just hired back at the beginning of March so basically both unemployed over winter.
Hi Lee,
The measures put in place recently such as the 80% Job Retention Scheme (for employees paid via PAYE) and the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (for Self-Employed) are not back-dated. So you won’t be able to access these based on a situation you had in Winter 2019.
Depending on your income and savings (usually savings below £16,000), you may be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support (if you pay Council Tax). This is the case even if you are currently in work. You can check this using our online calculator here.
All the best
Hi,
I have been self employed for 6 months so do not have a tax return for 18/19, I will be able to submit one for 19/20 but this won’t count right? do you think they may change this?
Also, I have over £16,000 in an isa – does this make me un-eligible for universal credit.. or anything?
Thanks
Hi J,
In relation to your self-employment: I’m sorry that you’re in this position, you are correct that you would be unable to apply because you need at least a tax return for tax year 18/19.
In relation to your ISA: the value of this will be taken into account and considered a form of capital. The actual value used for the purposes of Universal Credit will be the surrender value of your ISA, reduced by an additional 10% if there are costs associated with its sale. If this comes to a value above £16,000 you will automatically not be eligible for Universal Credit, but you will become eligible if your capital depletes at a later date.
I’m sorry that there isn’t much support out there for you at the moment. I wish you all the best
Hi there, I have a question I was wondering if you could help me with, I can’t seem to find the answer anywhere. I’m a self employed carpenter and have had all my work cancelled for the duration of the crisis. It seems I’m eligibile for the self employed grant the government has announced although they have said any payments won’t arrive until June so I’m trying to figure out what to do in the meantime. I have an opportunity to work as a part time delivery driver for a supermarket. Its close to minimum wage and part time hours so would be much less than the self employed grant, however it would see me through till June. So my question is if I was to do the part time work in the meantime would it then affect my eligibility for the grant. If so, what are the other options? Would a Universal Credit application also affect it?
Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Craig,
Based on the guidance available you should be able to accept the part-time job and this alone doesn’t remove your eligibility to the self-employment income support scheme. The same goes for Universal Credit (note that if your income is low in a part time job, you may still be eligible for Universal Credit while you work since it is a means tested benefit subject to an earnings taper. Once you know details of your job you can estimate your Universal Credit payment using our online calculator here). You will, however, need to fulfill the other criteria for the grant – this means you will still need to be self-employed by the time you apply for the grant, and intending to resume your trading.
Best wishes
Hi I signed my contract on the 28th February but only started working from the 3rd March meaning the payroll would have been run from the day I started working. If my contract was signed 28th does this mean I can claim or will HMRC only count when I was paid from?
Hi Tom,
Unfortunately, for the purposes of furlough your employment start day will be the day that you are first being paid for, rather than the date you signed the contract.
You may also be eligible for New Style JSA if you have worked and paid national insurance contributions in the last 2-3 years. You can find more info here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance
You may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council TAx Support if you have capital savings below £16,000. You can check this on our online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/#/free.
All the best.
Hi
I have a 39 hour contract but due to the work we do in civil engineering my average hours 50hours per week..should my 80% be based on my actual average hours or my 39 hour contract. Thanks.
Hi Steven,
The 80% will be worked out on the higher of either: a) the amount you earned in the same month last year, or b) the average of your monthly earnings over the last year. This applies up to a limit of £2,500 per month.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes.
Hi i have been put on the job retention scheme however due to the limit of £2500, after tax i will only receive 50% of my wage which won’t be enough to pay my mortgage and bills. Is there any support i can get with this?
Hi Sarah,
Unfortunately the Self Employed Income Support Scheme doesn’t take into account your current living costs, but there are other forms of support you can go to during this time. To help with your mortgage payments the Government announced a three month mortgage holiday – meaning you do not have to pay this for three months (although this means that the debt is added to your future repayments or your mortgage might be extended). Your mortgage provider will be able to explain this in more detail for you.
To help with your other bills, it may be worth getting in touch with your providers to discuss whether they can make alternative arrangements to help (this will be in both of your interests so worth asking).
Best wishes.
Hi my daughter has a 10 week contract with a t.vproduction and at the moment because of the Coronavirus it has been paused, will she still be entitled to the 80% furlough scheme, she started work on the 11th March, 2020. Could she go back to her previous employer and ask to be furloughed with them
Thank you
Lea
Hi Lea,
Your daughter would not be able to be furloughed with her the t.v. production company. If she was on the payroll of her previous company on February 28th then she could be furloughed with them. She may want to discuss this further with them.
Best wishes.
I earn money from commercial property, most of my tenants have given one month’s notice which means I will have no rent coming in from May onwards. Can I get help from the Govt, as although I work for myself, my income is registered for tax as coming solely from property and not from self employment.
Hi Emma,
Unfortuantely the self-employment scheme will not apply to you. You are also unlikely to get Universal Credit as you will have capital over £16,000. However, this will depend on whether the properties are seen as a business asset or not. But it appears that you are not renting these out on a business basis so I am not sure how they would consider them. You could discuss this with DWP.
Best wishes.
Hi,
My boyfriend left is previous job on the 29th of February because he was going to open a new restaurant for an other owner. Obviously due the emergency the new opening has been postponed. Unfortunately when the lockdown started he had not yet signed the new contract.
So now is unemployed and he cannot get the 80% of his wages though the previous company became he left on the 29th of February.
What he can eventually do? There is anything he can claim?
Hi Rossella,
Really sorry to hear about this. Your boyfriend’s old employer may be able to re-employ him and then place him on furlough and get a grant to cover 80% of his wages. The government has confirmed this is a viable option for people who have recently left a job. Your boyfriend can get in touch with his old employer to see if this is a possibility for him.
In the meantime, he may be eligible for benefits. If he’s been working and paying national insurance for the last 2-3 years, he should be eligible for New Style JSA. You can find more info here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance
Depending on your total housing income and savings, he may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. He can use our online benefit calculator (linked above) to see if he’s eligible.
All the best.
Hi please can you advise me. I’m claiming working tax credits I’m over 60 so only need to work 16 hours but I’m self employed and lost all my work due to covd19. I’m not eligible to claim universal credits so I need to know if I can just carry on claiming the working tax credits are they still allowing this whilst this is all going on? Thanks
Hi Richard,
The government has recently announced that they have relaxed the tax credits working hours rules. This means that if your hours drop below 16 hours, this will be ignored for 8 weeks and your tax credits will continue to be calculated based on your previous hours. The 8 weeks may be extended longer depending on how long the COVID-19 situation lasts.
If your self-employment is ending permanently (that is if you don’t think you’ll start trading again once the COVID-19 situation ends), you’ll need to tell HMRC and this will affect your tax credits.
Hope this makes sense, and just get back in touch if you have any other queries.
All the best.
I recently changed my job working for my previous employer for 20 years and handed my notice and contract finished 28th February. I started my new job on the 2nd March. My employer has had to close her nursery and now I can’t claim being a furlough employee as my contract started march 2nd. It’s absolutely heart breaking I can’t claim anything. I’ve worked all my life and I don’t get a penny. Please help if there is anything anyone knows about this kind regards lisa
Hi Lisa,
So sorry to hear about this. You may be able to be furloughed by your previous employer- the government has confirmed that old employers can re-employ staff and place then on furlough if they are in a situation like you. I’d recommend getting in touch with them to check if this is possible in your case.
In the meantime, you may be eligible for benefits. If you’ve been working and paying national insurance for the last 2-3 years, you should be eligible for New Style JSA. You can find out more here:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance
You may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if you have savings less than £16,000. You can use our online benefit calculator (linked above) to check your eligibility.
All the best.
Hi.
I have never worked before and recently got my first job where I signed my contract on the 12th of March and received a payment of £20 for my induction. I have currently not received any training as that was supposed to start on 24th March. However, due to COVID, I decided to follow the Government guidelines to stay at home. I notified my employer and he said that he can put me in 2 weeks’ isolation and see if things get better. This was decided before the lockdown was placed. I want to keep this job but I don’t know the rights I have. I don’t know if I’m entitled to keep the job as I’ve signed the contract or if he can replace me with someone else. I would ideally like to work once the situation is a bit stable depending upon the circumstances, roughly up to 6 weeks, depending on what the Government says.
Thanks
Hi there,
Unfortunately, you would not be eligible for the furlough process as you were not on the company’s payroll on February 28th. I believe generally this will come down to a decision between you and the company.
If you are concerned it could be worth raising the idea of working from home. If you do end up parting ways from the company you will likely be eligible for Universal Credit, in which case I would suggest using our Better Off Calculator to see exactly what you will be eligible for.
Best wishes.
Hi, my daughter has been furloughed but her employer is unable to pay the 80% until he gets this money from the government which is probably going to leave her for a month without pay, can she apply for universal credit to tide her over until her furlough pay comes through?
Hi Lynn,
Yes, you can apply for Universal Credit if you are furloughed. Your daughter should be eligible if her income is low and she has less than £16,000 in savings. She can check her exact eligibility using our free online calculator.
I hope this helps. Do let us know if you have any other questions.
I am employed part-time, as well as being self-employed in a different field. Can I be furloughed from my employment while continuing to work for myself? The majority of my income comes from my PAYE employment.
Hi Mark,
Yes, employers can furlough employees that are full time, part time, on agency contracts or on flexible/zero-hour contracts. Your self-employment should not affect your employer’s ability to get your wages reimbursed through the Job Retention Scheme.
I hope this helps. Let us know if you have any further questions.
Hi I was working in a cafe till it closed last week due to the virus my boss pays me weekly . My wage was due fri just gone but boss says she’s got no money so I didn’t get paid he says there’s no need me to claim as he has for me.can they do that and how long will it take as its my only income
Hi Carol,
Your employer may be able to pay your wages using the new Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. If so, they will need to notify you in writing that they are keeping you on as a non-working employee (this is called being a ‘furloughed worker’). In this case, they will be able to claim 80% of your wages from the government, beginning in April, though they can back-date this to March if you stopped working before then.
In the meantime, you can claim Universal Credit if you have less than £16,000 in savings. This might help tide you over until your employer is able to pay you, and will not affect your eligibility for the Job Retention Scheme payments. If you would like to check your eligibility for Universal Credit (and any other benefits), you can use our free online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
I hope this helps – do let us know if you have any other questions.
My son has just been told that his company are not going to pay him him at the end of April (although he has already completed the work in March for April pay), his company employs about 10 people, can they do this or do they have to pay him.
Hi Lindsey,
If your employer is planning to keep your son on and eventually pay him using the new Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, they will need to notify him (in writing) that he is being ‘furloughed’ (i.e., kept on as a non-working employee). If so, then they will be able to claim 80% of your son’s wages, backdated to March if necessary. Unfortunately, we are not aware of anything in the current guidelines for the scheme that requires proof of wage payments before then. We’re keeping a close eye on the government releases though, so will update our advice on this page if anything changes.
In the meantime, your son can claim Universal Credit (and Council Tax Support) if he has less than £16,000 in savings. This might help tide him over until his employer pays him (and will not affect your eligibility for the Job Retention Scheme payments). If he has lost his job, and has made sufficient National Insurance contributions over the past two years, he may also be eligible for contributory Job Seekers Allowance. Your son can check his eligibility in more detail using our free online calculator here.
I hope this helps – do let us know if you have any other questions.
Hi,
I have been self employed for 6 months and am currently out of work due to corona virus, but I also have over £16,000 in savings – am I right in thinking I am eligible for anything?
Also do you think they will allow 19/20 tax return to be eligible to claim at any point?
Thank you!
Hi James,
If you have made sufficient National Insurance contributions over the past 2 years you may be eligible for contributory Job Seekers Allowance (this is not affected by your savings – you can check your eligibility using our free online calculator here). Alternatively if you are ill or self-isolating (and have made sufficient NI contributions) you may be eligible for contributory ESA.
As for the 19/20 tax return, the current regulations for the Self-Employed Income Support scheme require tax returns for 18/19. We’re not aware of any plans to update this, and unfortunately this means that the scheme does not support people who have only become self-employed recently. We are keeping a close eye on government releases relating to the scheme, and will be updating our advice as soon as any new information is available.
I hope this helps, but do let us know if you have any other questions.
Hi
If I have a employment last year with end of October back home in my country unemployed I can get any benefit.
From that time I’m out of employment with a new start from 1 April for the new season working as a chef at.the moment hotel is closed.
Hi Sebastian,
Unfortunately you will not be able to claim most UK benefits unless you have EU settled status. This is a complex area and you need to speak to a specialist advisor. You should contact your local council or Citizens Advice to see what support is available in your area. I wish you the best of luck
Best wishes.
Hi, I am a self employed cleaner and have been for a number of years. My average earnings are approx £90 a week. I am a single parent with 3 children so I get tax credits. Do I still qualify for the self employed scheme? Does tax credits class as my income each week? If so I wouldn’t qualify
Hi,
To qualify for the self-employed scheme you will have needed to have put in a self-assessment tax return as self-employed for 2018/19. If this is the case then you could qualify. The additional rules for qualification are shown on this page. HMRC will contact you if you qualify you will not need to do anything. Tax credits will not affect your grant.
Best wishes
Good morning. You’ve probably been asked this question a million times already but there are truly to many questions and reply’s to work through on this page to find the answer I need so desperately. After being made redundant back in mid October 2019 I immediately started work as a self employed builder until present when Covid-19 has put the majority of sites on shut down (including mine) within this unprecedented time where the majority are stuck in limbo to what they can claim ( including me that is) just wondered if someone can shed a little light on what myself and many others in my situation can claim for? As I understand I cannot claim for the self employed scheme they have released because of the fact have not been self employed for a long enough period to have put in a tax return and I also am no longer employed. You hear many things you can claim for and apparently my only options are UC and SSP. Please could you shed some light on this information as all my income has now dispersed. Many, many thanks Neil. Stay safe everyone. X
Hi Neil,
Unfortunately you are one of those that have fallen through the gap as the self-employed scheme will not apply to you because of starting after April 2019. As a self-employed person you cannot claim SSP. If you are ill or looking after someone with the virus you may qualify for contributory ESA dependant on the amount of National Insurance you have paid. In general, the benefits open to you are Universal Credit (if you have less than £16,000 in savings) and Council Tax Support. You can use our benefits calculator (links on this page) to see what you can get. Further information on these benefits is available on these pages.
Best wishes.
I’m in my second year of trading (I started as a private hire driver in Oct 18) and returned a loss in year one. My wife works but, our finances are entirely separate. I have been at home with the kids for three weeks and no work = no income whatsoever. I’ve tried to work out what is anything I can claim but I’m baffled. Can you offer any advice?
Hi Jason,
I would recommend using our online calculator to find out whether you are eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. The calculator also includes link to the government pages where you can start your UC application. The calculator will also show you other support you might be eligible for, and provide instructions on how to apply.
I’d also recommend looking into government business support grants for people whose income has been affected by Coronavirus- you can find out more here.
All the best
Hi there
Many people hired for the new season in advance for hotels
Restaurant they dont have started the jobs hotel closed.
What government suport they will get?
Hi Paulo,
This will depend on whether you are a UK citizen and if you have settled status in the UK. If you are a UK citizen or you have settled status, you can claim Universal Credit (further information in on this page). If you are a non-UK citizen you may need to get specialist advice as to what benefits you can claim. I would advise you to contact Citizens Advice as soon as possible.
Best wishes.
Hi
I have to start a job on 1 april now I’m unemployed? Why this gap 28 February ?what will be with staff hired after 28 what benefit can get?
We have payd tax same like all employees!
Hi Ben,
There are lots of people who have been affected by this cut-off, it is really unfortunate. If you are, your benefit options would be contributory JSA (if you have paid sufficient National Insurance), Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. Further information on these is given on this page. You can use our calculator to see what benefits you will qualify for.
Best wishes.
I let out a flat which has a mortgage. My tennant has informed me that he has been layed of due to covid19 and has given a months notice. Can I claim for loss of income.
Hi Mark,
If you can, it is worth letting your tenant know that they may be eligible for some benefit support. They may be able to claim Universal Credit which includes an amount to cover rent. You can point your tenant to these pages. From your point of view, it will depend on how you have set up your rental business. If this part of a self-employed lettings business you may be able to access the self-employed grant or business support grants. If this is not the case, you may wish to contact the mortgage company to make arrangements around mortgage payments. You are unlikely to be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support in your own right as you will have capital over £16,000.
I wish you the best of luck.
Hi
I have a job agreement and offer letter in 27 January with a start on 1 April The hotel closed on 24 what benefit I can get?
I have worked I uk more than 10 years I’m back home in Spain.
I have to start a job in 1 April the hotel closed on 24 March.
What benefit I can get in not in unk I have cancelled flights I have stocked home .
Hi Paulo,
If you have settled status and have paid enough National Insurance over the two years you may qualify for contributory JSA. If you have less than £16,000 in savings you may also be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can check your exact eligibility using our free calculator. If you are eligible, I would recommend that you apply for these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated.
If you do not have settled status then unfortunately you will not be eligible for benefits in the UK. You may be able to claim benefits in Spain – if so I would recommend contacting your local council who may be able to help you further. You might also find this page useful.
I hope this helps, but please let us know if you have any other questions.
Hi Mario,
Unfortunately if you were not working on the 28th February, you will not be able to be supported through the furlough scheme. If you have paid sufficient National Insurance over the last couple of years you may qualify for contributory JSA. You may also qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can use the calculator on this page to see if you qualify for any of these. You should apply for these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. Further information on all these benefits is given on these pages.
I wish you the best of luck.
I work full time in pharmacy so my
Job is secure there and had a partime Job in a pub, the pub has closed until this is over. will I still be eligible
For the payment even though I am still
Working? The pub wage paid for certain bills in my house
Hi Karen,
If you were working at the pub on the 28th February you can be furloughed from this so that your employer can get a grant worth 80% of your wages and use this to pay you. It will be up to your pub employer whether they access this grant so you should discuss this with them. Your pub employer can access this even if you do have another job in the pharmacy. If your pub employer does not access the grant, and you have found your income has dropped considerably, you may be able to qualify for Universal Credit. You can use the calculator on this page to see if you can qualify. Further information on these benefits is also given on this page.
Best wishes.
I have been put on furlough but my employer cannot pay me until he receives the grant. Can I claim for universal credit in the meantime
Hi Julia,
Yes you can.
You may also be able to claim Council Tax Support if you are liable for Council Tax. You can use the calculator (links on this page) to see how much Universal Credit and Council Tax Support you would get (you should enter your income as 0 in the calculator). You should apply for these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated.
Best wishes.
Hi there, I’ve recently started trading as a limited company for the last 2 years after being contracted to the same company for 17 years, since trading as what i assumed was self employed and charging a day rate for myself and have no employees for me, I am deducted 20% cis of each and have done for every company I sub contract for , where do i stand in all of this as I have paid over £20,000 in cis tax and also corporation tax and had an end of year books showing £38,483 wage. I have now been off for 2 weeks self isolation before the self employed packages were even announced, now it seems like my only choice to survive and try and support a pregnant wife in a new house is to risk myself and others by going to work, £94 a week wouldnt even cover a weeks worth of transport for London congestion charge, let alone any of the other bills I need to pay to attempt to keep this company running. And survive this unprecedented horror of a time. Thanks in advance for your help as keep getting different thoughts from different, Confused , hard done by honest tax paying citizens.
Hi Brandon,
This is quite complex. If you are paying yourself as PAYE through your limited company then you can access the government scheme for employees and get a grant for 80% of your PAYE wages. You will need to contact HMRC about this. However, the payment of CIS indicates that you may be also trading as self-employed.
If this is the case and you qualify for the self-employed scheme, you do not need to do anything as HMRC will be in contact with you. Further information on both these schemes is available on this page. As a limited company, you may be able to also access the business grants made available to support companies through COVID. In the meantime, whilst you are sorting all this out, you may wish to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support (the links are on this page).
Best wishes.
As the director of a limited company you do NOT for these purpose fall into self employed, nor are you entitled to the self employed scheme from government. You are however entitled to the 80% of your PAYE wage.
Hi Jordan,
Yes, you’re right, that is the case. As a director you can access the furlough scheme for the amount you pay through PAYE. There was some confusion about the status in the original post but if the person is trading as a limited company the self-employed scheme will not be open to them.
Best wishes
Hi,
I live in the UK with spouse visa. I left my job because of the coronavirus. My wife is nor working as well. We can not get any benefit in this visa type. Can we apply for universal credit etc ?(because of the coronavirus)
Thank you
Hi Can,
If your wife is a UK national, she can claim Universal Credit (if her savings are less than £16,000), but will only be able to claim as a single person due to your visa status. The exception to this is if you have recourse to public funds (this will be stated on your visa), in which case you can apply as a couple. Universal Credit amounts are increasing from April, by £20/week, so that may help a little bit. Also, if your wife has paid sufficient National Insurance contributions over the last two years, she may be able to claim contributory Job Seekers Allowance. Your wife can check her exact benefit eligibility using our free online calculator – https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. She might also find it useful to check our FAQ page on COVID-19, which we’re updating regularly as we get new information: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/. We will be paying particular attention for any announcements about non-UK nationals, as currently there is very little support available.
I hope this is helpful – please do let us know if you have any other questions.
Hello, I’m a single mum with sole responsibility for a 5 year old child. We have both been self isolating with presumed Covid 19 following symptoms. I’m very anxious re return to work when recovered. I have been asked to work from home as a uni lecturer… mostly marking online, teaching remotely and attending online meetings dealing with student queries etc. As I’m on my own with a small child off school I cannot see how I will manage to carry out 8 hours of full on work a day whilst home schooling and caring for a small child who requires constant supervision. I had hoped to be furloughed but I’ve been told that may not be possible as “the job can be carried out remotely in a home environment” and that my personal family arrangements rendering that an impossibility are effectively my own problem…. I should add that my child goes to bed at 8pm as do I… following cancer treatment a little while ago my stamina isn’t up to working through the night…… my only other option is unpaid leave… I’m worried sick
Hi Ellen,
I’m really sorry to hear about how the current situation is affecting you.
While you are ill or self-isolating due to Covid-19 you should be able to claim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). To check your sick pay entitlement you would need to talk to your employer, but the government guidance is clear that illness, self-isolation, or caring for others in the household who are self-isolating are all valid qualifiers for SSP. The base rate of SSP is £95.25/week, but some employers pay more on top of this.
If for any reason you are not eligible for SSP, you may be able to claim contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). You will be able to claim this if you are ill or self-isolating due to Covid, and have made sufficient National Insurance contributions over the past two years. ESA is paid at £73.10/week. If you are not already, you can also claim for Child Benefit.
Once you are no-longer ill or self-isolating, you may be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if your income is low (e.g., due to taking unpaid sick leave) and you have less than £16,000 in savings. If you do lose your job due to Covid, you can claim contributory Job Seekers Allowance if you have paid sufficient National Insurance over the past two years, as with ESA. You can check your entitlement to all of these benefits using our online calculator, linked above. The only other thing I can suggest is looking to see whether there are mutual aid groups in your area. Websites like https://covidmutualaid.org/local-groups/ can help you find local groups, and they may be able to provide some support.
I hope this is helpful, but please do let us know if we can help with anything else.
Hi,
I have been furloughed by my employer formally as of tomorrow. I will receive 80% of my salary. Would I still be able to claim universal credit as I live on my own and have rent etc to pay.
Many thanks in advance.
Hi R,
Salary paid through the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Job Retention Scheme is treated as normal income, so if you were previously eligible for Universal Credit (e.g., having less than £16,000 in savings) then being furloughed should not affect your Universal Credit eligibility.
If you were not previously claiming Universal Credit, these 80% salary payment can be backdated to the beginning of March, but if you are waiting for it to be paid you can apply for UC now. To find out your exact eligibility for UC (and other benefits), you can use our free online calculator (http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free).
I hope this helps – do let us know if you have any other questions.
I started claim for NEW STYLE JSA from 1st March 2020 as advised, rather than Universal Credit. Is the additional payment of £1000 a year applicable to JSA too ? If not should I make a claim for Universal credit too to get the extra £20 per week?
Hi Sue,
The additional £1000/year is not applicable to JSA. However, if you have less than £16,000 in savings then you may be eligible to claim Universal Credit (and potentially Council Tax Support) as well as New Style JSA, in which case you would receive the increased amount thanks to the recent government announcement. To check your exact eligibility, you can use our free online calculator http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
I hope this helps, but do let us know if you have other questions.
Hi i am employed part time & self employed part time. I dont pay tax on my employed job as it is under the allowance. My self employed job pays more than my employed. My question is my employed job is closing due to the virus, is my employer able to put me on 80% government funding? If so what happens if my self employed job Drys up, can i claim something for that or is it not possible to claim for both?
Hi there,
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (which pays the 80% wages for those not working due to Covid) is applicable to part time workers. So yes – your employer should be able to keep you on and get 80% of your salary reimbursed through the scheme.
If your self-employment work dries up, then you may be separately eligible for the new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. You will qualify for this if more than half of your taxable income comes from self employment, if your profits are less than £50,000, and if you submitted tax returns as self-employed for the 2018-19 financial year (the deadline for these submissions has been extended to April 23). You must also have been trading as self-employed in 2019-20, and be intending to continue into 2020-21. If this is the case, you will receive a taxable grant of 80% of your average profits over the last 3 years, up to £2500/month.
If for any reason you are not eligible for the new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, you may be able to claim Universal Credit or Council tax support (if you have less than £16,000 in savings). You would also still have access to other government supports such as business support grants https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme-cbils/.
If you would like to check your eligibility for UC (for example if your self-employment income drops), you can use our free online calculator here: http://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. I would also recommend taking a look at our Covid-19 FAQ page, which includes detailed (and regularly updated) information about all the support I’ve mentioned above: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/.
I hope this is helpful, but let us know if you have any other questions.
Hi,
I am self employed single parent working 16 hrs per week as a nail tech/beauty therapist. I receive Working/Child tax credits, Child Benefit, Housing Benefit. The salon I rent in has been shut down so now no income. And sons school has closed so no childcare.
Will I still be entitled to these benefits ? Or will I be forced to move onto UC?
Hi Elaine,
For Tax Credits, you will typically need to contact HMRC about a change in circumstances within a month of the change (there is some discussion about extending this to 8 weeks, but this has not been confirmed as yet).
Yes, this will likely trigger a move to Universal Credit (an exception would be if you receive any disability premiums). Because of COVID-19, though, the amount of benefit that you may receive from Universal Credit will increase from April onwards. This is due to increases to the ‘standard allowance’ and the ‘LHA rate’ benchmark that is used to set the housing element of Universal Credit (which is the UC equivalent of Housing Benefit).
Best wishes.
Hi, I work for a company where we all have the ability to work from home. However more than half of the team has been furloughed, due to the business being quieter than usual. Is it possible to rotate being furloughed? All of the employees do the same workload therefore it has caused some animosity within the group. Thank you
Hi Hollie,
Your employer should be able to, should they wish to do this. Once on furlough, a person must remain as such for a minimum of 3 weeks (and the same person can be placed on furlough more than once). This in theory allows for employees to be placed on furlough while others continue on a regular basis, on a rotating basis.
Best wishes.
My 5 year old is formally ‘shielding’. Is a parent able to be furloughed for their safety?
Hi Liz,
Being furloughed is left to the discretion of the employer since it is the employer that requests the grant to finance the scheme. So, unless your employer decides on this, you will not be able to receive income from being furloughed.
If your household is self-isolating, however, you will be able to receive either (i) statutory sick pay (SSP), provided you meet the criteria of being employed and having earnings above £118/week; or (ii) contributory Employment and Support Allowance, if you are self employed and have paid sufficient national insurance contributions between 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018 and 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 (details of this are at the top of this page).
Best wishes.
Hello. I am self employed and am still earning during this lockdown, but around 50% less than I would usually earn. Would I be eligible to apply for the grant, and do you know how they will work out how much each person might receive?
Hi Jo,
At the moment there is no indication on a limit on the loss of profits due to Covid-19 in order to receive the Self Employment Income Support scheme, so we would suggest applying once contacted by HMRC after checking for any updates on this when the time comes. You don’t need to contact HMRC; they will get in touch if you are eligible and invite you to apply online through Gov.uk (make sure that if you are contacted you are not being asked to apply differently as this will be a scam).
However, the fact employed workers in a similar situation (ie employed but on reduced hours) are not eligible to receive 80% from being furloughed under the parallel Job Retention Scheme is a strong indication that the principle will be the same for the self employed and you will not be able to claim the grant.
If eligible, the payment will be based on 80% of average profits over three tax years (2016/17 to 2018/19) or however many available (but at least one), subject to a maximum of £2,500 per month for 3 months. It is not yet in legislation how or if this will interact with income streams over the period you wait for payment.
If your income has dropped you may also be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if your savings are below £16,000. You can check this here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/#/free.
Best wishes.
I’m currently claiming jobseekers allowance on the old scheme will I be benefit from £1000 increase from the Universal credit basic element as I heard assisting claimants are getting it as well?
Hi Ann,
Unfortunately as it stands there has been no indication that Jobseekers Allowance will be increased in line with Universal Credit. The increase to the Local Housing Allowance may still boost your income though – if you are in receipt of housing benefit, you may be eligible for more once the LHA is increased in April.
The changes haven’t yet come into effect, but once they have (by 6 April), you will be able to use our calculator to compare what income you would get under Universal Credit and the legacy system, to see whether it may be worth switching to Universal Credit: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes
Hi,
I have been furloughed on 80% pay. I have looked at claiming universal benefit to top up the 20% which is lost, but I cannot make sense of the application form, do I still count as employed? It is specifically this section of the claim form (work and earnings) I am struggling with, are you able to help?
Thank you!
Hi Scott,
Yes – because you will still be being paid by your employer these will count as earnings, so you should state that you are employed and then input your new earnings (ie 80% of your wage). We recommend submitting your claim as soon as you can because there will be a five-week wait between application and your first Universal Credit payment (though you may want to consider applying for an advance in the meantime).
You can read more about the 80% retention scheme here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/
and you can also use our calculator to see how much you might be eligible for: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Best wishes
Hello I live with my partner with no financial interest in his property. I own a house and rent it out. As the rent doesn’t cover my outgoings I have a self employed job which is now not bringing in anything at all. I don’t qualify for the 80% for self employed people as the rent from my house brings in more than half in income. I find all these online calculators don’t fit with my situation. Any help will be most appreciated
Hi Louise,
You are right that you will not be eligible for the 80% self-employed grant, however you may be eligible for Contributory JSA (often called new-style) if you have paid Class 1 National Insurance over the last 2-3 years.
If your savings are below £16,000 then you may also be able to apply for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can use our benefit calculator listed above to see if you’re eligible.
You may also be able to access other government support, including business support grants: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme-cbils/
I hope this helps and please do get in touch with any other questions.
Hello. I started to work as self employed as dental Hygienist in last october 2019, and now all dental practices are closed so can’t work because of Covid 19, but i havent paid any Tax this 2019-20, so am i eligible for any benefits? or how can i apply for any other benefits.
thank you.
Hi Jyo,
As you were not self-employed in April 2019, unfortunately you will not be eligible for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.
If however your savings are below £16,000 then you may be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. I would recommend filling out our benefits calculator (linked to at the top of this page) to see how much you receive.
All the best.
My partner was self employed joiner and submitted his tax return for 18/19 but in 19/20 he moved to being director of ltd company , paying himself as her earns/ whatever is left that he can take home. He hasn’t submitted any tax return for 19/20 yet. His earnings average 22k a year. What would he be entitled too?
Hi Lucy,
Since your partner is a director, he can still be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme if he is paid through PAYE. This will provide him with a grant from the Government equivalent to 80% of his average earnings. You can find more information here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
You and your partner may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. It would recommend filling out our calculator if you haven’t already, you can find a link to this at the top of this page.
Please do get in touch if you have any further questions.
My employer wants to put us on the job retention scheme on 80% (he is not topping up the 20%), however he has asked that we do a few hours a week to help keep the company going. Is this allowed in any circumstances?
Hi Nick,
This is not allowed. While an employee is furloughed, they cannot undertake any work for or on behalf of the company. This is set out clearly by the government on this webpage: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
I hope this helps and please do get in touch if you have any further questions.
I am a minimum wage pharmacy worker. Our workplace remains fully open. My problem is that since loosing my driving licence on health grounds I have been relying on public transport which I have a concessionary bus pass to use. Now public transport has been reduced it is increasingly hard for me to get to and from work. I have sourced a taxi company that is still taking fares but it will cost me a quarter of my earnings. Working from home isn’t an option for me and as my business is fully operational I have to go in 5 days a week. Is there anything I can do or claim to help in these circumstances?
Hi Lisa,
I’m really sorry to hear how the current situation is affecting you. I’d recommend using the Turn2us grant search tool to see if there are any grants out there for you: https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/. You can filter by your local area, age and occupation.
If there don’t seem to be any grants applicable for you and you’re struggling to pay for the cost of taxis, you could discuss with your employer the option of being placed on furlough. This would mean you would not go into work and would be paid 80% of your wages. Your employer would need to apply to the government for them to cover the cost of your wages – you can find more information here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#work-out-what-you-can-claim.
All the best.
As far as it is well known that benefit cap is applied on uc or legacy benefits over 1666.67£. We are a family of 5 ppl. Our calculation per month is 1820£ including child benefit, couple allowance, children allowance and house rent. Capped at 1666£ .about 155£ cap deduction each month. Now from 6 April on the new 1.7% rise plus the Covid19 83£ rise. Will they also be capped?! Please advise what to do especially that there is no chance to work.
Hi Mohamed,
Unfortunately, the benefit cap is remaining the same from April 2020. This means that you, and all those affected by the benefit cap, will not see an increase in income from April 2020. I am so sorry that you are in this situation and will not benefit from the increased generosity of the scheme from April.
Best wishes.
Hi. My son started a new job on 13th March as a trainee electrician. He was told on Thursday last week that he was being laid off due to Coronavirus. He was asked to complete the furlough form which he did and has now been informed he’s not entitled to furlough as he wasn’t in the employment of his current company on 28th February. Is there anything else he can claim please?
Hi Amanda,
I’m really sorry to hear this – you’re right, unfortunately the furlough scheme is only available to people who started their job on or before 28 February.
Your son may be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support as long as he has savings under £16,000. To find out if he’s eligible, he can enter his details into our online calculator: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. If he’s eligible, he can then go ahead and make an online application – there are links to apply on the results page of the calculator.
He may also be eligible for ‘New Style JSA’ – this can be claimed at the same time as Universal Credit if he’s eligible for both. This doesn’t have the £16,000 savings limit but does require that he’s been in employment for the last 2-3 years and paying National Insurance contributions. You can find more information here: https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/eligibility
All the best.
Hi
I am a business owner self-employed my business is almost zero since the coronavirus outbreak. Which option is available for me business grant or self-employed help,
2). I get working family tax credit am I entitled to universal credit as my income has substantially gone down.
Hi Awan,
1) You should be eligible for the 80% scheme- this means that you’ll get 80% of the average profits for the last 3 tax years. To qualify, you must have submitted your Income Tax Self Assessment tax return for the tax year 2018-19, traded in the tax year 2019-20, intend to continue to trade in the tax year 2020-21, and have lost trading/partnership trading profits due to COVID-19. Your self-employed trading profits must also be less than £50,000. More information is available on our website above.
2) Tax Credits: If you have under £16,000 in savings, you are likely to be eligible for Council Tax Support and Universal Credit (instead of tax credits). Further information on these is given on this page. If you do decide to apply for these, you will not be able to move back to tax credits in the future and ongoing top-up of your income will be through Universal Credit rather than tax credits.
There is also a five week wait for payment (which may be longer during this crisis) but you can get a loan to see you through this wait. You can use our free online calculator (https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free) to see what you might get. It is worth noting that both tax credits and Universal Credits are increasing by £20/week for April. So if you do decide to remain on tax credits you will automatically receive more from April onwards.
I hope this helps, and all the best.
On Tuesday my Employer told me to stay at home until they found out if we were able to continue working due to the government announcement that was made that day.
Wednesday My Employer had planned for me to go to work but this unfortunately could not be done as I was working on a site with no hand washing facilities , I was told that it was not safe to do so.told to stay at home until they found out more information .
Friday afternoon I received an email stating I had been placed on a furlough scheme since Tuesday.
Can this be done? Can this legally be done ? I was on the understanding I thought I had to agree to this first
I was also on the understanding that if your employer told you to stay at home you would be entitled to your normal pay is this correct?
Hi Amanda,
The government guidance does encourage employers to discuss furlough with their employees before making a decision. However, they also note that refusing furlough puts you at risk of redundancy or termination of employment.
You will definitely be entitled for 80% of your normal pay, since this money is being paid by the government rather than your employer. Your employer can choose to cover the remaining 20%, however this is up to them to decide. I would recommend discussing this with your employer and asking them to make clear what percentage of your normal wage you will be receiving. You can find out more information about your rights and what you’re eligible for on this page: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Finally, you may also be eligible for benefits to help you during this period. The main two benefits are Universal Credit and Council Tax Support- you might qualify for these as long as you have savings less than £16,000. You can enter your information into our free online calculator to see if you qualify: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
All the best.
Hello thank you for the response. I had already approached my employer and asked directly what percentage of pay I would receive. They replied and stated that they cannot give me that information as they or the accountant did not know.
In the letter it stated that the scheme allows employers to claim up to the 80% wages up to a max of 2,500 per month. It then says
You will receive 80% Of your contractual hrs based on 45 hours and at my hourly rate.
Do you think this means I will get 80% of my normal wage
I am payed weekly and my take home wage is far more than the 2,500 PM caped rate when you work it out on a weekly basis.
Or will it be based on the new scheme?
In response to my questions earlier you said that
You will definitely be entitled for 80% of your normal pay, since this money is being paid by the government rather than your employer and that it’s up to your employer to give the additional 20%
In the letter from my employer it states the following
•the scheme allows employers to claim up to the 80% wages up to a max of 2,500 per month.
It then says
•You will receive 80% Of your current hourly rate based on 45 hours per week.
I am confused as when I work out my normal weekly rate at the 80% alliances it would be exceed government Caped rate of 2500pm !
Do you think this means I will get 80% of my normal take home wage ?
Or will it be based on the new scheme? max of 2500pm
Desperately trying to sort this out.
Hi Amanda,
This looks like something to be clarified with your employer. It could be that they intend to top up your payment if this is capped at £2,500, to get to 80% of your wage (i.e. resulting in more than £2,500). But they may also have forgotten to mention that the Government grant is subject to a cap. It will be worth checking with them what they intend to do.
I hope your employer will be able to clarify this for you soon.
Best wishes.
hi there, I did work on regular job minimum hour rate 40 hour a week up to November 2019 when i became a self employee working as painter decorator i haven’t done any tax returns yet and neither the UTR number and tax registration form haven’t arrive YET. can i apply for universal credit ? if so i do with the employed income or self employee that was higher but with no tax history yet please help me I am very confused . thank you very much
Hi Walter,
You are likely eligible for Universal Credit, so long as your savings are below £16,000 and your earnings are low enough. Your income will be assessed over the four weeks from the date you make your claim, then an award will be granted the following week (so there is a 5-week wait from the claim to you receiving the money). You may be eligible for other support as well, which you can check by using our benefits calculator (linked above).
All the best.
Hi, I believe I qualify for the grant as I have been self-employed for a number of years now.
Since my income has completely dried up due to Covit 19, I am in the process of applying for Universal Credit in order to bridge the income gap until June. Will UC payment till June be taken into account or deducted by HMRC from the grant lump sum in June?
Also, on UC application should I put ‘not working’ or self-employed or 0 income for the current month? I am confused.
kind regards,
Harris
Hi Harris,
In that case you are likely eligible for the scheme and will be contacted by HMRC if you have filed your tax return for last year. You can claim Universal Credit in the meantime, which will not impact the support you receive from June onwards. You should enter in the UC claim that you are self-employed with £0 earnings at the moment, and then they will assess your earnings over the following four weeks after your date of claim.
All the best.
Hi Lynn,
I’ve just started a new job and in training on a six months probation period, my boss told me that the works building closes Friday and staff will be working from hime. As I am not working from home my boss can’t pay me? What am I entitled to
Hi Mandy,
If you have been employed with the company since before February 28th, you may be eligible for the retention scheme which your employer would have to claim on your behalf to pay you. This would pay 80% of your monthly salary up to £2,500/month. It may be worthwhile discussing this with your employer. You may also be eligible for Universal Credit, so long as your savings are below £16,000. You can assess your benefits eligibility using our calculator (links on this page). You should claim as soon as possible as this cannot be backdated.
Best wishes
My partner is self employed & has been since Aug 2019. He pays tax through the CIS scheme, is he entitled to any help?
We are not entitled for UC because I earn as well, however my wages alone will barely cover our all of outgoings.
Hi
If your husband paid tax and NI through CIS he will have also had to complete a self-assessment form so falls under the self-employed scheme. However, we are not sure at the moment how HMRC will decide whether a person earned over 50% of their income from self-employment. It may be over the whole 18/19 financial year, or just for the period for self-employment. If this is calculated over the whole year, then your husband will only qualify if his self-employed earnings were over 50% of his whole annual earnings. HMRC will contact those that qualify so you do not need to do anything.
Best wishes
I was made redundant on Friday because the small independent pub company I work for cannot retain me without the government Job Retention Scheme, and unfortunately my contract began 2nd March. The position is vacant for me to take back after this crisis is over, but I will be without any financial support during. Is there any way to waver this stipulation by request of the company to HMRC, in extenuating circumstances, for higher positions such as General Manager?
Thanks
Hi David
I haven’t heard of any waivers. There are quite a number of people who have fallen through this gap and there may be further provision for them but we haven’t heard of anything at the moment. In the meantime, you may be eligible for contributory JSA if you have paid enough National Insurance contributions (this does not take account of any savings you may have). If you have savings under £16,000 you may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. These should be applied for as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. Further information on these benefits is given on this site.
Best wishes
Hi will you still get the 80% wage if you don’t pay tax ? In my work most of us are all part time and don’t earn enough to pay tax, our work really hasn’t told us much so we are waiting in limbo about what’s going to happen.
Thanks Kerry
Hi Kerry
As far as we know you are still eligible for the scheme as long as you were paid through PAYE. It is up to the employer who they decide to furlough and your employer will need to send you a letter if this happening. I hope this works out for you
Best wishes
Hi, I am in the same position at work and we applied last week for the 80%
Hi Lisa,
Absolutely. You are still eligible to receive furlough even if your income is below the tax threshold. Depending on what your income is, and if your savings are less than £16,000, you may also be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support (you can check this using our online calculator here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free).
Hope this helps and best wishes.
Hi Alannah thanks for your reply. The thing is i was employed on the 28th of feb just with a different company was going to see if i could apply for the work retention scheme with them but as ive receieved my P45 of them dont believe it would be possible. I know its an unprecedented situation we’re facing but find it hard to take as someone whos always worked and never claimed that im not entitled to the retention scheme.
Hi Matt
We have recently received further advice from this and it appears that it may be possible for your former employer to rehire you and use the furlough scheme. As long as you were an employee on 28th February. However, this may not be possible if you now have a contract with a new employer as the contracts may clash regarding working hours. We are not employment specialists so you may need to seek out further advice.
Best wishes
Hi Janet, I have earned over 50,000 a year for the last 2 years ,so I take it I am not entiteled to the 80% they are offering ,what can I do to get some help ,I have applied for universal credits but it’s only £94 a week that just isn’t enough to see me threw this difficult time ,if you have any help for me would really appreciate this thanks
Hello,
The Job Retention scheme where you are paid a percentage of your income can apply to any worker paid through PAYE with a bank account in the UK. However this is capped at £2500 a month. You should ask your employer whether they are putting workers on furlough. However if you have been made redundant or are self employed, there are other options.
If you have paid sufficient National Insurance contributions over the past two years, you may be eligible for contributory Job Seekers Allowance. This is separate from Universal Credit, and is not limited by your savings like UC. To find out your eligibility for contributory JSA, and to see how much you would be eligible for in total if you were to claim Universal Credit as well, you can use our free online calculator here.
I hope this helps, but do let us know if you have further questions.
Im in the same situation and have just been paid by my new company what help is there is I can’t get furlong leave with them
Hi Stefanie,
If you are not furloughed by the employer you were with on the 28th February, and if you have under £16,000 in savings, you could claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. Details of these are on this page.
Best wishes.
Hi the company i work for is still open but gave me the option to self isolate for 12 weeks due to me being higher risk and also my childrens school closed will i only get staturatory sick pay because they are still open and getting staff to cover me whilst im away . Thankyou
Hi Rachel
There was some confusion initially about whether those with health issues could be furloughed if the employer was not seeing a downturn in business. It appears that this may now be possible if you received an NHS letter telling you that you needed to shield. It is up to the employer whether they access the scheme so you should discuss this with them.
You cannot get SSP unless you actually have the virus or you are looking after someone with the virus. If you have savings under £16,000 then the option open to you if your employer does not furlough you is to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. These should be claimed as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. You can use our calculator (links on this site) to see if you qualify. Further information and advice about claiming these benefits are also on this site.
Best wishes
Hello I have been constantly nightshift for 5 years and get a nightshift rate but not on a nightshift contract will I get my nightshift rate in my 80%
Hi Kevin
If you are on an hourly rate then it is likely you will fall under the variable rules. This means that the 80% will be based on either the same month’s earnings from the previous year or
the average monthly earnings from the 2019-20 tax year. Your night shift rate will be covered with both of these so is likely to be included.
Best wishes
Hi Team,
What a useful resource, thanks! My partner and I are both self employed. We have years of tax returns. Part of our business is managing a gallery space that we own. We actually let it out for a few years, when we had twins 4 years ago. So now management duties have reduced and we receive a monthly rent from the tenant. I cannot find any info on whether this situation will cause a problem for us in the coming assessments regarding the furloughing. Our tenant has already told us they cannot pay a full rent. So we will be losing over 50% immediately. We also have a let to buy mortgage on our old house, that allowed us to leave London. Sowe technically own two houses and a small commercial property. The income from property is about to get slashed. Neither the commercial tenant nor the residential tenant are able to pay rent. 50% this month and completely unknown moving forward. The mortgage companies are offering a deferral not a reduction, so it looks like we are headed for a brick wall. I’m also concerned that the furloughing may take acception to our property income. So potentially we are going to get stuck in an impossible situation.
Hi Barnaby
If the provision of the gallery space (and income from it) was accounted for within your self-employed income then this should not cause a problem. The issue you may have with your rental properties is whether self-employment made up 50% of your taxable income in 18/19 or over the last 3 years. If this is the case then you will still be able to get the self-employed grant. I am not sure if your partner has a different business but she may also be able to get a grant. You do not need to do anything about this as HMRC will contact those that are eligible. Your capital will not affect this grant. However, it will mean that you will not be eligible for Universal Credit or Council Tax Support whilst you wait for the grant.
I wish you all the best
Hi
If I am self employed but have a part time job am I entitled to both?. Over the past three years my self employment income is more than my paid income. However the first two years they where equal. This means if I just qualify for the Self employed I am getting considerably less. My business has grown so I now work less in my paid income job.
Hi Jimmy,
Whether you are eligible for the 80% Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will depend on your employer. It can apply whether you are part time, fulltime, or on a zero hours contract. If they decide to furlough you, your employer can apply to receive 80% of your earnings for the same month in 2019, or your average earnings in 2019/20 (from that job) as a grant. So the next step on that front would be to talk to them about whether they intend to take advantage of the scheme. Your self-employment shouldn’t make any difference to whether they can claim for your job or not. You can see the full details about eligibility on this page.
We’re not aware of any reason you can’t also apply for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme at the same time, though you will need to meet the relevant conditions for that scheme too. Most relevant will be that self-employment must make up more than half of your taxable income over the past three years (or less if your self-employment is under three years). You can see the other conditions to meet on this page.
Best wishes
Hi Jimmy,
Whether you are eligible for the 80% Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will depend on your employer. It can apply whether you are part time, fulltime, or on a zero hours contract. If they decide to furlough you, your employer can apply to receive 80% of your earnings for the same month in 2019, or your average earnings in 2019/20 (from that job) as a grant. So the next step on that front would be to talk to them about whether they intend to take advantage of the scheme. Your self-employment shouldn’t make any difference to whether they can claim for your job or not. You can see the full details about eligibility here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/
We’re not aware of any reason you can’t also apply for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme at the same time, though you will need to meet the relevant conditions for that scheme too. Most relevant will be that self-employment must make up more than half of your taxable income over the past three years (or less if your self-employment is under three years). You can see the other conditions to meet here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/
Best wishes.
If 16/17 & 17/18 self employed income accounted for over 50% of someone’s total income but in 18/19 it dropped dramatically to 10%.
Can a 3 year average taken, even if last year’s proportion was lower to qualify?
Hi, Michael,
Yes, as far as we’re aware, you should be eligible. The government guidance on this page says that you have to meet one of these conditions to be eligible:
1) have trading profits in 2018-19 of less than £50,000 and these profits constitute more than half of your total taxable income, or
2) having average trading profits in 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19 of less than £50,000 and these profits constitute more than half of your average taxable income in the same period
From your message, it sounds like you meet the second condition.
All the best
Barnaby I’m in a similar situation. I live with my other half and rent my house out and am also self employed. The rental income is higher than the self employment income. Good luck
Hi, due to covi19 my workplace is closed and am classed as furloughed worker, but dont know when am going to get paid on that scheme.Am on working tax credit but only get £2.50 a week as am showing 30 hours. I am going to struggle Can I claim any other benefits?
Hi Hussain
If you have under £16,000 you are likely to be eligible for Council Tax Support and Universal Credit. Further information on these is given on this page. If you do decide to apply for these, you will not be able to move back to tax credits in the future and the ongoing top-up of your income will be through Universal Credit rather than tax credits. There is also a five-week wait for payment (which may be longer during this crisis) but you can get a loan to see you through this wait. You can use the calculator on this site to see what you might get.
It is worth noting that both tax credits and Universal Credits are increasing by £20/week for April. So if you do decide to remain on tax credits you will automatically receive more from April onwards.
Best wishes
Hello I’ve recently gone self employed worked a week on site and the site has now closed there-for I can’t work. I also cannot claim the 80% as I’ve recently gone as a sole trader. I was on the books before hand for 2 years and have never claimed benefits I’m 19 years old what am I entitled to?? Help please.
Hi Jordan
You appear to have fallen through a gap in provision like many others. It is unlikely that you have paid enough National Insurance to claim contributory JSA. The option open to you is to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support (if you are liable for Council Tax). Further information on these benefits is given on this page and you can use our benefit calculator (links on this page) to see what you would get. You shouldn’t delay claiming as these benefits cannot be backdated.
Best wishes
I have just finished my notice period at work and I was due to start my new role in April. However my new employer has delayed my start date for the foreseeable future.
Am I entitled to anything at all? I’m beginning to regret handing my notice in the first place because now im in a position where I’m not working.
Thanks
Hi Andy
If you were working for your previous employer on the 28th April they can include you in their furlough scheme. Obviously, whether this is possible will depend on your relationship with your previous employer and whether they are accessing the scheme. If this is not possible, then you may be eligible for contributory JSA (depending on your NI contributions), Universal Credit, and Council Tax Benefits. You should apply for these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. Further information on these is given on this page.
Best wishes
My daughter, partner and baby recently moved to London for work. The rent on a new home was secured on the basis of a new job that started after 28 February; the rental agreement is a 6 month minimum period. The government scheme does not provide cover for this situation and from the website it seems that application should be made for universal credit and council tax support (not back dated). What is the logic for the cut off date in the government scheme?
Hi Neil
We are not aware of the logic for the cut off date. I presume it is to prevent fraud (ie employers deliberately taking people on to get the grant). From the queries we have had on this page there are many people, like your daughter, that have fallen through the gaps. This is so unfortunate for her. It may be helpful for her to know that UC will increase by £20/week from April and the amount to cover rent (the Local Housing Allowance) is also being made more generous from April. The new values will be put into our calculator from April so she may want to revisit then to see how much she will get.
Best wishes
Hello,
My employer has just let me know that starting April I will be furloughed and put on the Governments Job Retention Scheme. Would you please be so kind to advise if I can claim for universal credit in this case, and if I can what details should I put in terms of being employed or my earnings?
Futhermore, I have just been paid 100% for March, and my earnings will change in April, so when should I make the claim?
Look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks & Kind Regards,
Carol
Hi Carol
Universal Credit is calculated on the actual amount that hits your bank in the month from your claim start date. And similarly for every calendar month after that. So if there is a month that you have low income, you may qualify. The best time to apply would be immediately after your higher wages (ie at 100%) hit your bank account. As this has now passed, you should apply as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. You may also qualify for Council tax Support if you are liable for Council Tax. Currently, the UC claim form has not been amended to deal with furloughed workers so you should put that you are employed, and the 80% pay. And then use your journal to let them know you have furloughed.
Best wishes
Hi I’m worried I’ve just started my new company after leaving my old one on the 1st March I am PAYE but it says I’m not Entitled to it what other help is there?
Hi Stef,
You are correct that you aren’t eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme with your new employer. It is worth getting in contact with your old employer to ask if they will take you back on, at which point they could choose to furlough. This way you will be eligible for the 80% grant.
In the meantime you should make a claim for any benefits you are eligible for. You can check this by filling out our benefits calculator which is linked to at the top of this page.
All the best.
Hi my daughter has asthma and I am currently staying home as I have noone to look after her. She is 13.
She has recieved a letter to say she is high risk.
I need to know if I am able to get furlough.
I work as a support worker.
Hi Lynsey
The latest advice is that if someone has received a letter form the NHS that they are in a vulnerable group then furlough is possible. I presume this will also apply to those who have to care for someone in the vulnerable group. However, it is up to the employer whether they access the scheme or not. You will need to discuss this further with them. I wish you all the best of luck.
Hi I’m an agency worker on Zero contract. I have been advised to stay off work because being on the high risk list . Cant get a sick note because I’m not ill. Cant get an isolation certificate because I don’t have the virus or any member of this house hold. I have a partner who’s working but I should be able to claim money in my own right. I pay full stamp . Am I entitled to get help whist this virus is here . End of the day I still have my share of the Bill’s to pay . Thanks
Hi Jacquie
Even if you are an agency worker with a zero-hours contract your employer may agree to furlough you due to your health vulnerability. This would mean you could get 80% of your wages. The agency will need to decide whether they will do this or not. If they do not want to go down this path you could claim contributory JSA (often called new-style JSA) if you have paid National Insurance over the last couple of years. You can claim this in your own right and it does not take account of savings or your partner’s income. If you have under £16,000 savings this may be topped up by Universal Credit and you may also be eligible for Council Tax Support. However, Universal Credit and Council Tax Support will also take your partner’s income and savings into account. You can use our calculator (links are on this page) to see if you would qualify. You should claim benefits as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated.
Best wishes
My husband and I own a campsite, and it’s been going for 2 years. It is a limited company, and we are both directors with equal shares. I take a salary, my husband doesn’t (he is a self-employed farmer). The campsite must remain closed for the foreseeable future due to Coronavirus therefore I am unable to take a salary from it. We have an 8 month old baby. Am I/are we able to claim benefit during this time? Also, am I employed (by our own business), or self-employed? I complete a self-assessment each year.
Hi Alison
This is complicated. If you pay yourself a salary from the company though PAYE then you can access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and effectively furlough yourself. This will allow you to claim a grant for up to 80% of your PAYE income (up to £2,500). You may also be able to access the self-employed scheme if you meet the criteria (given on this page) and self-employment made up at least 50% of your taxable income. If you qualify for the self-employed scheme, HMRC will automatically get in touch with you.
You may be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support but this will depend on your husband’s income and how DWP decides to treat your assets (the campsite). if they deem this worth more than £16,000 you may not be eligible. If they decide it is a business asset then you may still be eligible. It is worth putting in a claim anyway in case you do qualify as this cannot be backdated.
Best wishes
Can’t find any mention of JSA (NOT contribution based / new style). Does the £20pw uplift being applied to UC in April also apply to JSA?
Hi Kevin
The £20 uplift does not apply to means-tested JSA, Income Support, or means-tested ESA. If you rent your home and get Housing Benefit in addition to JSA then the increase in housing support will apply through Housing Benefit.
Best wishes
Is the 80% paid by the employers as part of the scheme taxable, so will the monies that are received be taxed before received by the employee
Hi Heidi
The 80% is gross so you would need to pay NI and tax on it in the normal manner.
Best wishes
Hi Shelby,
Unfortunately in order to be eligible the employee has to be paid through PAYE. If this is not the case, it is unlikely your mother will be eligible.
However, she may be able to access the loan scheme to tide her business over during the crisis.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi Alannah,
Thank you very much for your reply!
Best wishes,
Shelby
If you are part time and paid by the hour how does your employer work out 80pc of your wages
Hi Maurice,
The employer will claim for the highest of the amount you were paid for the same month’s earnings from the previous year and the average monthly earnings from the 2019-20 tax year.
Best wishes
Hi I’ve been selfemployed since the 1st of April 2019 I haven’t put my self assment form in as off yet would I be intitled to the 80% from the government as I’ve been laid off until further notice many thanks Paul
Hi Paul
If you only started self-employment in April 2019 this scheme will not apply to you. You can claim Universal Credit and if you are liable for Council tax, Council tax Support. You can use the calculator (links on this page) to see how much you would get. Further information is available on these pages. You should not delay claiming as these cannot be backdated.
Best wishes
Hello,
I ‘ve been laid off from my job due to the corona virus.
( I was working there since last June)
I have 5 years resident and work permit ( non EU citizen). My wife is EU citizen and also has 5 years resident and work permit too.
Our friends told us we are not eligible to apply for univercal credit.
What benefits could we apply?
Thank you
Hi Eren
If you were paid through PAYE into a British bank account you may still be eligible for the furlough scheme. This would allow your ex-employer to claim 80% of your wages (up to £2500) which could be used to pay your wages. if your employer made you redundant after 28th February 2020, they can rehire you. Both you and your wife should discuss this with your employers.
The benefit situation for non-UK citizens is very complicated. If your wife has settled status than she will be eligible for all UK benefits. This right may be conferred on you as her partner. If she does not have settled status then you may not qualify. It is really important that you get advice from a specialist in benefits for non-UK citizens. Citizens Advice may be able to help you but they are extremely busy at the moment and your local council may be able to put you in touch with a support centre in your area. Universal Credit and council tax support are not backdated so it is worthwhile applying (to set a claim date) whilst you seek further advice. Information on these and how to claim is provided on this page. I wish you both the best of luck.
Hi I started a new job 19th March, signed my contract etc. I was told because I’d signed my contra I’d get paid, now the government has said you have to be on the payroll before 28th February which obviously I wasn’t. So not entitled to the 80% pay, where do I stand and am I entitled to anything. My husband works for the council and has been sent home also, we have 2 children, 1 of which has a disability. Any information would be helpful
Hi Rachel
As you say, you are not eligible for the 80% furloughed pay due to your work start date. If you have previously paid National Insurance you may qualify for contributory JSA (often called new-style JSA). This does not take savings or your husband’s income into account. If you have savings below £16,000 you may also qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support but this will depend on your husband’s earnings. You can use our benefits calculator (links on this page) to see if you would qualify. Further information on all these benefits is given on this page.
Best wishes
I am a dental hygienist who works for two separate practices. I work for just over half my hours in one of them as an employee and just under half in the other as self employed. I am currently furloughed from the employed position due to the COVID – 19 outbreak and out of work with the other as both practices have had to close.
By my understanding this means I will receive 80% of my employment pay but will not be entitled to any help in regards to the self employment, resulting in a loss of nearly half my income.
I appreciate that our government has tried to help as many people as possible during this crisis but in many cases that help is less than fair. I guess I should be grateful for that which I will hopefully receive.
Hi Lynn
That sounds really hard on you. If your self-employed income was over half your take-home income you may still qualify for the self-employed scheme as this is based on the proportion of taxable income rather than the hours. Due to the loss in your income, you may wish to consider applying for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support – further advice is on this page. This can top up 80% of your wage. You can use the calculator on this site to see if you could qualify.
Best wishes
Can you be furloughed and still claim help and if so which benefits can you claim
Hi David
Universal Credit is based on the income you receive into your bank in a month. So if this is severely reduced (due to the reduction to 80%) or you are waiting for your employer to get the grant then you should apply. You can also apply for Council Tax Support. Both these should be claimed as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. Further information on these is given on this page. There are also links to our calculator so that you can see if you would qualify.
Best wishes
How to change Benefit Cap under Covid-19
Hi Vania
At the moment it doesn’t look like the benefit cap will be raised during Covid19. This does mean that households affected by the cap will not benefit from the increased allowances in benefits. I am sorry if you are in this situation.
Best wishes
Is there any help for people who earn the majority of their income from property rather than self employed trading? I earn via Air Bnb which has all dried up now. I have always paid full tax on this income but it is entered in the Property section of the SA form.
Hi Justeen,
Unfortunately you are unlikely to be able to get help through the self-employment scheme and cannot get Universal Credit or Council Tax Support as your capital is over £16,000. I do not know of any support that you could get. Some councils have discretionary welfare schemes to help those that fall through the welfare safety net. You could contact your council to see if they run such a scheme. I wish you all the best
What about small business grant if you pay business rates on air bnb?
Hi Katie,
Firstly, it is possible that your business will be eligible for the business rates holiday – the government have been clear that self-catering businesses are eligible as long as that is the main use of the property. It is worth contacting your council to ask if you are eligible. You wont need to make an application – the council will update your bill automatically if you are eligible.
If you are already in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief then you will be eligible for a grant of £10,000. If you are not eligible for rates relief then you could still be eligible for a grant of up to £25,000. Again your council will contact you if you are eligible, but it may be worth contacting them to confirm this if you are not sure.
I hope this helps and please do get in touch if you have any further questions.
Can you advise what options there are for students?
I rent my (not buy to let) flat to 1 student and 1 working (lost their job with employer and employer offering no support obviously) and I am yet to confirm mortgage holiday with my lender.
What can the 2 tenants proactively do in the meantime to seek support? Is there any financial support eligible for.
I am trying to be helpful, supportive but they are doing very little it seems.
Thanks
Hi Nick
The person working may be furloughed if their employer applies for the grant and if not should apply for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support at the earliest opportunity. Unfortunately, most students cannot get support unless they have a child or are disabled. However, if the student is in a relationship with the non-student they will both be able to put in a joint Universal Credit claim. This will include an amount towards their rent. They should do this as soon as possible as it cannot be backdated Further information on these benefits is given on this page.
Best wishes
My hubbie is self employed and I work 28 hours a week on minimum wage we rent and it’s in his name can we get help ? We can’t wait until June
Hi Sharron,
You can apply for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if your savings are below £16,000. Universal credit includes an element to help with your rent. You can use our calculator (the link is on this page) to see if you would qualify. There is a 5 week wait for payment but you can get an advance to tide you over until this time. Further information on these is on this page. You should apply as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated.
Best wishes
Hi, I work 16 hrs at a preschool, we are closed and I am being furloughed. I am also a childminder and earn most of my money from childminding. Can I claim furlough and the self employed grant ? Also as there is no rule on my contract at my employed job could I get a temporary job and would this affect anything I receive. Thanks.
Hi Lisa
As far as we know you could get the 80% for your work at pre-school and also the self-employed grant if you meet the eligibility criteria. These are given on this page. Guidance so far seems to indicate that you can also take a temporary job as long as it isn’t with your current employer and self-employment remains your main employment. If we hear any further information we will update these pages.
Best wishes
Thanks so much for the advice, I feel a lot more positive
You’re very welcome, Lisa. Best of luck
Hi,
I resigned from my position on 29th of February and I started a new job the 2nd of March as a full time, permanent contract employee. I work in hospitality so I am now redundant but my new company can not claim the 80% benefit for me as the cut off was 28th of February and I was still working for my old company.
Is there a way for me to claim the Job Retention Scheme or if not what is the best benefit I can get in my situation?
Thanks for your help.
Hi Matteo
That is really unfortunate for you. You are correct that the job retention scheme does not apply to your new job. The options open to you are to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You should claim these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. Further information on both of these, as well as information on how to claim is given on this site. I wish you all the best.
I was made redundant at the end of November and I began working for equity on a startup. We were due to receive funding this month, which would have provided me with an income, but the pandemic has put that on hold and I’m not sure when we will get another chance for funding. I haven’t received any money during this period so i’m not elligible for salaried benefits. What are my options here?
Hi John
The Government schemes do not appear to apply to you. You may want to consider applying for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if you do not have savings over £16,000. Further information on these is provided on this page. It is best to apply as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated.
Best wishes
Hi, I’m an ad-hoc short term PAYE employee. I was employed on 17th February. I assume I will be laid of this coming week. Am I entitled to 80%. Is it the company’s choice who they retain and if so what happens if not selected.
Hi
Yes you will be eligible for the scheme. As you say, it is up to the company who they furlough and they will have their own criteria for doing this. Many will be retaining all employees. If you are not selected and are made redundant you will need to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support – details of these are on this page. You should claim as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated. If you are retained, you may still wish to claim if you are waiting for wages until the grant comes through. I wish you all the best.
Hi,
I have a complex work situation. I am self employed and employed by a couple companies at the same time. I started trading in 2016 but it never constituted over 50% of my total income until this year (2019/2020). I had a full time employment in july 2019 while the current two employments are only part-time( zero-hour contracts). Since the outbreak of the coronovirus I have no job at all. If one of my employers apply for the Retension Scheme it will be only around £400 per month which is not enough to live on. Is there any chance I would be eligible to self-employed grant since my current self-employed income is higher this year ? If not, would I be able to claim Universal Credit at the same time to top up this amount ?
Hi Agata
It looks unlikely that you will qualify for the self-employed grant as you did not receive over 50% of your income from self employment in 18/19 or over the last 3 years. You should apply for both Universal Credit and Council Tax Support which can top-up your income from furloughed employment. You will still be better off getting the £400/month and a top-up of UC than if you received UC with no income from furloughed employment. You can use our calculator (links on this page) to see how much you may get. It is worth noting that UC will increase in April by £20/week. You should claim these straight away as they cannot be backdated. Further information about these benefits is on this site.
Best wishes
I’m self employed and unable to work because of Corona virus. My husband was furloughed yesterday so am completing an application for universal credit. Do I answer yes or no to the are you currently working please?
Hi Kelly
We are still waiting guidance on this. At the moment we are advising claimants to say they are employed with 0 income and make a note in the application regarding being furloughed.
Best wishes
Hi Janet, I wondered if you’d got an answer to this query yet – I find I’m in a similar position (both myself and my partner are Self-Employed and have not been able to work since the end of February).
I have tried to look everywhere for an answer to this but could not find any. The Gov.UK website has absolutely no guidance on filling in the the application form either.
Hi George,
If you are applying for Universal Credit you can enter that you are self-employed with no earnings. Your income will be assessed over the four weeks following your application and your award calculated accordingly. Provided you do not have savings above £16,000 and no one else in the household, you should receive maximum support while you and your partner are not working.
Also, if you (and/or your partner) filed a tax return for 18/19 in December (or do so by 23rd April), then HMRC will contact you (and/or your partner) in the coming months to award you 80% of your average monthly earnings (up to the previous 3 years, depending on the duration of your self-employment).
Best wishes.
Good morning. I’ve been a self employed sole trader for a number of years and have seen my turnover fall to such a degree that over the last 3 or 4 years I have had a gross profit which has been covered more or less by the personal allowance. In other words my net profit has been zero and less.
Would I be right in thinking that the 80% will be based on the net profit, taxable income, or hoping against hope it might be based on gross income.
If it is the former then I guess I won’t qualify and will have to go to Universal credit, something I never thought I’d have to do in my life.
(To cap it all my wife is a supply teacher and at present does not know if she qualifies for any support from the 80% scheme. She is awaiting advice as to whether she has been classed as employed or not. She has worked through the Reed agency)
Hi David
The terminology used talks about trading profits which are generally assumed to be gross profits. If you qualify then HMRC will be in contact with you. Your wife’s position has recently been clarified with the Government issuing further guidance that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will apply to agency workers as long as they are PAYE. If you have no money whilst this is sorted out you should certainly consider applying for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. Information about these is given on this page. You should apply as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated. This will give you the reassurance of some income should your wife not be furloughed.
Best wishes
The government have stated you could get paid 80% of your wages up to a monthly cap of £2,500 does NI Tax have to be deducted from this amount? Or is that the take home amount?
Hi Amanda
The £2,500 is gross. So you would need to deduct tax and NI in the usual way.
Best wishes
Hello,
I’m a stay at home mum, and my husband has just been furloughed. Prior to that we were able to live on one wage, but now he’s at 80% of his salary, and the company he works for, are not topping up the 20%, we can no longer afford our outgoings. I’m about to call the bank to take a mortgage holiday, but it would still be good to see if I can claim anything to help as an ‘unemployed’ home maker with a baby. Unfortunately, I cannot go out to work while he is furloughed, as I am within the high risk category if I was to contract Coronavirus. I’ve done the test online to see what we can get, and it’s only suggesting Child Benefit, as he is apparently earning enough for us not to qualify for anything..
Thank you for your time, Z
Hi Zoe
The benefits available to top up your husband’s income are Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. If you have checked that you do not qualify for these then, unfortunately, there is no further support. It may be useful for you to know that your husband is able to work for another employer as long as this is not against his current working hours contract. So for example, he may be able to work outside his normal working hours (but not for the same employer). But this may not be advisable if you are shielding due to vulnerability. If you have difficulty meeting your bills, you may wish to come to an arrangement with your utility companies as well as your mortgage company. I wish you all the best.
I am single parent working part time claiming working tax credits and child tax credits.i may be furloughed because of this.will i still keep my tax credits if im not actually going to work.
Hi Lynda
It looks like the hours rule for working tax credits is likely to be relaxed during the Covid19 period. At the moment we are hearing that this will be extended to 8 weeks (ie reduction in hours for 8 weeks will mean you retain your tax credits), and that it may be extended. However, we have not yet seen the regulations for this. Until the regulations are out, I would suggest notifying HMRC after 4 weeks (as the current regulations stand). As soon as we hear more, we will update the advice on this page.
Best wishes
Following – I am in the same position and would like to know the outcome of this. I would be hugely impacted if tax credits stopped
Hi Kirsty,
We have just heard today that the policy on working tax credits is changing. The change in hours rule is being suspended for 8 weeks, meaning that your credits will be calculated based on previous hours. This 8 hour suspension may also be further extended if COVID-19 restrictions continue. You will only need to notify HMRC if they persist past the end of the rule suspension.
We are monitoring this announcement closely, and will be updating our Covid-19 FAQ page as soon as we get further details, so it might be worth keeping an eye on this page for updates.
I hope this helps – do let us know if there’s anything else we can help.
I already receive universal credit @ ive been trying to notify them that i am now a furloughed worker but there is nowhere on their site to tell them, if i click on change of circumstances it doesn’t cover this
Hi Lesley
The only advice we have about this is to use the online journal to make a note that your are currently furloughed. Further advice is likely and we will update these pages when we know more.
Best wishes
Hello, I’m self employed and meet the requirements fore the June payment.
At the moment I cannot work and have been advised to isolate for 3 months as high risk category with copd, can I get a benefit now ?
Hi Colin
If you have under £16,000 savings you can claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You should claim these as soon as possible as they cant be backdated. Further information on these benefits, including advice on how to claim, is given on these pages.
Best wishes
I am single parent working part time claiming working tax credits and child tax credits.May need to be furloughed because of lack of childcare.will my tax credits stop because i am not working during this time.
Hi Lesley
The only advice we have about this is to use the online journal to make a note that your are currently furloughed. Further advice is likely and we will update these pages when we know more.
Best wishes
Sorry Carol again to update last message. What I meant to say is was supposed to start private sector job March 21, but due Covid 19 can not start new employment, can my old NHS employer furlough me? Many thanks Carol
Hi Carol,
If you were working for your old company on February 28th they could still furlough you. It is up to your old employer whether they wish to do this so it is worth discussing with them.
Best wishes
Carol,
I am in a very uncomfortable situation could you please help. I quit my old employment with Doctors Surgery at the end of February 2020 and was due to start a new job in the public sector on March 21st. According to Martin Lewis he recommends that I contact old employer whom I was on their PAYE, and ask them to furlough me. I wasn’t on the best terms with them in the end, and since reading the guidelines for JRS noting that the Public Sector should not furlough staff. What should I do. Should I contact my old employer even though I no longer employee as Martin Lewis sugggests. Many thanks Carol
Hi Carol
The most recent guidance suggests that as long as you were working for an employer on 28 Feb, even if you resigned after that date, you can be furloughed. But this is up to the employer. The Government has suggested that they do not expect public sector bodies to be using furlough except for cases where someone has been contacted by the NHS and advised to shield due to health vulnerability. You could discuss this with your previous employer and they would need to make a decision on it.
Best wishes
Government have said they would pay 80% of your wages, up to a monthly cap of £2,500 to employees. Does Tax and National insurance have to come off of the amount. Or is it take home amount.
Hi Amanda,
This will be treated as a gross wage so the £2500 is before tax and National Insurance.
Best wishes,
Alannah
My partner is going onto furloughed pay as of Monday 30th March, his wage is above the capped amount so will receive the £2500 minus deductions. My question is will he only receive 80% of £2500 minus deductions or will he receive £2500 minus deductions as he is not sure. Any information would be great, thanks
Hi Jodie,
As far as we understand if 80% of his earnings is higher than £2,500 his employer will get a grant of £2,500. If the employer is just passing this to your partner then your partner will receive £2,500 before deductions.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi.
I started a new job on 2nd March 2020, the office I work in has closed due to coronavirus and I recieved a letter saying I am still employed by the company but i just have to wait to be informed when it is ok to return to work…so as I understand it I am not entitled to the job retention scheme because I wasnt employed by my employer on 28th Feb 2020, so for the sake of 2 days I’m not eligible??? This is unbelievable as I have worked and paid tax and NI for well over 20 years. So as I’m not eligible because of being shy of the criteria of 2 days, how am I meant to support myself and pay my rent whilst I wait to return to my job?
Thanks for your help.
Hi Stacey,
This is really unfortunate for you. I think the Government set that date to prevent people from taking advantage of the scheme but this means that some, like you, are caught in a really difficult situation.
You may be entitled to contributory JSA (sometimes called new style JSA), Universal Credit, and Council Tax Support.
Details of these are given on this site. Please claim as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated.
Best wishes,
Alannah
I have been self-employed for over 10 years. I will have had self-employed income of around 18,000 (after expenditure) for tax year 19-20, but I took up some full-time employment in January in order to be nearer to home and family and have a more secure income stream for a bit. I am a single parent and still in the probationary period for this job and fear my employer may just lay me off. What are my rights? If I get laid off by the employer, as I am still registered as self-employed for this tax year and have been continuing to make self-employed income alongside this employed income stream, will I still be entitled to claim for the self-employed relief? The industry in which I am self-employed has had to close completely because of Covid19. And if I do qualify for self-employed relief how much will have to be paid back and at what rate and how soon? I no longer claim for tax credits as apparently I was once overpaid (even though I have always updated HMRC as to my circumstances) and now I’m still paying this off. I don’t know if this effects anything? As you can imagine I’m quite sceptical of this “Gorvernment relief” but I may need to access it, if possible. Any help is much appreciated, thank you.
Hi Dawn,
It sounds tike you meet the main criteria for the scheme; you were trading as self-employed in the tax year 2019-20, trading now (or would be except for COVID-19) and intend to continue to trade in the tax year 2020-21. The issue may be around the criteria that this should have made up over half your taxable income. At the moment we do not know if this just applies to 18/19 or over the last 3 years. From what you said, it sounds like it is only recently that this will not be the case so I think you are likely to qualify. I will post more information here when this becomes available. If you qualify, it is a grant and will not need to be paid back at all. HMRC will be contacting everyone who is eligible. If they contact you, you will need to complete a form and then you get the grant (this is not a loan).
In the meantime, it sounds like you and your daughter have no income. If you previously worked, you may qualify for contributory JSA. In addition, if you have under £16,000 you should consider claiming Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. If you move to Universal Credit you would not be able to go back to tax credits and you would need to wait 5 weeks for payment. As you are generally in work, you may find that you receive more under Universal Credit than under tax credits.
Your tax credits overpayment will continue to be recovered from Universal Credit but will only take away a small amount of it so you will be left with something to live on. There are links on this page to all these benefits and to our calculator which you can use to see what you would get under Universal Credit.
If you do not qualify for Universal Credit you may get 3 months worth before you do not qualify due to the grant.
I wish you all the best,
Alannah
My wife and I are partners in a small cleaning business, windows and domestic. We have the three years tax returns etc. and therefore should qualify for the grant. We are NOT directly affected yet by Covid-19, no sickness, no quarintining, although we have lost some of our customer base for the time being most of our customers are residential and therefore looks set to be able to continue for the time being, if I CHOSE not to continue working (chronic asthma, concerns over potential infection etc.) OR I am sent home by police at checkpoints that have been set up on the roads (no disrispect,I understand this is happening to solo workers) would I still be elligable for the grant? Thanks in advance
Hi Andrew,
You will qualify if you cannot work (eg due to health or isolation) or continue to work but you will need to show that your business profit has been affected by Covid19 (either to 0 or reduced) and that you expect to continue the business after the outbreak.
It sounds like all these apply in your case. HMRC will be in contact with you and ask you to complete a form.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi. I’ve been placed on furlough because of covid 19. I’m a full time worker and my partner works part time ( 16 hours ). She’s still working because she’s a key worker.
As most are, I’m concerned about rent,council tax etc. All the bills come out of my wage. What happens now? Do I apply for universal credit?. My wage also varies as we have a bonus scheme which usually gives me an additional £200 per month on average plus I usually do 2 Saturdays a month again usually giving me an additional £200 per month. Will my 80% include this or is the 80% of basic salary.
Hi Martin,
It depends if your employer is continuing your wage (which is what the Government is encouraging) or waiting until they get the grant. If you are not getting pay for any month and you have under £16,000 you should apply for both Council Tax Support (from your local Council) and Universal Credit. Apply as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated. You should qualify for these until your wages come through. Further information is given on these pages.
The current advice is that if you have a salary then just this amount (excluding any bonus, commission, or fees) is included in the 80%. If your income varies, then it is the average pay that is taken into account. This is a grey area and may be dependant on whether your contract is based on per hour, or salary. I will post further information as soon as this is published.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Thanks very much for the advice
Hi, I left a self employed job on Feb 29th 2020 & started on PAYE on March 2nd.
I’m aware I fall short to claim furlough for my ne PAYE job but can I claim Furlough for my previous self employed job? Even tho I’m technically not self employed anymore?
Hi Richard,
It unfortunately looks like neither scheme will apply to you. In order to qualify for the self-employment scheme you have to have been self-employed in 18/19, be currently self-employed, and intend to remain self-employed. This obviously does not apply in your case. And, as you say, your timing of starting the new employment means that you also do not qualify for the employee scheme.
I do not know if your employer is intending to continue to pay you during the outbreak but if not, you should claim Universal Credit and COuncil Tax Support as soon as possible. Further details are on this page.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Thank you for helping so many people.
My question is, if you are self-employed and in receipt of Working Tax Benefit, and as long as you are eligible in every other way would you still qualify for the self-employed grant?
I presume working tax credit does not count as taxable benefit so if you you also do some self employed work and have submitted tax returns over the past 3 years you should be able to still claim under this scheme, if you have lost much of your work during due to the virus?
Hi Jules,
Your working tax credit will not affect your eligibility for the grant. If you qualify HMRC will contact you and ask you to complete a form. The grant is likely to come through in June and will be backdated to 1 March. In the meantime, if you have less than £16,000, you may want to consider claiming Universal Credit. This will be assessed on your current situation and may therefore be more generous than WTC. However, you would need to wait 5 weeks for payment (although you can get a loan to see you through this period) and you would need to remain on UC afterwards (you cannot return to tax credits).
At the moment the Government has lifted the Minimum Income Floor for self-employed on UC so actual income is taken into account but they have stated that this may only last a year. In which case, you are better off remaining with WTC if you can manage. If you stay on WTC you will need to let HMRC know of your drop in income after 4 weeks. We believe this is likely to be extended and will post any update on these pages.
Best wishes,
Alannah
My employer said that I’m not entitled to any pay as I earn under £108 per week is this true
Hi Carol,
I think your employer is thinking of Sick Pay. This applies if someone earns over £118/week and can be paid if you are ill or looking after someone who is ill. This limit does not apply to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Your employer can still get a grant worth 80% of your wages if you are paid through PAYE.
Further information on this scheme is given on this page. It is up to your employer whether they apply for this scheme. If your employer does not apply and you are on unpaid leave, or if your employer does not pay you until the grant comes through, you should claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support as soon as possible (these are not backdated).
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi sorry to bother you however you didn’t get back to my previous message?
I’m self employed, I have paid by taxes and Ni for the last 3 years.
I’ve just put in a claim for ESA as I’m currently self isolating with my son who is symptomatic of the virus.
I’ve just heard that self employed are entitled to receive up to 80% grant of their wage. I already receive tax credits alongside my usual income, Will this affect me getting the self employed 80% grant?
Also claiming the ESA at the moment will that get taken off my grant in June?
Thank you
Hi Ashleigh,
I am so sorry we are having difficulty keeping up with enquiries!
The response to your first question has now been answered. I will also put it here so you don’t have to search for it:
Your tax credits will not affect your eligibility to this grant. As for your contributory ESA, you can only get this whilst ill or self-isolating, so by the time the 80% self-employed grant goes live in June you may no-longer be self-isolating. If you qualify, HMRC will be in contact with you and ask you to complete a form. You will need to show that you are currently self-employed and intend to carry on with self-employment. At the moment we are not sure of the details but it may be that if you are still in receipt of ESA when you complete the form this may be taken as proof that you are now ill and not actively self-employed. As your ESA should have ended by then, this should not be a problem. If we get any further information we will publish it on these pages.
Any ESA you receive in the meantime will not be deducted from the grant.
I hope this helps. Do let us know if you have any further questions.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Good evening
I am a single parent self employed 16 years – yr 16/17 had a baby and minimal earning that have increased slowly – i am guessing this won;t be taken into consideration? Prev years would be 25k more than this year on average,
thanks for your time.
Martina
Hi Martina,
The grant will be based on the average of your last 3 self assessment returns so if you completed a self assessment form for 16/17 this will be taken into account and your average profit for the 3 years used to calculate your grant.
At this stage we don’t know if there will be a mechanism for taking a different period into account for situations such as yours.
If there is any further information we will publish it here.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi, a friend was already in a consultation process/role being made redundant due to reasons outside of corona virus before the gov announced their support scheme. She’s had her end of employment date set for early April but could her employer decide to keep her on the pay role to make use of the 80% salary/£2500k scheme legitimately, even if the redundancy isn’t corona virus related? Thanks.
Hi Abby,
If she is employed at the moment this may be a possibility. We do not know the details yet but I imagine that the employer will need to ascertain that the employee will be retained into the near future.
Once we have further details I will update these pages.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hello, unfortunately I finished my notice period with me employer on the 19th of this month and was due to start my new job on the 1st of April. My new company is currently locked down until the government advise. I’ve tried to get my previous company to keep me on the payroll as a furlough employee but they won’t do this as they say they have just completed my p45.
Is there any help I can get or claim for anything to get me through this period?
Many thanks
Hi David,
That is so unlucky. Unfortunately it looks like you are one of the small group that falls into the gap in support.
If you have paid NI for the last 2 – 3 years you can claim contributory JSA. You can claim this even if you have savings over £16,000. If you have savings under £16,000 you should also apply for Universal Credit (from DWP) and Council Tax Support (from your local council – it’s worth noting some councils have savings limits below £16,000).
You can follow the links on this page to use our calculator to see what you would get. Further information on these benefits is given on this page.
You should claim as soon as possible as these benefits cannot be backdated.
Best wishes,
Alannah
I have buy to let properties. If my tenants can’t pay. Can I claim any from the government, this is my only income.
Hi Sharron,
The capital value of your buy to let properties means that you will not qualify for Universal Credit or Council Tax Support. If this is a self-employed business, and you have registered as self-employed you may qualify for the self-employment Income Support scheme.
Further information on this is given on this page. You may also qualify for a small business loan to see you through this crisis.
If your tenants are having difficulty paying you should encourage them to apply for Universal Credit as this includes an amount to help with rent.
Best wishes,
Alannah
I started a new job 2 weeks ago and the guide lines for claiming the 80% for being furloughed states you have to be on your employers payroll as from 28th of feb if this is correct is there anything else I can claim. My partner has also been furloughed.
Hi Andrew,
Your partner should be receiving at least 80% of their wages. If either this reduction in income means you do not have enough to live on, or if the employer is not paying until they receive the grant, and you have under £16,000 in savings, then you should claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can use our calculator (links on this page) to see if you would qualify.
If you are waiting for any wages for your partner enter both your income as 0. If your partner is receiving 80% of their salary, enter this amount. You should claim these benefits as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hello I am nightshift constantly and been so for 5 years but it’s not on my contract will my nightshift rate be included in the 80% thank.
Hi Kevin,
At the moment we are not fully sure of how the scheme will operate. If you have an annual salary, then it is unlikely that any additions to the salary will be included. However, if your pay is based on an hourly rate then the shift work addition may be included. I will update the information on this page as soon as further information is available.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Thank you on hourly rate
Hi, my partner who is the sole income (as I’m a student nurse) started his new job on the 3rd of March, he previously worked for the same company for 5 years. He has just been told he’s not entitled to 80% pay scheme because of when he started. Can you give advice on what he should do or what we should be entitled to? The company are calling it a ‘temporary lay off’.
Hi Lauren,
This timing is really unfortunate for your family. If you have under £16,000 in savings then you should claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated (see the links on this page). If you have over £16,000 in savings and your husband has paid enough NI contributions, then you may qualify for contributory based JSA (sometimes called new style JSA).
However this will depend on whether the DWP consider the temporary lay-off to mean that your husband can look for other work or whether he is retained by the employer. He needs to be unemployed and available for work to claim JSA. Further information on these benefits is given on this page.
I wish you all the best of luck,
Alannah
Hi,
I’m currently working at Aldi Supermarket & I have a heart condition that is under high risk from the Coronavirus… the cardiologist said I should self isolate but because Aldi is a key working job will I be entitled to the 80%?
Obviously I want to work to help the nation but at the same time don’t wanna die. I can’t afford to be payed the £90 a week stationary sick pay…
Regards James
Hi James,
This is such a dilemma for you and well done on keeping working to now. At the moment we are not sure if someone can be furloughed due to being in a vulnerable group if the employer is also not in danger of needing to make staff redundant due to the virus. At the moment there are indications that an employer may be able to agree to furlough in these circumstances but we will need to wait until full details are published. As soon as we have more information we will update these pages. You should discuss this with Aldi’s personnel or HR department.
If you cannot be furloughed, you would not qualify for SSP unless you actually have the virus or live with someone with the virus. You would qualify for Universal Credit and this includes an amount to help towards your rent. You can use the calculator (links on this page) to see how much you would get.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi I started a new job and signed my new contract on 19th March. My boss said I will be entitled to the 80% wages as I had signed my contract. Now things have changed and since I wasn’t on the payroll prior to the 28th February I am not entitled to that now, is there anything help out there for me? My husband works for the council which is now shut so all employees are home, we also have two children, one of which has a disability.
Hi Rachel,
You are in a difficult position. Depending on your husband’s income, and if your savings are less than £16,000 you may qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. Universal Credit will include an extra amount in respect of your child’s disability. If you are currently receiving tax credits and you move from tax credits to Universal Credit you will not be able to return to tax credits. You can use our calculator (links on this page) to see how much you would get under Universal Credit.
Some people are better off on Universal Credit and it may be worth switching from tax credits. If you decide to remain on tax credits, you should let HMRC know of your expected reduction in income for the year from April 2020 so that your tax credits can be based on your reduced income.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi,
My hours have been cut from 5 days to 2 days per week. will i get any other support other than universal credit.
how much is universal credit per week for reduced hours over covid 19?
Hi GJ,
How much Universal Credit you get will depend on your income and your circumstances. Universal Credit includes additional amounts for children and for rent. The best way to see what you would get is to use our calculator (the link is on this page).
You should claim as soon as possible as this cannot be backdated. If you are liable to pay Council Tax you should also claim this (from your local council).
Both these benefits are for people who are working and for those out of work. Further details on both of these are given on this page.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hello I predict that I will be eligible for self employed income support (80% of my income); however, I am not sure if I will be able to support myself financially for 3 months until I will receive that grant. If I will claim universal credit now, will it be deducted from the 80% grant or will I have to pay that benefits back? Thank you.
Hi Kamil,
Universal Credit is based on the actual income that you receive in a monthly assessment period. So the actual trading profit for the month is used as the basis for your award. As the grant will not be income in the months you are waiting it will not be included.
At the moment we have seen no indication that the grant will be affected by Universal Credit or that the Universal Credit will need to be paid back. We are still awaiting further details of this scheme and will post any further information here when we know.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi I’m self employed no work or income due to corona virus if I claim universal credits will this affect my 80% of wages grant ?
Hi Richard,
You can claim Universal Credit in the period that you wait for the grant. As the grant is a lump sum that will go into your bank account in June or July, it will not be taken into account as income for Universal Credit assessment periods before then. At the moment there is no indication that Universal Credit will affect the level of your grant – if we hear anything different we will update these pages so keep checking back. The grant is likely to be taken into account as a business income and so will affect your tax for this year.
You are advised to claim Universal Credit (and Council tax Support) at the earliest opportunity as these cannot be backdated. Further information is given on this page.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi
I’m self employed and have lost my income for the meantime and as the government hadn’t announced any help for the self employed I went and got a job at a supermarket this week. Though now after the chancellor’s support package was announced I was wondering, if I keep working in a PAYE job until June, will that then affect my entitlement from the governments payout?
So will I be better off quitting my job at the supermarket and going on Universal Credit until June?
Any answers would be very welcome.
Hi Abi,
What we know so far is that you would have had to be self employed in 18/19, be self-employed when you complete the form (this will be sent by HMRC) and intend to stay self-employed. It may be that by working in PAYE at the time you complete the form you cannot state that you are self-employed at that moment. One solution may be to be both self-employed and employed for a short period.
As long as you expect your self-employment to be more than 50% of your wages this year (ie you intend to return to self employment) then this should mean that you meet the criteria. We are still waiting for further information on this scheme but as long as you keep being self-employed (ie you haven’t informed HMRC that you are no longer self-employed) you may be ok. We will update the information on this page as soon as we have further information
Best wishes,
Alannah
Please will you keep me updated on this as i asked the same question
My company is currently paying us each week by banking hours which we will be pay back when we do overtime also using holidaywhen we are back to normality, surely we should entitled to retention payment rather than using banking hours / 4 days personal holiday before Easter week. Your advice would be appreciated
Mark
Hi Mark,
This sounds very strange. Did your employer arrange this before the furlough scheme was announced? If there is no work for you then your employer is better off taking the grant and paying you. I am not an employment specialist but this sounds highly dubious. If you have a trade body or trade union you may want to seek further advice.
Otherwise there are some employment lawyers who are offering free advice related to Covid and you could seek these out.
I wish you the best of luck,
Alannah
Hi I registered self employed in may2019 as a sole trader (cleaner) … I earn under £10000 a year and now cannot work due to the COVID-19… am I able to claim loss of earnings? Or only if I’m ill ….
Hi Louise,
As you were not self employed before April 2019 the self-employed scheme will not apply to you.
You should claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support (if you pay Council Tax) as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated. Further information on these is given on these pages.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hiya,
Thanks so much for this!
Would I be correct in assuming that as I’m already on WTC and full Housing Benefit, I’d be better off staying put with my status quo (rather than applying for UC) and that my WTC will increase on 1st April as mentioned above?
Many thanks,
KK 🙂
Hi Karen,
The choice between tax credits and UC is a difficult one. At the moment we don’t know if the hours rules will apply during the virus period. If they do apply and you no longer meet the hours requirement you may need to move to UC anyway.
If they don’t apply and you have sufficient income to see you through the 5 week wait then you may be better off under Universal Credit as most people in work will receive more under Universal Credit. But if you are self-employed, the notional income used to assess support will come back into force in a years time and you will be significantly worse off so should remain with WTC.
If your WTC is enough to survive on at the moment you may be better off leaving this decision for a while as DWP is completely swamped with new claims.
You can use our calculator (the links are on this page) to give you a better understanding of what you could get and help to inform your decision.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi, I’m currently in the process of paying back a council tax debt which a percentage of my wages come out every week. The company I work for is paying me the 80% retention pay but I was wondering will the council tax payment still be coming out on top of this, this is going to leave me out of pocket quite badly during this pandemic
Hi Zen,
It is likely that the debt will continue to come out of the 80% of your wages. Organisations have been asked to be flexible about debt repayment. You should contact your council to see if they can halt these repayments for the period of the crisis.
Best of luck,
Alannah
I am self employed AND also receive Job seekers allowance due to my low income/profits last few years.
It seems I cannot get/qualify for this new grant as my average 3 year profit has been (a lot) lower than my JSA income.
And I dont/wouldn’t get the extra £20 week if I was on Universal Credit.
So now I cannot “top up” my earnings/profit due to “lockdown” restrictions. I also in past resorted to selling personnel items (on ebay) to make ends meet and I do “share” a child 50/50 but don’t get child benefit as mother gets it only.
Can I get any extra help as £73 per week is not enough for me and child as lots of price increases etc at the moment
Thank you
Hi Anthony,
As JSA is your main income you will qualify for the self-employed scheme. You may be able to switch to Universal Credit and so receive the additional £20/week.
You should contact the JCP to see if this is possible. If you switch to Universal Credit you will need to wait 5 weeks for your first payment. If this causes difficulty then you can get an advance that you repay over the next year.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi I am full time employed but have had 2 self isolate as considered as vunerable due to copd am I entitled to 80% wage scheme much appreciate any information on this my company is still operating.
Hi John,
Both the employer and employee need to agree to a person being furloughed. The scheme is intended to be used if the person would otherwise be made redundant. The complication is when a firm is doing fine during the crisis but some employees have to not work due to vulnerability. At the moment we think that in this situation the firm can still access the grant. We will post any further information on these pages once this is clarified.
You should discuss this with your personnel/HR department. it may be that they are planning to furlough some employees and you can be included. If you are not receiving any pay in the meantime (ie you are on unpaid leave) you should claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support (if you are liable for council tax). You should claim these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. Further information on these benefits are on this page.
I wish you the best of luck,
Alannah
Hello my parter has been let go from his company due to not enough work with Coronavirus (he may be able to return once this all gets better) and I have been asked to extend my maternity leave to the full year (my ssp has just ended) are we eligible for universal credit while we wait for the job retention scheme to kick in? Will he be eligible for the job retention scheme? Where do I stand with being ask to extend mat leave with no ssp now available Thank you Hollie
Hi Hollie,
If your husband has been laid off then as things stand his employer will not be able to claim the 80% grant for him. However, this may change as the scheme may allow those laid off before the scheme announcement to be rehired and so eligible for the grant. We will update these pages if we hear any more about this.
As your SSP has ended I am presuming your statutory maternity leave has also ended. In this case, your employer can access the 80% grant for you. I am not an employment specialist and you may want to seek advice about whether your employer can ask you to extend your leave if you do not wish to do so. If you have a trade body (eg a trade union) they may be able to advise you. Otherwise you could look for employment lawyers who are giving free advice during this crisis.
Even if you and your husband can be furloughed workers you should claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support in the meantime. Further information on these benefits is given on this page.
I wish you all the best of luck,
Alannah
Hi I’ve got a full time job which closed because it’s a restaurant and I’ve got part time job where I’m still working do I still get the 80% of my wages from the full time job when I’m working in my part time job still? Thank you
Hi Eva,
There is nothing stopping your full time job accessing the grant for your wages if you also have a part time job. Your employer will need to agree to class you as a furlough worker. Further information on this scheme is given on these pages.
Best wishes,
Alannah
I’ve been searching everywhere for an answer to this.
The Taxable Grant announced yesterday is to be included when working out income for working tax credit. It won;t be paid until June and will be a lump sum payment for three months intially but backdated to 1st March. The key thing I need to know is – will the whole lump sum be used for 2020/21’s Working Tax Credit or will it affect income for 2019/20?
Hi David,
We are still waiting for further information to understand this.
My initial thoughts are that it will count for the year in which it falls (ie 20/21). If I hear any more I will update these pages.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Thank you. It will really help when you have the information.
I started a new job on 10th March and after two weeks the company had to lay me off because of Covid-19’s effect on their business. They said they want to keep me on and would like to put me on furlough leave but because I wasn’t on the payroll on 28th February they can’t. Is there anything I can do?
Hi Katherine,
We are hearing from a number of people in a similar situation. Unfortuantely you do not fall within the provisions for this support.
Please see our advice on whether you are eligible for contributory JSA, Universal Credit, or Council Tax Support.
I am so sorry you find yourself in this situation and wish you the best of luck,
Alannah
Just looking at doing a new universal credit claim, am I right in putting 0 income for this year due to the covid-19 but saying I am employed, or do I need to put my profits up to now?
Hi Nicole,
That sounds like a sensible approach. DWP receives information from HMRC on taxable income in each benefits assessment period so if you are no longer earning they will have this information.
Once you have set up your claim you can use the journal to explain the situation.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi – I am currently receive working tax credits, child tax credits and council tax single occupancy support. I had recently started 2 new seasonal part time casual jobs of 9 hours and 8 hours per week. The first I worked only 2 shifts then had to self isolate and have since been informed the business has closed due to coronavirus and the second didn’t not start at all due to closure also. I am unclear reading all the support information what I need to do regarding my Working Tax Credit claim now and what other support I may be entitled to. Can you help?
Hi J,
We are waiting to see if the hours rules that apply to working tax credits will be ignored for the period of coronavirus. At the moment we do not know if this is the case.
If the rules are relaxed you will have the choice of remaining on WTC or claiming Universal Credit. If they are not relaxed, you will need to move to Universal Credit.
As you are usually in work, you may find that you get more benefit under Universal Credit in any case (you can see how much you would get by using our calculator, the link is on this page).
In any case, you should contact HMRC and let them know the situation and ensure they have details of your reduced income for tax credits from April.
You should also let the council know about your reduced income as this may affect the amount of Council Tax Support you can get.
We will be updating information on this page as soon as we have more details so do check back.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Will I be entiled if I have an employed income but have a self employed job that has been affected?
Hi Marcus,
You will have to have put in a self-assessment in 2018/19, be currently self employed, intend to remain self-employed and over half your taxable income comes from self-employment. If you receive less than half your taxable income from self-employment you will not qualify.
Best wishes,
Alannah
I am a student but rely on my work wage to make up my rent etc alongside my student loan. Will I still be able to get the 80% of my wages?
Hi Georgia,
There is no reason why your employer cannot include you in the scheme for furloughed workers. You should discuss this with your employer.
Best of luck,
Alannah
Hi, I was working by agency and my workplace was closed because of coronavirus. I rent a house with my partner (he still works). Which kind of benefits could I apply for?
Hi Barb,
If you were employed by the agency you may qualify for contributory JSA (sometimes called new-style JSA) if you have paid enough NI contributions.
Further details can be found on this page.
If you have less than £16,000 in savings you may qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support but this will depend on your partner’s income.
You can use our calculator (the links are on this page) to see if you would qualify. If you do qualify you should apply as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated.
Best wishes,
Alannah
I am self employed and under the new scheme for the grant is the net profit figure for last three years before capital allowances is taken off or after.
Hi Andrew,
We are still waiting to see full details but it looks like it will be related to taxable profit ie after capital allowances).
If we hear any more we will update these pages.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi. I started my job on the 16th of March and have had to take leave due to COVID 19 so I am not entitled to the 80% scheme who do I contact for help?
Hi Rachel,
I am sorry to hear this, it is really unfortunate for you. If you previously worked and paid national insurance you may qualify for Contributory JSA (often termed new-style JSA). If you have under £16,000 in savings you may also qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You should apply for all of these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated.
Further information on these benefits (together with links on how to apply) are given on these pages.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi
I am currently off work as I have been advised to as Asthmatic and key worker, trying to get my symptoms under control.
What help would I be entitled to during this period?
Hi Claire
Your employer may be accessing the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for some workers. If this is the case, they can claim 80% of your wages as a grant and continue to pay you. If your employer has not suffered loss of business due to coronavirus but you are not working due to health concerns, we are currently unsure whether your employer can access these grants. it is looking likely that this will be possible but we are awaiting further details. You should discuss this with your employer.
If your employer is not accessing the scheme, or if they are only going to pay you once they receive the grant, then you should claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You should claim these as soon as possible, even if you are waiting to hear from your employer, as they cannot be backdated.
Further information on these is given on these pages.
I wish you the best of luck,
Alannah
i am self employed but have only been since June 2019 before that i was paid by a company. What do i qualify for as i am slightly confused if i can get the self employed grant. I have no income at all at the present time. David
Hi David,
You will have completed an 18/19 self assessment form but qualification looks like it will depend on whether self-employment made up half of your taxable income. The relevant period is not entirely clear at the moment. The wording is “having trading profits/partnership trading profits in 2018-19 of less than £50,000 and these profits constitute more than half of your total taxable income” but there is no indication if it is half your taxable income from when self-employment started or for the entire tax year.
As soon as we have further information we will post it on these pages. If you do not qualify, HMRC will contact you (you do not have to apply). As you have no other income, if you have less than £16,000 savings you should claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated. you can find further information on these on this page.
I wish you the best of luck,
Alannah
If the employer furloughs me and this 80% takes me below National Living Wage / National Minimum Wage, am I entitled to claim the additional 20% from my company to bring me back up to that level?
Hi Dan,
Your company can only furlough you if you both agree to this. However, the alternative may be redundancy. The NMW does not apply to furloughed workers. If your income is below the NMW you may qualify for Universal Credit or Council Tax Support and should claim these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. Further information about these is on this page.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi I have my own business but am paid as an employee (director) can I claim the 80% of my income because my site has been shut down
Thanks
Hi Jon,
If you are paying yourself through PAYE you can furlough yourself and claim the 80% grant.
Best wishes,
Alannah
if a director has no work at present how can he or she furlough until things get back to normal. ie, not answer or send emails or make or take a phone call, bank a cheque or pay a bill?
Hi Michael,
Directors can use the furlough scheme to pay themselves 80% of their PAYE declared salary, up to £2,500. It does mean, however, that they cannot be working during the whole time that they use the scheme.
Best wishes
Hi i have 3 kids 1 has disabilities. I can work from home so i still get paid but due to spending practically double on shopping i am struggling with money. I receive working tax credit and child tax as i only work 20 hours per week. Is there any other help i can get at the moment.
Hi Sarah,
If your children received free school meals then the school should be supplying these throughout the COVID-19 period. This can be in the form of vouchers or food parcels. You should contact their school about this. Utility and mortgage companies are being flexible about payment during the crisis and it may be worthwhile speaking to your providers on arrangements to pay bills.
From April your WTC will increase by about £20/week – you do not need to apply for this it will be increased automatically. Finally, some councils have a discretionary welfare fund that may be able to help you through this period. you will need to contact your council to find out more.
I wish you the very best of luck,
Alanah
i am self employed but am not entitled to anything under the new scheme
i have tried claiming for universal credit but when they send an email to verify my email account it will not accept it
where do i go from here as i have no other income
Hi Tracey,
A lot of people are having difficulty with online verification. You need to contact the DWP to let them know that you cannot verify online.
Someone will call you back to arrange other methods of verification. They are very busy at the moment so this may take some time.
Best,
Alannah
Hi, I started a new job 4 weeks as a head chef in a cafe before the lockdown took into place and we have been closed since.
I have tried to contact my employer about the fourth weeks wage as we are paid weekly as i have not recieved it yet.
My question is, what do i do if my employer does not pay me and if he does pay me but contacts hmrc before putting my fourth weeks wage into the system, does that effect my 80% if only 3 weeks have been recorded by hmrc.
Also how long does my employer have for him to sort out the wages due as i have not recieved a payslip via email nor has anything gone threw the hmrc stating i have been paid.
Hi there,
The date from which you are furloughed has to be agreed between you and your employer. Your employer will need to inform HMRC of this and pay you at least 80% of the wages. It appears that many employers will only be paying wages once they receive this grant. Your employer needs to tell you if they are going to use this scheme.
If your employer decides to access the scheme, any outstanding wages will not affect the grant as this will be from the date you stopped work (even if you receive wages for periods before this). You are in a very tricky position as it appears your employer is not letting you know if they will be accessing this scheme or not.
If your employer is not accessing this scheme, or if they are waiting to pay you once they get the grant, or if you cannot contact your employer, you should not delay claiming Universal Credit and Council Tax Support (if you pay council tax) as these cannot be backdated. Further information on these is given on this page.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi,
I have been self-employed for less than a year and all future work has been cancelled. I live with my partner who had a job offer retracted (after leaving a full-time job) due to coronavirus and is now unemployed, We are private tenants. We seem to have fallen through the net regarding support from the government. We have no savings. What support is available to us? Universal credit doesn’t pay our rent and barely covers the basics needed to survive.
Hi Lewis,
If you have no income at all then Universal Credit will cover your rent up to the Local Housing Allowance. This is often substantially lower than rents but is being increased significantly form the 1st April 2020, you do not need to apply for this as the increase will happen automatically. If Universal Credit does not meet all of your rent, the local council has a pot of money called Discretionary Housing Payments which is intended to support those whose rent is not covered by other benefits.
You need to apply for this directly to the council (check the council’s web pages, the application is often online, or phone the switchboard and ask to be put through to the department handling Discretionary Housing Payments). If your UC is not paying anything at all towards your rent at the moment then it sounds like an error has occurred.
You can use our calculator (links on this page) to check how much support you should be getting. If rent support is not included in Your UC then contact the DWP as soon as possible.
If you are paying Council Tax you will also qualify for Council Tax Support. You can apply to your local council for this. You should apply as soon as possible as it cannot usually be backdated.
Universal Credit is also increasing by £20/week from April 2020 – you do not need to apply for this it will happen automatically.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi,
I would like to find out whether there is any change to the benefit cap from April 2020, following the recent changes due to coronavirus. I currently receive £1284 universal credit payment. My rent is £1230 per month. I am affected by the benefit cap at the moment. The government has increased the LHA and universal credit payment – am I likely to receive more or will I be affected by the benefit cap? If the benefit cap remains the same then I don’t understand why they increased the allowance if we can’t get it?!
Thanks in advance
Khalid
Hi Khalid
The benefit cap is remaining the same from April 2020. This means that you, and all those affected by the benefit cap, will not see an increase in income from April 2020. I am so sorry that you are in this situation and will not benefit from the increased generosity of the scheme from April.
Best wishes
I started a company in July 2019 and pay myself a small amount via PAYE. However I consider myself a freelancer as my business/work is taking on short contracts in events as a creative or producer. As such, can I furlough myself and if so, am I able to keep looking for work i.e. new contracts? The amount I receive from the PAYE scheme will be meager, can I apply for JSA as well or anything else as right now I am looking for anything, full time or contract. I don’t qualify for universal credit.
Thank you.
Hi Sheena,
If you pay yourself via PAYE you can qualify for the furlough scheme as long as you are not working. If you do any work you cannot qualify for this scheme. In order to claim JSA you would need to show that you are unemployed and available for work, if you are still working as self-employed it is unlikely you will meet these conditions. Universal Credit is the main option open to you so if your income falls further do check our calculator (available through these pages) to see if you qualify.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Can you tell me what happens if you’re self-employed but your income is from Air Bnb and has been put on previous SA returns as income from Property? I have paid full tax on these earnings each year.
All my bookings have now been cancelled and so I have little income but I do not have historic ‘trading’ income.
Hi Justine,
You are in a very tricky position. It is unlikely that you would qualify for the self-employment scheme and you will not be able to claim Universal Credit or Council Tax Support as you have assets worth over £16,000.
The only help I can think of is that some councils have welfare support schemes for those that fall through the welfare safety net. It is worth contacting your council to see if they operate one of these. I am sorry that this is such bleak news for you.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Good morning,
I’ve been told I wil be getting the 80% wage can you let me know when that will be paid and also my son has type 1 Diabites can I claim anything for him as don’t claim anything at the moment
Many thanks Catherine
Hi Catherine,
The grant to employers is likely to be paid from the end of April onwards and backdated to the date that you became furloughed (but no further than 1 March 2020). If you have no income in April you can claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if you have less than £16,000 savings. you should claim these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. Further information on these is given on this page.
If your son has mobility or care needs due to his diabetes you may be able to claim Disability Living Allowance. Whether you qualify will be dependant on how much support your son needs. you can find more information here https://www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children
I wish you all the best of luck,
Alannah
Good morning,
Apologies if this has already been asked but there were a lot of queries to scroll through.
I started a new job with a new employer on 2nd March. They have agreed to cover my March wage in full and put me on furlough leave effective from 1st April as I will no longer have any work to be able to work from home.
Will I be eligible to receive the 80% wage? I have been told that you have to have been employed and been on there payroll for February?
Many thanks in advance
Hi Rebecca,
As you started after the 28th February your employer will not qualify for the furlough scheme in respect of you and so will not be able to receive a grant for 80% of your wages. This does not mean that the employer cannot continue to pay you through this period.
This decision will have to be made by your employer. If your employer cannot afford to continue to pay you and you are on unpaid leave you should claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated.
Further details of these are given on this page.
Best,
Alannah
Myself and my friend co-childmind and due to Covid-19 we’ve been forced to close our business. I have 2 children and have not been entitled to benefits up until this point due to self employed income from mine and my husband’s wages, we’re both self employed. As we only opened our childminding business in May 2019, we did not submit a tax return for 18/19 so are not eligible for the latest support offered by the government. I’m confused as to what support we should be getting? At the moment my husband is still working but it’s looking as though that may soon come to an end. We have a mortgage and I’m extremely nervous as to what happens next and can’t seem to get a straight answer with regards to our entitlement. Also, myself and my business partner are uncertain if we should still be asking for a contribution from the parents of the children that we care for in our childminding setting. My working hours have been reduced to zero and we feel this would only be fair but haven’t asked the parents as of yet. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you x
Hi Jane,
You are correct in that you will not be able to claim the self-employed grant, there is not enough information about your husband’s business to tell if he can access the grant or not.
Further information on eligibility is given on this page and he may want to look at that. You should put in a claim for Universal Credit and Council tax Support at the earliest opportunity as these cannot be backdated (information on these is given on these pages). You can claim these if you are working or not working so should not delay applying. You may also want to consider contacting your mortgage company to arrange a payment holiday. All mortgage companies are offering this during this period.
If the families you childmind for are receiving tax credits then the support for childcare will not cease during the COVID-19 crisis and they may be able to continue to pay something to retain your services. If your clients receive childcare support through Universal Credit this is likely to cease during this period as it relates to the period in which the childcare is accessed. In the end this is a business decision you will need to make about whether you charge a retainer or not. It may be worth talking to your clients about this.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Myself and my friend co-childmind and due to Covid-19 we’ve been forced to close our business. I have 4 children and currently in receipt of housing benefit, and child tax credits (including working tax credit) due to low income. As we only opened our business in May 2019, we did not submit a tax return for 18/19 so are not eligible for the latest support offered by the government. I’m confused as to what benefits I’m entitled to? I’ve been advised that if possible I’m better off on tax credits rather than changing over to universal credit due to benefit cap. However my working hours have been reduced to zero. Please help x
Hi Penny,
Have a look at the response to Jane (above). You also have different considerations regarding the move to Universal Credit or not. At the moment we do not know if the hours rules for tax credits will apply during the covid19 crisis. It looks like these may be overlooked for this period, in which case you can remain on tax credits.
If the hours rules remain and your hours drop below the level applicable to your circumstances (usually 16 hours) or HMRC see your business as no longer viable, then you may have to move to Universal Credit. If this is the case then the Benefit Cap may apply. You can use our calculator (link on this page) to see the difference in income under Universal Credit and whether the cap will apply or not.
When we know more details about how tax credits will apply during this crisis we will post this on this page so do check back.
I wish you all the best of luck.
Alannah
Hi,i currently work 16 hours a week and recieve working tax credit with a disability element.I am furloughed at the moment due to the crisis.I am very concerned that due to the drop in hours i may lose the working tax disability element.Is the wtc likely to be continued while this situation remains ?, thanks.
Hi Shaun,
At the moment we don’t know if the hours rules will apply during the COVID-19 crisis.
We have heard that they may not. As soon as we have further information we will post details on this site so do check back.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi there; I’ve just been laid off for 3 months on the governments 80% payment scheme. Will this 80% pay be taxable at the current 20% would this mean we would most likely see 60% as opposed to 80%? I need to work out my finances and this is something I need to consider should I have to look for an alternative part time job. Would I also be allowed to find an alternative part time job s in delivery service or something (less risk of contact) whilst on the 80% to make up the extra 20%?
Hi Reese,
The pay for furloughed workers will be taxable. You can put this into our calculator (see the link on this page) to see how much that will work out as net. If you took a part time job that would not affect this pay as long as it isn’t for the same employer.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi there appears to be no thought or provision for those who have recently transitioned from being employed to self employed and cannot submit a return for 2018-2019? How can an entire section of self employed people be left with no provision it seems totally unfair to have an arbitrary cut off point like this. Both my husband and son are in this position. Both became self employed in November 2019. Can you help, or is there going to be anything put in for this group at a later stage?
Hi Lisa,
From the questions on this page there seem to be a lot of people in this position. At the moment we have not heard of anything that is being planned for this group as the Government says it is impossible to ascertain relevant taxable income.
Organisations that support people on low-income are still making representations to government about those that are not covered by current schemes so there may be some movement. If we hear of anything we will update these pages.
In the meantime, if you have savings under £16,000 you should claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated (information on these in on this page).
This is really unfortunate for you and your husband.
I wish you both the best of luck.
Alannah
Hi, my 12 year old daughter has asthma so is identified as vulnerable (although we haven’t had letter from doctor yet), we have been self isolating due to my having some symptoms but I’m due to go back to work on Monday. Obviously, i dont want to leave my child at home alone (I’m a single parent). My work is identified as key work would I still be able to ask my employer to furlough me at the 80% of wage rate or will I have to leave my employment and claim benefits.
Hi Jayne,
If you are a key worker your daughter may still be able to go to school – you should contact the school to see if this is possible.
We do not yet know if the furlough scheme applies to workers who are not working due to health reasons, it was intended to protect those who would otherwise have been made redundant. It looks like this may be extended to your circumstance but we don’t yet know the details. You may wish to contact your employer because if they are furloughing staff, you could be included.
Once we have more details on the scheme we will update the information on this page so do check back.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hello,
I resigned from my previous role late last year to take an extended break over Christmas. I started looking for work in February 2020, but clearly with the Coronavirus outbreak this is now proving very difficult.
Should I contact my previous full-time employer regarding the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and asked to placed on furlough? I’m a PAYE employee.
Thank you,
Alex.
Hi Alex,
This is slightly confusing as you mentioned that you have resigned and also that you are PAYE. If you are still PAYE and your resignation has not taken effect yet your employer may be able to consider your for the furlough scheme. We do not yet know if they will have to provide an undertaking that they will attempt continuous employment or not. And this may affect your situation.
If your resignation has taken effect, you will not be eligible for the scheme. If you are not receiving any income and have under £16,000 in savings you should consider claiming Universal Credit and Council tax Support.
You should claim these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi, can I claim universal credit if I am being furloughed and if so, do I put in my ‘usual’ income or my 80% furloughed income for the UC claim ?
Thank you
Hi Sonia,
This will depend if your employer is paying you now or waiting until they receive the grant. If they are paying you now and at 80% put that down. If you are not being paid anything whilst your employer waits for the grant, then enter 0.
You should explain the situation to DWP.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi, I left a self employed job on Feb 29th 2020 & started on PAYE on March 2nd.
I’m aware I fall short to claim furlough for my ne PAYE job but can I claim Furlough for my previous self employed job? Even tho I’m technically not self employed anymore?
Cheers.
Hi Richard,
This is really unfortunate timing for you. Unfortunately you will not fall into either scheme. The self-employed schemes require you to have been self-employed in 18/19, still self employed, and planning on continuous self-employment.
Obviously this doesn’t fit with your situation. The only support available is Universal Credit and Council Tax Support.
Further information on these is given on these pages.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi. I’m self employed, I have had my own cafe since Nov 2018 the only tax returns that have gone in are Nov 18/April 19. I’m confused in what I can claim. I’m a single mother of 2 on a low income
Hi Kate,
The advice around this is that self-employment must have made up half your income in 2018/19. But we do not yet know if that is across the whole of 18/19 or just the self-employed period. If it is across the whole year, you may not be eligible for the scheme depending on other income.
If it is just during the self-employed period, then you are likely to be eligible. HMRC will be contacting all those that are eligible in the next couple of months. If we find out any more information we will update these pages so do check back. If you have savings under £16,000 you should claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated.
Even if you are eligible for the self employed grant there may be a couple of months without any income and you should qualify for support during this period. Further information on these is given on this page.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi, my question is that if I am still on my probation period, would I still qualify to get 80% of my wages? Look forward to your reply. Thank you!
Hi there,
This will not affect your ability to be considered for this scheme.
Best,
Alannah
I am due to leave work on 31 March 2020. As not enough work to work from home, my employer asked me to take annual leave from 17 March up yo 31 March. Should I be entitled to furlough payment instead?
Please clarify. Thank you.
Hi Maureen,
The decision on whether to apply for the scheme rests with the employer. If you are leaving your work on the 31 March and not being retained as an employee then it is unlikely that your employer will furlough you for this period.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hello.. i will receive 80% of my wage while I’m at home. However it will be capped at £2500 There’s a lot of information about different subjects which I get lost in. Can I claim universal credit or claim anything else aswell? I’m also a single parent and pay mortgage etc. Thanks
Hi Wayne,
You can apply for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if you have less than £16,000 in savings.
Whether you qualify will depend on your income. You can use our calculator (the links are on this page) to see if you would qualify.
Best wishes,
Alannah
A close friend who is a self employed electrician has told me that he is not entitled to a penny under the self employed grant scheme because his partner works. Is that really the case or has there been a misunderstanding? His partner is on what I would suspect to be average earnings or less. I’d love to be able to reassure him that he has been misinformed.
Hi Brian,
I think your friend is muddling this scheme with means-tested benefits. If he is self-employed and meets the other conditions for the scheme (these are set out on these pages) then he will be contacted by HMRC and invited to claim. The employment situation of his partner does not affect this.
Best wishes
Could you please help. I’m a employee who as been asked to take the retention pay. While they continue to employ a self employed worker. It’s trying to.es for us all but is this legal
Hi Brian
The guidance around the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is that the employer should decide who to furlough. But as an employee, you have to agree to this. If you don’t agree to be furloughed the employer will need to make a decision about retaining you without furlough or making you redundant.
Best wishes
I cannot go to work because I’m in a high risk category for 12 weeks, my partner is still working, my boss is ignoring the asks for help from me for SSP payments, he won’t pay it because he’s in a financial mess and doesn’t have the money to pay me up front before claiming it back, so am I entitled to claim anything if my partner is working full time
Hi Wendy,
You need to actually have Covid-19, or be living with someone who has it, or self-isolating for 14 days because you have been in contact with someone who has it, to qualify for Sick Pay. So it may be that you do not qualify for SSP in your circumstances. If this is the case, your employer can class you as a furloughed worker if you are not undertaking any work and should be continuing to pay your wages (or at least 80% of your wages) and he will be reimbursed in June. However, some employers are waiting to get the grant before paying wages. If your employer is going to claim this grant, he should write to you and let you know. If your employer is waiting to receive the grant, or is not retaining you as a furloughed worker, and you have less than £16,000 savings you may qualify for Universal Credit or Council Tax Support. But this will depend on your husband’s income. You can check to see if you qualify by using our calculator here.
I hope this works out for you and wish you the best of luck.
I received a job offer which I accepted it has now been withdrawn due to COVID 19 I am on JSA due to being made redundant in Jan .Prior to this I have been in full time employment for38 years.
Can I claim furlough ?
Hi Virginia,
That is such unfortunate timing for you.
The employer must decide which workers are being furloughed. As your job offer has been withdrawn and you are not an employee, the employer will not be able to claim this for you. If you have less than £16,000 savings then you may be able to top-up your JSA with Universal Credit. If you qualify, this will be paid in addition to your JSA. You can use our calculator to see if you would qualify.
Hi, in light of the announcements, I’m not sure if the support will cover me
My situation is
2016-2017 submitted below 50k profit
2017-2018 submitted non resident for financial year with some uk income below threshold.
2018-2019 submitted above 50k profit.
Will I qualify for the support package?
Thanks
Hi Jeff
It will depend on whether the requirement for the 3 year averaging relies on having self-employment returns for all the 3 years. I think this is likely in which case you would not qualify. I cannot be certain until further details are published. You could be one of those that slip through the net on this. I am so sorry that we cannot be of further assistance, but we are updating our help pages as soon as further details become available so do check back.
Best wishes
Can a self employed person stay in work while a employee is sent home on job retention pay
Hi Brian,
I’m not an employment specialist but as far as I know there aren’t any rules about this it is up to the employer. It may be that the employer retained the self-employed person as details of the support scheme for the self-employed was only announced yesterday.
Best wishes
Hi, I am desperate need of help. I have only been self-employed for 1 month so the chancellors package today does not help me at all. My partner has been made ‘furloughed’ – I am trying to complete a universal credit application but I do not know if I need to put him down as working or not. When I put Yes, it asks me how many hours he works? It then confirms at the end ‘You currently work 35 hours a week.’ Of course at the moment he works zero hours per week as he furloughed. Do I enter him as YES he is employed and working or NO? Also I own my own home, he lives with me but doesn’t own the house or pay the mortgage – will I receive any help for that? What benefits am I entitled to? We have no children.
Hi Chloe
I am so sorry that you fall into the group that cannot get the self-employed support.
I have not yet seen guidance on how to complete the UC application if a person is furloughed. Your partner has been retained as an employee so I would suggest that you put Yes and the contracted hours. In the notes section I would enter that your partner has been furloughed and also make a note if he is not being paid until the employer receives the grant. The DWP will look at the amount he is paid through PAYE (they get this information automatically) and it will show if he has not been paid or if the employer is continuing payment prior to getting the grant. You should not let this hold up your application as UC cannot be backdated so you need to apply as soon as possible. If the DWP have any queries regarding the information you enter then at least your claim date will stand.
Under UC you cannot get a loan to help with mortgage payments until you have been in receipt of UC for 9 months. However, mortgage companies have been instructed to allow 3 month payment holidays during the Covid19 crisis. You should contact your mortgage company to arrange this.
You also need to apply for Council Tax Support from your local council as soon as possible. Some councils do not allow backdating.
I wish you all the best
Hi I started my business up in December 2017. I understand that they will work out the average of the 17/18 and 18/19 tax year total profits, but will they work the average out over the full two years or the 16 months that I was trading?
Hi Chloe
We don’t have all the details yet but I imagine it will be over the trading months, ie the period of self-employment. We will update our help pages if we hear differently so do check back.
Best wishes
Hi, I am self employed and am now out of work from Monday. I have calculated that the govt grants will pay me £2200 p/m in June backdated from March.
In the meantime though I would be living on an income of £200 net property income, and my wife’s maternity allowance of around £500 p/m plus child benefit.
I have savings of £3k saved to pay toward my tax bill in july (am aware this can be put off till Jan if needed)
I have 4 dependent children, born 2005,2008,2017,2019
Do I apply for UV to tide me over until the grants get paid in June? Not clear in govt advice if they conflict as I suppose I’m technically getting a backdated income for the period though not paid for 3 months.
Hi Sam,
If you are getting income from property you may not qualify for UC as you may be deemed to have capital over £16,000. However, if this is also the home you live in then this capital rule is ignored.
If you do not have capital over £16,000 then you should apply for UC and Council Tax Support as soon as possible as these cant be backdated. You can use our calculator to see how much you could get. Universal Credit is based on the income in a monthly assessment period, so if you did not get the grant in that period, it will not be counted as income. Your UC will be based on your current trading profits and other household income.
If you do qualify, UC should tide you over, but you will only get support for children born before April 2016. UK benefits only take into account the first two children but an exception is made for children born before April 2016. There is also a 5 week wait for first payment, but you can ask for an advance loan to see you through this period.
Best wishes
I believe if eligible the Covid19 grant for self employed people will be paid in June, but backdated by 3 months to March? If a self employed person claims universal credit from March, will any payments made by UC be recovered when the grant is paid (as the grant will cover March -May and UC will have been paid March-May)? I can’t seem to find a definitive answer.
Hi Alan,
I don’t think there is a definitive answer yet but as far as I understand it there is no plan to change the UC regulations. In order to take the grant into account regulation change would be required as UC is based on income received in the assessment period. The grant will not actually reach the bank account in the assessment period so does not count as income for UC purposes.
If I find any more information, I will update our help pages so do check back.
Best
Hi, as from the 30 March 2020, we have been told that we have to go onto this 80% scheme due to the lack of work. Now we been told if work comes in we have been told that someone has to cover it, if we do this job and others ie 3 to 4 jobs in the month, do we still have the right for the 80% scheme that the government put into place or do we loss it
Hi Chris
The guidance so far is clear that you cannot do any work if you are a furloughed worker. In order for you to do any work, you would have to not be furloughed for a period. But this is complicated as there are limits on how often your employer can make changes with HMRC. Your employer needs to be aware that they will not get the grant if you work. There is guidance for your employer on the gov.uk website which may help them with this.
Best wishes
Hi, I’m a full time carer to my mother and now the kids are at home it’s a struggle, will I be entitled to extra help? I’m currently on Universal Credits
Hi Sarah,
In April your Universal Credit will increase. Most claimants will get about £90/month increase. You do not need to claim this – it will happen automatically. Child benefit and your Carers Allowance will also increase from April.
If your children received free school meals, then the school should continue to supply these over the coronavirus period. How they do this is up to the school. Some schools are delivering meals, others are giving vouchers. You will need to contact the school for more information.
If you have a mortgage, you can ask your mortgage company for a mortgage holiday for 3 months. If you are renting your property you should try to continue to pay the rent but contact your landlord to see if there is any leeway for other payment arrangements.
I hope you and your family stay well and wish you all the best
My daughter is at high-risk and been told to self-isolate until the outbreak ends, I work at superstore and my employer won’t pay me SSP, as I’m told there is no law that they must pay me for looking after her or not being able to come to work because of her.
This means I will loose out my pay for potentially upto 12 weeks.
What can I do?
Hi,
This is a difficult situation for you. Unfortunately, your employer is right, you can only qualify for SSP if you or a member of your family is ill from the virus or you are caring for someone ill from the virus.
If you are not able to work and have less than £16,000 in savings, you should claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support as soon as possible as this cannot be backdated. You can use our calculator to see how much you could get. The calculator also has links to the pages for application.
I wish you and your daughter all the best in this difficult situation
Hi I’ve been temp laid off from work and will receive 80% of my wage do I need to let tax credits know this as I receive working tax and family tax credit?
Hi Karen,
Your wages can change for 4 weeks without needing to inform tax credits. After 4 weeks of continuous drop you should let them know. Also, make sure that you let them know how your drop in earnings for a few months for the tax year 2020/21 will affect your estimated earnings in that year. This will ensure that from April, your tax credits take account of reduced earnings.
Best wishes
Hi we had to start the application for Universal credit at the start of the week as we were wary of the uncertainly my husbands self employed and we had to decide he can’t work at the moment due to the risk as I’m 7 months pregnant. We haven’t completed the universal credit application yet need to verify our identity but should we not do this until we know if he’s eligible for the new scheme announced tonight? We believe he is but didn’t want to loose the chance of Universal credit if not.
Hi Kelly,
If your husband is eligible for the scheme, he will not receive the grant until July so you should claim UC in the meantime. It is best to complete the claim as soon as possible as this cannot be backdated. You could also get help with Council Tax from your local council through their Council Tax Reduction Scheme. Again, claim this as soon as possible. I would suggest that you make the claim and explain your circumstances clearly to the DWP. You are likely to be eligible for UC until the grant is received.
Best wishes
Thank you so this won’t Jeopardise what we get from the grant or cancel it completely as what UC offers unfortunately will not support us enough
Hi Kelly,
Universal Credit is calculated on the income you receive in a calendar month so if the grant does not come in in that month, then you are eligible for UC support.
This will not jeopardise the grant.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Thank you very much for this information
Hello, I’m currently a mature full time student and was self-employed working evenings and weekends before COVID-19, what benefits can I claim? I have rent and bills to pay.
Hi Angela,
Fulltime students can only claim Universal Credit if they have a child or receive disability benefits. If either of these are applicable, then you should claim UC straight away.
You may be eligible for the Self-employment Income Support Scheme if you filed a self assessment form for the year up to April 2019.
If you are not eligible for either of these it means that there are no mainstream benefits available for your situation. However, some local authorities have local welfare support schemes and I would advise contacting your council to see if you can get support.
I wish you the best of luck
We were told today that we may all be at a risk of redundancy with no future assurance of returning to work. I have been with this company for 7 months. What should I do?
Hi Priyanka,
I am so sorry to hear about your situation. If your employer is not retaining you and you have less than £16,000 in savings you should apply for Universal Credit as soon as possible as it cannot be backdated. If you pay Council Tax you should also apply for Council Tax Support from your local council. If you have paid sufficient National Insurance in the two years to April 2020 you may also qualify for NI based JSA (sometimes called new-style JSA). Further details about this are given on these advice pages. You can get NI based JSA even if you have savings over £16,000 and any JSA you get will be deducted from your Universal Credit so if you are eligible for both you should claim both of these. You can see the benefits you could get by using our calculator.
I wish you all the best
What about individuals who have become self employed 4 or 5 moths ago. They won’t have 12 months accounts to show! Does this mean there will be no support for them, how is it ok to just have a cut off point like that. There will be thousands of people in this position. Also what are we supposed to do in the mean time to buy food and electric, money will run out long before our applications for any benefits are even processed?? A lot of people who are self employed are on a low wage so will to have savings etc to carry them through.
Hi Lisa,
The Self-employed Income Support Scheme does not cover those who became self-employed after April 2019. If you are in this position, then you should apply for Universal Credit (and Council tax Support if you pay Council Tax). These should be claimed as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. There is a 5 week wait for payment but you can ask for an advance immediately you have claimed. The DWP is extremely busy dealing with claims at the moment and there will inevitably be delays but most people should be able to get an advance before the payment date.
It is really unfortunate for those finding themselves in this position and I wish you the best of luck.
Hi I’m self employed, I have paid by taxes and Ni for the last 3 years.
I’ve just put in a claim for ESA as I’m currently self isolating with my son who is symptomatic of the virus.
I’ve just heard that self employed are entitled to receive up to 80% grant of their wage. I already receive tax credits alongside my usual income, Will this affect me getting the self employed 80% grant?
Also claiming the ESA at the moment will that get taken off my grant in June?
Thank you
Hi Ashleigh,
Your tax credits will not affect your eligibility to this grant. As for your contributory ESA, you can only get this whilst ill or self-isolating, so by the time the 80% self-employed grant goes live in June you may no-longer be self-isolating.
If you qualify, HMRC will be in contact with you and ask you to complete a form. You will need to show that you are currently self-employed and intend to carry on with self-employment.
At the moment we are not sure of the details but it may be that if you are still in receipt of ESA when you complete the form this may be taken as proof that you are now ill and not actively self-employed. As your ESA should have ended by then, this should not be a problem. If we get any further information we will publish it on these pages.
Any ESA you receive in the meantime will not be deducted from the grant.
I hope this helps. Do let us know if you have any further questions.
Alannah
Hi im self employed
Currently receiving working tax credit
And my stay at home wife receiving child tax credit.
As I wont be able to go to work in the near future would I be eligible for the 80% wage grant. And would I still stay on tax credits?
Hi Kason,
If you have filed tax returns for the 2018/19 financial year, and your profits from self-employment are up to £50,000 then you should be eligible for the new income support scheme. If you have not yet filed your tax returns for 2018/19, the government has extended the deadline to 23rd April, so you still have time to submit them. Your tax credit status should not be affected by receiving the 80% income support.
I hope this helps. Do let us know if you have any further questions.
My partner and I own a guest house and therefore have no income but have savings.
I undrstand the principle of the new self employed benefit but is the grant worked out on profit for March/April/May only for the last 3 years or is it the yearly average?
Hi Ros,
The grant will be based on your last 3 years profit (or less if you were self-employed for less than 3 years). The amount will be 80% of your average profits over the last 3 years, up to a maximum of £2500/month. You will also only be eligible if profits were less than £50,000 in the 2018/19 financial year (or averaged less than £50,000/year for the years 2016-2019).
I hope this helps. Do let us know if you have any further questions.
I am 18 yrs old and started working self employed in November 2019, do I qualify for the 80% grant the government are offering due to the pandemic. We have been stopped from working since 23/3 /2020.
Hi Aidan,
In order to qualify for the new self-employed income support scheme you need to have filed tax returns for the 2018/19 financial year, so would need to have been self-employed before April 2019. So, as it currently stands, you would not be eligible for the scheme. If you have savings of less than £16,000, you may be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support – you can check your eligibility and how much you can claim using our free online calculator.
It’s also worth saying that the details of the self-employment scheme are still emerging, so I would recommend regularly checking back on this FAQ page which we are updating as soon as new concrete guidance is released.
I hope this helps. Do let us know if you have any further questions.
Hi ive just started work for a new company been there about 4 week will i get my 80% wage i was just about to get contract and if yes when do you think i will get a payment
Hi Sue,
In order for employees to have your wages covered by the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, your employer will need to apply to access the grant. If they do so, and you are on the company’s payroll system with HMRC, then you should be able to get your wages covered. For this to happen, they need to notify you in writing that you will continue to be an employee, but will not be working (this is called being a ‘furloughed worker’).
The way the scheme works is that employers must continue to pay you at least 80% of your wages for the period in which you are not working. The wages they pay you during this time will be reimbursed to your employer, most likely starting at the end of April. However, they can claim reimbursement for wages paid to non-workers back to the beginning of March. This means that if your employer chooses to apply for the scheme, you will receive your wages from them as normal (at least 80% of your wages – and the government is encouraging employers to top wages up to 100%).
I should say though that exact details of the scheme have not yet been released. Keep an eye on our FAQ page, which we will update as soon as new information is released.
I hope this helps. Do let us know if you have any further questions.
I started back at my job on the 6th march so will probably not be covered for the furlough scheme,what should I do and where do I stand
Hi Daniel
You are only eligible for the furlough scheme for the employer you were with on 28th February so if you started on 6th March you will not qualify. If you have less than £16,000 savings you may qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You should claim these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. You can use the calculator (links on this site) to see how much you could get.
Best wishes
Hi, I became self employed in July 2019 and have not had to complete a tax return yet. I currently have no work as work as a self employed domestic cleaner. Is there any support that I can get
Alex
Hi Alex,
In order to qualify for the new income support scheme you need to have been working as self-employed before the end of the 2018/19 financial year (so up to April 2019). Because of that, as it stands I don’t think you will be eligible for the self-employment income support scheme. If you have savings of less than £16,000, you may be eligible for Universal Credit. You can check your eligibility and how much you can claim using our free online calculator.
I hope this helps. Do let us know if you have any further questions.
Hi thanks for your help. I have been working 16 hours a week and am still on universal
Credits. My work place has now closed and I am no longer earning. Do I need to report this to UC or will HMRC report that I am no longer earning and therefore payments will be adjusted automatically? I am due another payment in April and want to make sure that they are aware I am not earning. Many thanks x
Hi Sam,
If you are still employed but on zero earnings, your employer can apply for the new Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, where the government will cover 80% of your wages for as long as your remain on zero earnings.
In the meantime, your Universal Credit will be adjusted automatically to take into account your lack of earnings. However, if you lost your job, you will need to notify Universal Credit that your employment status has changed.
I hope this helps.
Do let us know if you have any further questions,
Alannah
Hi. My work has closed tempory so we are receiving the 80% of our wage. I was on 30hours which I revieced working tax credit so wiil my tax credit stop as you are required 30hours
Thank you
Hi
The most recent advice we have received is that the changed hours rules for tax credits may be extended for the coronavirus period. This means that you will be able to continue to be eligible for tax credits if your hours drop due to being furloughed. At the moment you should tell HMRC if your hours fall for more than 4 weeks. We have heard that this is about to be extended to 8 weeks and could then be further extended. We have not yet seen the regulations but once we do we will update the advice on these pages. For now, you should let HMRC know after 4 weeks as usual and let them know you are furloughed.
Best wishes
I was self employed on a part time basis from 2010-17 as a yoga teacher. I then worked as PAYE for a charity for 21 hours from 2017-19, and was only self employed as a yoga teacher on a part time basis around this – I taught just a few classes due to the demands of the other charity job. Since April 2019 last year after my contract at the charity finished, I have been self employed again full time as a yoga teacher and totally rely on this income to bring up my 2 teenagers alone (I also get WFTC each week). From what I gather though, I won’t be eligible for this new grant as I’ve only been full time self employed for less than one tax year? I am still teaching online yoga, but it’s a quantum leap and obviously not earning anything like enough to live on at the moment, as the people I teach are all in a similar boat with Covid19 and I just offer that they pay what they can if anything to access classes at the moment. What should I do, and will I quality for this S E grant? I will let WFTC know my income this year will probably be less than when I worked at the charity?
Hi Naomi,
As far as we understand it, in order to qualify for the new income support scheme, self-employment needs to have provided the majority of your income for the 2018/19 financial year. So I think you are right that you would not be eligible. If you have less than £16,000 in savings, you may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You may also be eligible for Child Benefit, if you are not claiming it already. If you would like to check exactly which benefits you are eligible for, and how much support you could receive, you can use our free online calculator. If you have any questions about the calculator, do let us know through the built-in help function.
I hope this helps, but please do let us know if you have any further questions.
Hi,
I got laid off last week (I work 5 hours a day 3 days a week) and my husband is self employed but now unable to work because of coronavirus, once I have been paid on Tuesday, including my week notice pay, we won’t have any further income, we have a mortgage holiday for 3 months and have put the council tax back 2 months, we have an 11 year old and 2 year old, what can we do?!
Many thanks
Hi Jase,
There are a few options open to you:
– If you have made sufficient National Insurance contributions over the past two years, you may be eligible for contributory Job Seekers Allowance.
– If you have less than £16,000 in savings, you may be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support.
– If your husband was self-employed during the 2018-19 financial year (and has submitted tax returns for that year) he would be eligible for the government’s newly announced Self-employment Income Support Scheme, which would provide him with 80% of his average wages (based on the last 3 years).
– You can claim Child Benefit if you are not already.
You can check your exact eligibility for all of these (except the Self-employment Income Support Scheme, as the government has not released the full details of this yet) using our free online calculator. If you have any questions about the calculator, do let us know through the built-in help function.
I hope this helps, but please do let us know if you have any further questions.
Me and my husband both self employed and had to stop working due to Coronavirus close down our business. We not going to have any income if we cannot work. Which benefit shall we apply for? Universal credit or 80% of self assessment benefit?
Hi Szilvia,
You can apply for Universal Credit right away if you have less than £16,000 in savings. The 80% of self-employment earnings you may receive through the new Self-employment Income Support Scheme will only begin from June.
It will be backdated, but if you need support in the meantime then Universal Credit is your best bet. You will also only be eligible for the self-employment grant if you have submitted tax returns for the 2018/19 financial year. The government has extended the deadline to April 23, so you still have time to submit these if you haven’t already.
You can check your exact eligibility for UC using our free online calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. If you have any questions about the calculator, do let us know through the built-in help function.
I hope this helps, but please do let us know if you have any further questions.
Alannah
Can I ask my employer to furlong me since I now can’t work from home as I need to look after my 19 month old? Usual carer is in 70’s and nursery closed unless a key worker- my husband is a key worker but not happy still sending little one to nursery. Please help!
Hi Sarah,
The decision to furlough must be made by the employer and the employee. If your employer is furloughing employees they may be able to include you. However at the moment, if your employer is not seeing a loss of business due to the crisis, this may not apply.
We are unsure whether an employer will be able to furlough you due to health reasons (rather than business reasons).
It is looking likely that this may be the case but we are awaiting further information.
As soon as we know anything else we will update the information on these pages.
Best wishes,
Alannah
As we have not yet reached the Financial Year End 2019/20 (6 April 2020) I think you will find that the Grants you are referring to for the Self Employed is Tax Returns for 2016-17 2017-18 and 2018-19 I could be wrong and please do check it but you may wish to amend 2019/20 to read 2018/19
Hi Margaret,
Thank-you very much for picking up on this – lots of changes happening very quickly right now and we missed that. It should be updated to the correct dates now. It is worth noting that although the self-employment grant requires tax returns from the financial year 2018/19, you must have been trading as self-employed in the tax year 2019-20, be trading when you apply (or would be except for COVID-19), and intend to continue to trade in the tax year 2020-21.
I’ve been self employed for 18 months but before I was paye will I get the 80% payment
Hi Simon,
In order to receive the 80% grant you need to have received the majority of your income from self-employment during the 2018-19 financial year, and to have submitted tax returns for that year. The government has extended the tax return deadline to April 23 so you still have time to submit if you have not already. As you have been self-employed for 18 months, by the sound of it you should be eligible. However, the government have not yet released detailed information on the new scheme. I’d recommend you keep an eye on this FAQ page, which we are updating as soon as new information becomes available.
I hope this helps, but please do let us know if you have any further questions.
Hi
My husband has been on paye for 1 year he started his new job on the 2nd March 2020 they have just emailed to say his not entitled to the furlough because he started after 28feb what other help can we get ?
Hi Emma,
This is really unfortunate for you. If your husband is being retained by the company (ie not laid off) he won’t be able to claim contributory JSA. Depending on your income, if you have savings below £16,000 you may be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support (from your local council).
Further details of these are given on this site.
You can also use the calculator (links on this site) to see how much you would get.
Best wishes,
Alannah
When will government guidelines come out as my company only go off them like for the average off last 5 weeks pay?
Hi Simon,
Unfortunately we don’t know exactly when the government will release new information. For example, it took a couple of days for more detailed information to be be released about the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. However, when new information is released we will be updating our FAQ page immediately, so you might find it useful to keep an eye on this page.
Sorry not to be able to provide more concrete information, but we’ll be sure to update our guidance as soon as we possibly can.
I am self employed but only since July 2019. AlthougjI have a UTR number but have not filed a tax return yet as was due to do that this July. My husband works so cant claim UC according to the calculator. I am the main wage earner and down to zero income as my job involves close contact. My husbands wage doesnt cover the majority of our bills. It seems I cant claim anything even thougj i have worked all my adult life apart from University.
Hi Clare,
Given the circumstances as you describe Universal Credit is the main option for support.
Have you checked your eligibility as a household with your earnings at zero? In most cases, if your husband’s income is not sufficient to cover the majority of bills we would expect you to be eligible for support.
You can still claim Universal Credit even if one member of the household is in work. If there’s anything we can help with when you’re using https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free, do let us know through the built-in help function.
I hope this helps, but please do let us know if you have any further questions.
Alannah
Hi when will we find out if it’s definitely going to be an average as company I work only going off government guidance and atm they saying 80% off contract which in my case is 40 hrs but in nine years I have never just done 40 hrs more like 57 ish atm I stand to only get paid roughly 50 60% off my pay atm. Thanks simon
Hi Simon,
We are awaiting final details on this. At the moment it appears that if you are salaried then this will be calculated excluding any bonus, commission or fees.
If you have variable earnings (e.g. you have an hourly paid contract) then additional payments may count. We are waiting to see how this would work and will update these pages once we know.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi
I’m self employed and have been told by my regulating body to shut down. My average tax returns for the last 3 yrs have come in at £50300, I have savings above £16000 but only for my upcoming tax liabilities. Am I right in thinking that I will not Benefit from self employed bail out, universal credit or statutory sick pay?
Hi Jeremy,
Unfortunately this appears to be the case. Your tax returns are only just over the limit.
The guidance stipulates trading profit of less than £50,000 so if the £50,300 included other income and the trading profits alone are under £50,300 you may qualify.
If you do, HMRC will be in touch.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Will I get government assistance (80%) when I was employed through agency and was let go due to covid19. I dont receive any other benefit.
Hi Mrs Walker,
If you were paid through PAYE and you were made redundant due to COVID-19 after February 28 then your employer can re-employ you and apply for the grant for 80% of your wages.
This decision will be up to your employer but it is worth contacting them to see if this is possible.
I wish you all the best,
Alannah
I am on zero hours, am off work because of covid 19 and have over £16,000 in savings. The company I have consistently worked for for over 15 years says I can’t get 80%. What recompense have I got please?
Hi Nicola,
If you were paid through PAYE then your employer is eligible for the scheme even if you have a zero hours contract.
It is up to your employer whether to apply to the scheme.
It may be worth mentioning to your employer that the scheme covers zero hours contracts and see if they can reconsider.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi. I’m a single mum with two children, I work as a waitress doing 16 hours and receiving working tax credits. The restaurant is closed due government new rules to coronavirus. My employer is putting me on furlough. Will this effect my working tax credit as I won’t be working 16 hours a week but still on payroll.
Thank you in advance.
Hi Jenny,
At the moment we don’t know if the hours rules for Working Tax Credits will be relaxed in response to COVID-19, but we will update our pages as soon as we know. If these are relaxed you will be able to remain on tax credits.
If they remain as they are, you may need to move to Universal Credit.
You can use our calculator (the link is on this page) to see how this would affect your income.
In the meantime, you should let HMRC know the situation.
I wish you all the best,
Alannah
So if business is still open – 2 staff are over 70 but wages under limit for SSP What are they entitled to?
Hi Louise,
If their income falls below the guaranteed income for pension credit they may be able to claim Pension Credit as a top up to their wages. If they rent property they may also be able to get Housing Benefit.
You can use the calculator (links on this site) to see if they would qualify.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi, I’m currently working 16 hours a week in my current job. My employer has mentioned furlough and receiving 80% of my wage. Would I still receive working tax credit? It is a joint claim with my husband but he doesn’t work due to various disabilities.
My husband receives ESA, PIP & industrial injuries.
Hi Lisa
The latest advice on this is that there will be an extension on the hours rules within tax credits. Previously you had to tell HMRC if your hours reduced for more than 4 weeks. it looks like this is being extended to 8 weeks and may extend further. We have not yet seen the regulations on this so until the regulations are out you should let HMRC know at the 4-week point. When we have seen the regulations we will update the advice on this page.
Best wishes
Hello,
Due to this whole situation, I have been laid off due to my work has closed down, my boss has stated that it is sectioned into 3 parts,
• those who pay tax are entitled to 80% of their wages
• those who work full or part time but do not earn enough to pay tax are entitled to universal credit
• students are not entitled to anything as they are deemed as supported
Can anybody confirm this for me? All staff as on PAYE, and I can’t see any info on gov.uk to state that those under the tax threshold and students are not entitled to anything by from employers??
Would just like to see where I stand. Thank you!
Sorry there is no need to reply to this, this is not longer an issue! Thanjs
Hi Nicole,
Full details of the scheme are not yet available but it appears that all employees who are PAYE are eligible.
However, it is up to the employer who they claim for and retain. Your employer may have made the decision just to retain some of the workers.
When full scheme details are published we will update these pages so do check back in.
In the meantime, it may be worthwhile clarifying with your employer whether this is an internal decision. If you do need to claim other benefits, information is provided on this page.
Best wishes,
Alannah
I worked in Tesco cafe but it’s closed due to corona virus and now my employer wants me to work at Tesco shop floor…will I get 80%wages from government if I deny to work at shop floor???
Hi San,
The decision of whether to access the 80% scheme is made by your employer.
The grant is intended to prevent redundancies so if your employer has work for you then they are unlikely to be accessing the grant. If you cannot work on the shop floor due to health concerns, your employer may be able to access the scheme if they choose to do so but we are not sure of this yet and are awaiting details.
If we find out this is the case we will update the pages so do check back.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi , I have 2 children I work 2 jobs , one is 27 hours and one is 17 hours . I’m a single parent, my part time job is closed but I have been offered 80% wage this is my job where I pay most of my tax have you got any advice for me as I don’t claim uc thanks.
Hi Kerrie,
You can continue in your other job and still get the 80% pay from your part time job. If this reduces your income considerably it may be worth considering applying for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support.
These benefits are for people who are working and those who are not working. You can use the calculator (link on this page) to see if you would qualify.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Has there been any clarification on the calculation period for zero hour / irregular worker’s salaries? If not when is one expected? My employer says they can’t make any decisions at the moment, offering either a few hours here and there or none at all. My own hours have been reduced from 60pw to 12pw, others have nothing but are told to be on ‘standby’.
Looking at the updates, it’ll be whichever is the highest from the last 12 month’s average or the salary of the same month last year.
Hi Roman,
Yes, you can claim for the higher of either:
1) the same month’s earning from the previous year
2) average monthly earnings from the 2019-20 tax year
Best wishes.
Hi Roman,
Unfortunately we are still awaiting details. It looks like the 80% grant will be based on an average of your previous monthly earnings.
However, for it to apply you must be doing no work at all for your employer. It looks like your employer is awaiting details before making a decision on furloughing you or not.
In the meantime, you should claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support – further information on these is given on this page. You should claim as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated
Best wishes,
Alannah
The Government clarified earlier this week that it’s the previous 12 months:
Employees whose pay varies
If the employee has been employed (or engaged by an employment business) for a full twelve months prior to the claim, you can claim for the higher of either:
the same month’s earning from the previous year
average monthly earnings from the 2019-20 tax year
If the employee has been employed for less than a year, you can claim for an average of their monthly earnings since they started work.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Hi Roman,
Yes you’re absolutely right – we have updated the ‘If you are employed’ section of the webpage to make this clear.
Best wishes.
Hi, I work as a waitress I’m on a 0 hour contract I work around 35-40 hours per week for the past 2 and a half years, will I be able to claim anything? Thanks
Hi Courtney,
If you were PAYE then your employer can choose to access a grant to cover 80% of your wages and use this to pay you. This will be up to your employer and you so you should discuss this with them.
If your employer does not access the scheme, you may be eligible for contributory JSA (also called new-style JSA) dependant on the NI contributions you have made. Further details on this can be found on this page.
If you have less than £16,000 in savings then you should also consider claiming Universal Credit and Council Tax Support.
It is worth claiming these if your employer decides not to access the scheme or decides to only pay you when the grant comes through. You should claim these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. Details are available on this page.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi I am PAYE on agency and have to self isolate and the site has now shut for 3 weeks am I entitled to anything as agency said they can not help me
Hi Darren,
You may be eligible for contributory JSA (also called new-style JSA) dependant on the NI contributions you have made. Further details on this can be found on this page.
If you have less than £16,000 in savings then you should also consider claiming Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You should claim these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. Details are available on this page.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi
I currently work in two jobs within health and social care. One within a day centre and one within acency (where I can be asked to go anywhere) My family and friends are advising me to not work as I have asthma (which I have had since I was young) I’m worried that sheliding for 12 weeks would leave me not able to pay my bills and rent etc. Can I get SSP or universal credit to help me over this time?
Kind regurds
L
Hi
If you have received a letter from the NHS advising you to shield then you are eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme which could be used to pay 80% of your wages (up to £2,500/month). If this is the case, you should talk to your employers about whether they will be accessing the scheme for vulnerable workers. If you are not in the group that received the NHS advice letter, your agency employer may still be accessing the scheme (it is unlikely the NHS will be using the scheme for any but vulnerable workers) so you should discuss this with them. If your employers are not accessing the scheme, you will not be eligible for SSP unless you have the virus or are looking after someone with the virus. If you have paid sufficient National Insurance contributions you may be eligible for contributory JSA. You may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. Information on all these benefits is available on this page. You should not delay applying as these cannot be backdated so it is advisable to start the application process even if you are having discussions with your employer about the possibility of being furloughed. I wish you all the best.
Hi.
My employer has announced that from 1st April all staff salaries will be cut to just 50% for the foreseeable future, and they require us to commit just 2.5 days per week instead of full-time.
How will the retention scheme work for us? Can our earnings be topped up by the government to 80%?
Hi James,
The Job Retention Scheme is only for workers who are not doing any work at all.
If you are working then your employer will not be eligible for these grants. You may be able to top up your earnings with Universal Credit and Council Tax Support.
Details of these are given on this page. You can use our calculator (links on this page) to see if you are eligible for any support and to see how to apply. If you are eligible you should claim as soon as possible as these are not backdated.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi, so i am a self employed tree surgeon who’s work has all ended due to coronvirus. The governement help for self employed isn’t kicking in until at least June. So how can i get help for my income until then?
Can i claim Universal Credit if my wife is receiving 80% of her wages (she’s employed)? I’m assuming her income will mean i can’t receive anything from UC.
What other options do i have to receive some income?
Hi William,
Whether you qualify for Universal Credit or not will depend on your savings (if you have savings above £16,000 you will not qualify), your circumstances (eg do you pay rent or have children?) and your wife’s income.
You can use the calculator (links on this page) to see if you would qualify. If you would qualify you should apply as soon as possible as this cannot be backdated. The calculator will also tell if you qualify for any Council Tax Support.
Again, if you qualify, you should apply as soon as possible.
Best wishes,
Alannah
I’m a night time retail security guard on a very low wage having to work 70 to 80 hours a week for the last few years to earn a living wage. I’m only on a 4hr weekly contract and My employer can only offer me around 10 hrs a Week now, what’s the best way for me to get financial help
Hi Jason,
It’s likely that your best option will be to start claiming Universal Credit. You can put details of your situation into our benefits calculator here to see how much support you might be eligible for.
We would recommend, if the calculator does suggest you are eligible, you apply as soon as possible, because there will be a five week wait between application and your first Universal Credit payment (though you may want to consider applying for an advance in the meantime).
You might also want to speak to your employer about whether they might make use of the 80% retention scheme. As you’re still working, albeit reduced hours, you wouldn’t currently be eligible for the scheme, but that may change if they do decide to put you on furlough and offer no hours (in which case you might then be eligible for 80% of your average earnings). You can find more advice about that scheme on this page and the government’s full details on the scheme here.
Best wishes
Hi there Im a single parent that works full time in social care, due to the virus I have had to reduce my bank work hours over the weekends as I can’t have my usual childcare (nan)… My contracted hours (Mon-Fri) are not enough to live on ( going to be 500 pound a month short). I currently claim working tax credits but can not change my new income yet as the new tax year starts next month. Am I going to better off claiming UC? If so how long will I need to wait for a payment as my wtc are paid weekly. Many thanks for your help
Hi Lisa,
You can see how your situation would change using our benefits calculator – the results tab allows you to compare your situation under legacy benefits and Universal credit. It might also be worth bearing in mind from April 6th 2020 support rates for Universal Credit will increase by £20/week.
If you do apply for Universal Credit, there is a five week wait between the date of your claim and your first award. During that time you might receive your final WTC payment (eg around 6 days after your Universal Credit claim) but otherwise you would have that five week wait before your Universal Credit award coming through. Because of this wait, we would recommend, if the calculator does suggest Universal Credit might be a better option for you, you apply as soon as possible.
Best wishes
I recieved my government letter today to tell me I have to shield myself for 12 weeks due to health reasons so can no longer work for 12 weeks, is it only SSP pay I get ???? As I feel that due to my health I am getting penalised as due to the virus I can no longer work but I aim not sick!!! Surely we should get our wages paid the same as if people were to be laid off for a while due to the virus
Hello,
You should be entitled to SSP and you may also be able to claim Universal Credit for the 12 weeks while your income is reduced. If you put your expected situation when on SSP into our calculator here it will let you know how much you might receive.
If you are eligible to claim Universal Credit, you should begin your claim as soon as possible after your last pay has been received into your bank account as there is a 5-week delay to payment (although advances are possible) and your claim takes effect from the date of claim.
You may be eligible for the 80% retention scheme if your employer agrees to put you on furlough- I would recommend discussing this with your employer to see if they’d consider this.
Best wishes
Hi,
I am currently employed and still working from home and the business is still running as normal but we have been told certain staff will be furloughed but the remaking staff who still continue to work are expected to take 20% pay reduction from currently salary, can they do this?
Hi Hollie,
It will depend on the specifics of your contract. I’d recommend getting in touch with ACAS for specific advice on the details of your contract, or if you or colleagues are members of a trade union they may also be able to help.
You can see ACAS’ response to a similar query here and contact details for more detailed help here.
Best wishes
Hi I am self employed and now not working due to covid 19 but my partner is still working and we have just moved into a privately rented house am I entitled to the full UC and housing benefit
Hello,
You can see what you might be eligible for using our benefits calculator. If you are eligible to claim Universal Credit, you should begin your claim as soon as possible after your last pay has been received into your bank account as there is a 5-week delay to payment (although advances are possible) and your claim takes effect from the date of claim. It may also be worth filling the calculator in again from the start of April, as that is when the minimum income floor will no longer apply to the self-employed, so that may mean you are eligible for more.
Depending on how long you’ve been self-employed for, you may also be eligible for the self-employed scheme grant announced yesterday. You can see details of that scheme on this page as we get more information.
Best wishes
Hi, I am currently on maternity pay which isn’t great and my partner has just gone down to 80% wages and is at home not working, is there anything we can claim as we are struggling financially. Thanks
“Hi Natasha,
You could be eligible for support – if you fill in our benefits calculator with your circumstances it will let you know what you might be eligible for. If you are eligible to claim Universal Credit, you should begin your claim as soon as possible as there is a 5-week delay to payment (although advances are possible) and your claim takes effect from the date of claim.
Best wishes
Hello, my partner is self employed and has been out of work since Tuesday, I am on month 10/11 of statutory maternity pay and I am now receiving £0, I am due to go back to work at the beginning of May however this may not be possible, my company are also not willing to do the 80% from the government so ultimately we have 0 income, I have done the benefits calculator but it Asks if I am employed or not and even though I am I have £0 income
Hi Stephanie,
For the calculator, you should be able to answer that you are employed and then when it asks about your income leave that as £0. It should then let you know what you might be eligible for.
Your partner may also be eligible for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme announced yesterday – you can read more about how the scheme might apply to them on this page.
There are also rules regarding how an employer can change someone’s job while they are on maternity leave – Citizens Advice say it can be “unfair dismissal and maternity discrimination if your employer doesn’t let you return to work after maternity leave” – so I’d also recommend reading this page and getting in touch with your local Citizens Advice to discuss how this advice might apply to your case.
Best wishes
Hi,
My husband is an offshore oil rig worker through an agency so doesn’t have a contract. He is PAYE but rigs have started down-manning due to COVID 19. We don’t know who to ask for help and advice because if he doesn’t work he doesn’t get paid. We have no savings as he was made redundant in September last year. The Govt decided he had earned too much the previous year to qualify for any benefits and we have used our savings and his redundancy money since then (when agency work has been scarce).
I work a 30 hr, term-time-only contract as a teaching assistant.
Please help!
Hi Katryna,
He might still be eligible for the 80% Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme if his employer chooses to take up the grant – it might be worth speaking to them to see if that’s the case. You can read more about the scheme on this page- we keep it up to date as more information becomes available.
In terms of benefits, it might be worth applying for Universal Credit now, as eligibility will be based on your household’s income in the assessment period, which will be a month from the date of your claim. As you no longer have savings that should not limit your award. You can use our benefits calculator to see how much (and what else) you might be eligible for. If you are eligible to claim Universal Credit, you should begin your claim as soon as possible as there is a 5-week delay to payment (although advances are possible) and your claim takes effect from the date of claim.
Best wishes
I am a healthcare assistant in the hospitals and work for an agency. There is plenty of work available but lack of PPE. I have asthma and I am in the at risk category for Covid-19. So I have cancelled my shifts as it is too risky for my health.
Am I entitled to any help ?
Thanks
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
It’s difficult to say without knowing the precise details of your claim and your earnings, but you could be eligible for SSP through your employer because you are self-isolating due to Covid-19, so the next step would be to speak to them about it. When you self-isolate due to Covid-19, you should be eligible for Sick Pay if you were employed and earning more than £118/week, even if you had a zero-hour contract. Sick Pay is paid by your employer and the statutory level is £94.25/week.
You may also be able to top up (or if you aren’t eligible for SSP through your employer, replace) your SSP through Universal Credit. If you enter your expected household income into our benefits calculator you can get an idea of what you might be eligible for. If you are eligible to claim Universal Credit, you should begin your claim as soon as possible as there is a 5-week delay to payment (although advances are possible) and your claim takes effect from the date of claim.
Best wishes
Hi I started my new job in a nursery 3 weeks ago, my boss has made the decision to close as a result of the corona virus. Am I entitled to 80% of my wage that the government would pay?
Hi Beck,
In order for you to receive 80% of your wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme, you must have been on your employer’s PAYE payroll on 28 February 2020. If that is the case, your employer must apply for the grant. This will be backdated to 1 March and will be available for 3 months, and all employers are eligible for the grant so long as they currently pay your wages using the PAYE method. They may also choose to pay for the remaining 20% but this is left up to the discretion of the employer. To apply for the grant, your employer will need to contact HMRC.
Best wishes
Hi,I have been layed off from my job, I’m on universal credit already, there is no income. It is hard getting another job at the moment because of the covid 19 90% of the places have closed down so there are no work. What should I do? Will I get help to pay Bill’s etc? Will UC penalize me for not working now?
Hi Paulette,
You should be able to receive more Universal Credit now that you are not working. I’d recommend letting your work coach know about this as soon as possible – you can do this by updating your online journal. You can also have a discussion with your work coach about what is expected of you during this exceptional and difficult time. The DWP has announced that for the next 3 months they intend for conditionality to be relaxed (ie, you wont need to prove you are looking for work in the usual way), and that there should be no sanctions.
You can check the amount you can receive using our free benefits calculator here. Universal Credit payments will also increase for most claimants from the 1st of April . You may want to check how much you will receive on this date, when our calculator will be updated to reflect the changes.
Best wishes
Hi, I’m currently working 14 hours and earning £114 per week
I’m also on the cap benefits, but I had to take days off due having children Sick at home, I rely on my wages to pay my rent and I’m not going to be paid for the days off work
Will the increase of rent in April apply for people on benefits cap? I’m confused as there is a limit and can’t get any more from cap allowance.
Hi Andrea,
Unfortunately the cap is not being increased so you will not see the increase in allowances from April. I am sorry that this is the case for you.
Best wishes,
Alannah
I’m about to receive 80% retension wages set out by the government are we allowed to take a part time job to boost the 80%?
Hi there,
In order to receive the 80% you will need to not engage in any form of employment with the employer that pays you the 80%. There is nothing to say that you can’t take on another job during this time though. However do bear in mind that some employment contracts don’t allow you to take a second job, so I’d recommend checking if this applies to you. A good idea will be to keep an eye on this dedicated Covid-19 page. Here we will mention updates about the scheme as and when they are announced.
Best wishes
Hi, I’m a single supply teacher who is now not able to work as schools are closed due to the Coronavirus. I have worked 2/3 days per week for a supply agency since the start of January 2020. I have been paid weekly through PAYE and can prove the income received. Will I be eligible for the 80% government payment?
Hi Denise,
Whether you are able to receive the 80% will depend on your company. In order for you to receive this your company has to apply for the Job Retention Scheme grant – they will need to apply by contacting HMRC. Unfortunately it is not something that is arranged independently of your employer. I’d recommend getting in touch with your employer to ask them about this. In the meantime, if your savings are below £16,000, you might be able to claim Universal Credit (check your eligibility here). You may also be able to claim Council Tax Support, via your local council.
Best wishes
I am a Spar shop worker I work 13 hours a week but I have decided to stay home as I have a type 1 diabetic at home and so want to protect them can I claim 80% of my wages?
Hi Sharon,
The 80% Job Retention Scheme can be claimed via your employer. This means that for you to claim, your employer must first apply for the Job Retention Scheme grant and contact HMRC. I’d recommend asking your employer about this as soon as possible so that they can get the ball rolling.
Best wishes
Hi there, I am losing my job due to the Coronavirus and rent alone for £675pm. I also pay £200pm child support to my daughter who lives in Poland.
What can I expect to get?
Hi Yousseff,
The best way to get an accurate idea of the support you can get is to complete our free online calculator. In general, if you have savings below £16,000 you will be able to claim Universal Credit, but this depends on your income and other circumstances. Universal Credit is not paid on a back-dated basis so it is best to claim as soon as possible. There is also a 5 week wait after applying before you can receive your first payment. To tie you over this period you can request for an advance payment, but this will be deducted from your future Universal Credit award. If you pay Council Tax you may also be able to get support to pay this via Council Tax Support (from your local Council).
Best wishes
Hi, I’m a single mother of 1 child. I’m working as a classroom assistant & get tax credits to top up my wage. I’m currently off but kind of working from home during virus. I’ve got chance of paid employment in frontline NHS for 2-3 months as I worked there before. If I work for 8-16hrs per week will this effect my tax credits.
I don’t want to put my & my family’s life at risk because of exposure to virus (I’ve medical condition & I’d need childcare) if basically at the end I would be working for ‘nothing’ as my tax credits would be taken away??
Hi Christine
It is difficult to calculate the exact change to your income as this will depend on whether the hours change will mean you are no longer able to receive working tax credits if you were receiving these before.
And whether you were receiving working tax credits or just child tax credits. Your work in the NHS may mean that you are still under the threshold and you may not see a reduction in your tax credits.
You can use our calculator (links on this page) to see how it would affect you.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hello, I am a type 1 diabetic and have been told i must stay in my home until this is over. I came home 1 week before the outbreak from working abroad and now i can not get any work. I have applied for jobseekers a week ago and heard nothing back. What support is there for me? I have bills and loans i need to pay back. I see them all p[iling up now and am growing increasingly concerned day by day that i am going to drown in this. I need help and it seems there is none for people in my situation. I have a good cv and in any under circumstance i could walk into a job very quickly, i would never usually use a jobseeker service. Any help or advice would be great.
Hi Samuel,
You might want to double-check that everything on your side is complete: check that 1) you have an account; and 2) that your ‘to-do’ list is complete. If both these are done then it might be helpful to speak to somebody about your claim. You can contact the Universal Credit helpline or you could also speak to a Citizen’s Advice Bureau advisor (to see their contact details, go to this page). They will be able to provide more information about your application and how long a payment might take. You can also ask for a Universal Credit ‘advance payment’ to cover the period while you wait for your first payment (note that you will have to pay this back via reductions to your future Universal Credit award).
This page has information about other forms of support you might be able to claim (such as Council Tax Support); or additional help if you have a mortgage. If you think you will struggle to pay monthly bills you may want to contact your service provider to discuss whether they might accept alternative payment arrangements. The same goes for debt payments – if you are unable to repay these in your current circumstances there might be alternative options available.
I hope this helps
My partner is a roofer for a small company. He has had to self isolate, so what does his employer pay him, please?
Also as the building suppliers are no longer open where we live, there will be no work for him.
What are his entitlements from the company he works for? Is it 80% of his wage?
Thank you
Hayley
Hi Hayley,
While your partner works:
If your partner has had to self-isolate he will be able to claim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), so long as he meets the following criteria:
(1) He is an employee of the company (i.e. not self-employed);
(2) He has been paid a minimum of £118/week (gross, before tax). SSP can be claimed from the first day of self-isolation.
If your partner’s work is cut off due to COVID-19:
If your partner is an employee (i.e. gets paid by the PAYE), he will be able to claim 80% of his wages but only if his employer applies for the Job Retention Scheme grant, as this is how it is paid. The scheme is expected to be in place by the end of April.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hello i was a chef till now without a contract. I wonder where i can get a further pay from. Im in this country since last year June and was working since. Now im struggeling with my rent and also my Overdraft limit of my bank it over the limit… Who can help me in this situation? Thanks
Hi Tom,
As you’ve been employed from June until recently, you may have what’s called ‘retained worker status’ if you’re an EEA citizen. Retained worker status usually means you have access to most benefits, but the specifics of this can vary and you will need to provide evidence of this. At the moment, retained worker status applies for 6 months, after which point you will no longer be able to claim benefits on this basis. It might be worth checking this again, however, as new legislation may come in place to protect EEA nationals due to the Covid-19 crisis.
To check the amount of financial support you can claim as a retained worker you can register by clicking on ‘register here’ on our free premium calculator. If your savings are below £16,000 you might be able to get some support this way, and you can apply for Universal Credit here. It takes 5 weeks for Universal Credit payments to be made. You can ask for an ‘advance payment’, which will provide a lump sum to cover costs during this time but will be deducted from your subsequent UC award.
For more immediate support please do look into local support groups; for example London’s Mutual Aid Group if you are in London (here). It might also be a good idea to contact your landlord and bank to discuss alternative arrangements. To ease discussion with your landlord about your capacity to pay, eviction proceedings have been suspended for 3 months for private renters.
Best wishes
I have been put on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme by my employer. This could mean that I am going to be short covering my bills. Is it possible to seek other employment to earn extra income and still obtain the 80% of my salary from my existing employer?
Hi Nathan,
As far as we’re aware, yes – the government advice says that if you have more than one employer, the 80% furlough applies separately to them both. However, do bear in mind that some jobs have a clause in their contract that states you cannot take another job, so do check if this applies to you.
All the best,
Alannah
Hi Louise, My husband has been laid off but is not eligible for Universal Credit as he did not have sufficient NI in the previous two tax years. We rent and our household income will be reduced by 66%. He is in the higher risk group and should be self isolating. My wages will only cover rent leaving £100 for everything else. What can we do?
Hi Sara
Universal Credit does not depend on National Insurance contributions, I think you are referring to contributory JSA. You can claim Universal Credit as long as you have savings under £16,000. You may also be eligible for Council Tax Support. Universal Credit includes an amount towards your rent and this is increasing from April 2020. You need to claim these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated. You can use our calculator (links are on this page) to see how much you would get. Further information on these benefits, as well as advice on how to claim, is also on these pages. I wish you all the best.
I am an agency worker and have a contract with an umbrella company, the council i work for have furloughed me yesterday and have confirmed they want me to return once the risk level is reduced.
The umbrella company suggested i take my 45 as they are not making monies and cant pay me, to which i have refused.
I really need to know how i stand.
Hi Sara,
Even if you are an agency worker, if your council counts as your employer and have confirmed that you have been furloughed, then they will be able to pay 80% of your salary. I would recommend getting in touch with someone from the council who told you about being furloughed, and they should be able to confirm this.
All the best,
Hi my husband is a supply teacher, but was not on a long term position, rather he worked on a day to day basis. He has a PAYE, however. There is no jobs from the agencies now. Is he eligible for the 80% salary scheme, or what kind of help can we get now? He doesn’t have any jobs now.
Thank you,
Suzie
Hi Suzie,
Yes, as long as he was on PAYE, he will be eligible for the 80% scheme, The 80% will be worked out the on either a) the amount he earned in the same month last year, or b) an average of his monthly earnings from the last year – he can claim whichever of these is higher.
I hope that helps, and best wishes
Hi there. My husband has 2 part time jobs. One at the university (15 hrs a week), the other job is for a private cleaning company (20 hrs) Both workplaces are now closed. He will be fully paid by the uni and he was told that he will get 80% of his wages paid by the goverment in the other worklpace. My question is willl he be paid by the gov if he has the other job and he gets 100 % of his wages from it ? Thanks
Hi Aga,
Yes – the government have been clear that the 80% scheme applies separately to each job. So even if he’ll continue to be paid fully for one job, he can get 80% for the other.
All the best
Thank you for your reply. I have one more question. We are both EU citizen, legally working in UK for over 10 years. We havent applied for the settlement status yet as the deadline is June next year. Can you tell me if the fact that we dont have this status will affect our rights
Thanks
Hi Aga,
Unfortunately the benefit situation for non-UK citizens is very complicated, especially if you do not have settled status.
To claim most UK benefits, you need to prove that a) you have the ‘right to reside’ in the UK, b) the UK is your main home and you plan to stay – this is known as being ‘habitually resident’, c) you meet the other criteria for the benefit you’re claiming – for example that you earn less than a certain amount.
It is really important that you get advice from a specialist in benefits for non-UK citizens. Citizens Advice may be able to help you, however they are extremely busy at the moment. You can find details for your local Citizens Advice here. Your local council may also be able to put you in touch with a support centre in your area.
I wish you the best of luck,
Hi I am a fifty year old lady who works full time as a key worker (funeral arranger) I have an undiagnosed heart problem (have an appointment that has been cancelled) persistent allergic rhinitis and asthma. As I am in my first year of my employment 7 months, my employer will only pay me SSP. I am currently self isolating with a temperature, My husband is also a key worker but only has a 25.6 hour contract. We live in private rented accomodation. Do you think we can get any help if I have to remain off work? I am terrified and am finding my anxiety is through the roof. My husband and I have never claimed for anything.
Hi Julie,
It sounds like you could be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – this means your employer could place you on ‘furlough’ and pay you 80% of your wages through a grant from the government. You are eligible for this as long as you have been on your employer’s PAYE payroll as on or before 28 February 2020, which it sounds like you have been. I would recommend asking your employer about this.
You may be also be eligible for Universal Credit and Coucnil Tax Support if your savings are less than £16,000. You can check if you are eligible on our free calculator.
All the best
Hi, my place of work has closed due to Covid-19 and is applying for the grant to pay us 80% of our wages. Am I allowed to take on a temp job to make up the 20%
regards
Hi Carol,
As far as we’re aware, yes – the government advice says that if you have more than one employer, the 80% furlough applies separately to them both. However, do bear in mind that some jobs have a clause in their contract that states you cannot take another job, so do check if this applies to you.
All the best,
Alannah
Does the 80% payment take in to account nice shift pay
Hi Carl,
Yes, as far as we’re aware, the 80% will be based on your average earnings over the last 5 weeks if you’re paid weekly, or the last 3 months if you’re paid monthly.
This will include any income from overtime/bonuses. We will be updating our support page as soon as we hear more: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/
All the best,
Louise
Hi, I left a self employed job on Feb 29th 2020 and started my PAYE on March 2nd, I believe I fall short for Furlough leave at my new job.
Can I claim furlough for my previous self employed job? Even tho I’m technically not self employed anymore?
Cheers.
Hi Richard
The latest advice indicates that this may indeed be possible. We are waiting for further guidance so cannot be completely sure at the moment. There may be complications around contracts with your new job and returning to contract with your old job so you would need to look at this carefully.
Best wishes
Hi, i am currently a full time carer to 1 of my 6 children , my husband has been asked to take a 20% reduction in wages, we are currently receiving tax credits not on universal credits , please clarify what my next steps are , ie do i need to make a new claim witj tac credits or universal credits or indeed neirher , are we entitled to help ?.
Hi Sally,
Since you are already receiving Tax Credits, you will not need to make a new claim. However you should get in touch with HMRC to let them know that your husband’s wages have decreased. You can find out more and report the change on this page: https://www.gov.uk/changes-affect-tax-credits
The government have also announced that Working Tax Credit rates will automatically increase from the start of April. This will be an increase of up to £20/week.
Finally, you can check our page dedicated to providing up to date information about other support available here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/
All the best,
Louise
How do u apply for help I been out of work over two weeks because of the virus and I’m on 0hour contract I did apply for esa but I’ve heard nothing I lost to where I turn to for help I have four children and lots of bills tht r due this week n next 😭
Hi Jessica,
You can get ESA if you have paid enough NI and if you are ill or self isolating, or you are looking after a child that is ill or self-isolating. If you have less than £16,000 savings you should claim Universal Credit. You should also claim Council Tax Support. Both these should be claimed as soon as possible as they are not usually backdated. Information on all these benefits and links to how to claim can be found here. That page also links to our free benefits calculator so you can see how much you will get. Unfortunately it is taking a while for DWP to process all the claims and they are extremely busy at the moment. I would advise that you contact the companies with bills due asap. The Government has advised utility companies to not push for payment through this crisis and mortgage companies will allow a 3 month mortgage holiday.
I wish you all the best of luck
Hi my husband’s work have asked for 30% of staff to stay on. The ones who don’t have been told they will get 80% pay but woth out the usual shift allowamce. So he would lose an additional 15% cam they do this? He earns below £2500 a month.
Hi Laura,
The employer may be waiting for final guidance on this scheme. This has yet to be published. At the moment, it looks like it will be based on 80% of previous earnings. The Government has not yet announced how many previous months wages will be used for the calculation. But if your husband’s pay in the last few months contained an amount for this shift work then the scheme will cover 80% of this. The Government is hoping to get this set up by the end of April with pay backdated to the date your husband was asked to stop work (but this cannot be before the 1 March 2020). The reduction in income to 80% may mean that you are eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You have to have savings under £16,000 to apply. I would suggest that it is best to claim this now (it cannot be backdated). Any payment to your husband can be offset against any award. You can find further details, how to apply, and links to our benefit calculator (so you can see how much you may get) on our help pages here.
Best wishes
Hi,
I am mother of 2 year old son, I work part time for agency, but agency has no work for me due to coronavirus. Therefore I have no income. Am I eligible to get 80% of my wage from Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme?
Thank you
Hi Zuzana,
If your employer has asked you not to work but expects you to return to work after the outbreak then they will be able to get 80% of your wages paid as a grant to cover your wages. The Government is still sorting out the details but it is likely that the amount will be based on an average of your previous earnings (we are not sure over what period yet). The first payment will be at the end of April and will be backdated to the day you finished work (but no earlier than 1 March). You will need to contact your employer to see if they will be applying for this scheme. In the meantime, you should apply for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You have to have savings under £16,000 to apply. I would suggest that it is best to claim this now (it cannot be backdated). Any payment you receive from the scheme can be offset against any award. You can find further details, how to apply, and links to our benefit calculator (so you can see how much you may get) on our help pages here.
Best wishes
I am currently not working due to coronia virus, and now me and my partner can’t afford our rent… is there any benefits we can apply for?
Hi Brooke,
You may be able to claim contributory JSA based on previous National Insurance contributions. You should also apply for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if you have savings under £16,000. I would suggest that it is best to claim these now (they cannot be backdated). Universal Credit includes an amount to help towards your rent. There is a 5 week wait for payment so you should let your landlord know the situation as soon as possible. Your landlord cannot start any eviction proceedings for the next 3 months.
You can find further details, how to apply, and links to our benefit calculator (so you can see how much you may get) on our help pages here.
Best wishes
Hi,
I’m currently a degree student, and I also work part time, I have been told that because I am a student I am not entitled to anything? (I am below the tax threshold)
However I can’t seem to find anything on the gov.uk website about this?
Thank you!
Hi Nicole,
If your degree course is advertised as a fulltime course you cannot get Universal Credit unless you have a child or have an illness/disability. You may however be able to claim contributory JSA dependant on the NI contributions you have made in the last 3 years. You can find further details, how to apply, and links to our benefit calculator (so you can see how much you may get) on our help pages here.
Best wishes
Hi. Need advice.
I was a permanent employee with a company and Yesterday our CEO has decided to put all employees on 80% salary. My question is am I eligible for this scheme as I am on spouse visa here in the UK for last one year (Resident).
Hi Bilal,
We are still awaiting final details of this scheme to be published. At the moment it looks like anyone who was paid through PAYE (in other words, they had a visa that allowed them to work in the UK), will be eligible. We expect further details to be published shortly. From what we know at the moment, it is likely that you will be eligible but you may want to keep an eye out for the final details to be published. These will be on the HMRC website.
Best wishes
Hi, has there been any update on this to your knowledge? My wife is potentially in the same situation.
Thank you.
Hi Aryan,
The latest guidance is that if your wife was employed and holds a UK bank account then she is eligible for the furlough scheme whatever her immigration status.
Best wishes.
I was an employed chef. I left before COVID-19 to set up my own business as a freelance chef. I had several restaurants wanting my services. I started to work for one on a trial basis, then Corona hit and restaurants closed. I now have no work and my business hasn’t started. I dont know what to do or where I stand. I am not registered as unemployed or employed. What can I do. I have no money coming in at all.
Hi Jake,
As a freelancer you count as self-employed. The Government has not yet announced full details of the scheme to assist the self-employed. In the meantime, you should apply for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if you have savings under £16,000. I would suggest that it is best to claim these now (they cannot be backdated).
You can find further details, how to apply, and links to our benefit calculator (so you can see how much you may get) on our help pages here.
Best wishes
Hi I wanted to know if i applied for universal credit as my husband has lost his job as his work place has closed down due to the coronavirus outbreak, will we affected by the benefit cap if we applied. Does the benefit cap still apply in this situation. I dont work as I look after my kids . It’s really a difficult time for everyone. Thank u.
Hi,
At this moment we are not sure how the new measures will work with the benefit cap. We are waiting the publication of the regulations. Please don’t delay claiming Universal Credit and Council Tax Support as these cannot be backdated. You can find further details, how to apply, and links to our benefit calculator (so you can see how much you may get) on our help pages here. We will be updating this advice once we have seen the regulations and know how this works with the benefit cap so keep checking back.
I wish you all the best
Hi I received a kidney transplant from my husband and therefore have a low immune system and I’m at very high risk however my Husband who was my doner and only has one kidney, he works in a lorry for a construction company, they are keeping him on however we are worried that he could bring the virus back from being at petrol station etc , is there a payment scheme for those at high risk who shouldn’t really be at work and need to self isolate
Hi Chrissy,
That sounds such a difficult situation for you both. Unfortunately, there is no particular scheme to help in this situation. It may be worthwhile your husband talking to his employer and seeing if his employer intends to lay any staff off temporarily and using the 80% wages scheme. If your husband decides not to work and the employer is not taking part in this scheme, you will need to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can find further details, how to apply, and links to our benefit calculator (so you can see how much you may get) on our help pages here.
I wish you all the best
Hi I am a hairdresser and my wages are half salary and half commission. Will I get 80% of my full wages or just my basic salary?
Jarrad
Hi Jarrad,
At the moment we are not sure how this will work. The outline of the scheme says that it will be based on salary excluding commission, fees and bonuses. But also that if wages vary then the average of these varied wages is to be used. It may come down to whether you have a contract for a salary or for hours and an hourly rate. As soon as we have further information I will update these pages.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi, first of all thank you for your support. I’m O hours contract and mu work place has been closed fro 3 months due to Covid-19. Could you please clarify for me how 80% is going to be calculated, (is it 80% of my last wage from February)? Also, how we should clime that money, do we have to apply for it or is it going to be paid automatically? Kind Regards, Alicja
Hi Alicja,
We are waiting for final details to be published but what we know so far is that it will be based on your previous earnings over a period (we don’t know what this is yet but I think it is likely to be averaged over the last few months). Your employer has to apply for this and you will be paid it through PAYE. The first payments should be out by the end of April and will be backdated to when you stopped work. As soon as we know more details we will update our help pages here. So do keep checking back.
Best wishes
hello everyone,
I am confused about the issue regarding the Convid19.
I am asking if I am eligible for the Jobseeker’s Allowance or any of the benefits am I still eligible to receive financial support from my employer as I had to stop work because of the current situation or vice-versa (80% of the lasts salary received)?
Please explain it to me to help all of us with this situation.
Hi Rayne,
Full details of the 80% salary scheme haven’t yet been published, but our expectation is it will be calculated based on your average previous earnings over a set period. It’s up to your employer to apply for that, so you’ll need to talk directly to them to see when you can expect payment from that scheme. First payments are expected at the end of April and should be backdated to when you stopped working.
In terms of how it will interact with your benefits claim, as it’s a new claim it is likely to be Universal Credit you might receive. We’re not yet sure how Universal Credit claims will interact with the new 80% salary scheme, but our assumption is any income from that will be considered as part of your claim and may reduce or cancel out your Universal Credit award. But as the income from the 80% scheme may not arrive for a while, it is worth you starting a Universal Credit claim ASAP. The 80% scheme income may arrive after your Universal Credit assessment period, so you could be eligible for one month of Universal Credit.
So to summarise:
1) speak to your employer about the 80% scheme
2) begin your Universal Credit claim now, and you may receive some award, depending on how long the 80% scheme income takes to reach you.
You may also want to check our page dedicated to providing up to date information about other support available, here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi
I work in retail and have a zero hours contract, can work 50 up to 100 hours monthly. Basically I’ve been left home since March 14th and had no news yet from my employer who has a brand new small company. My question is do I have the right to get the 80% of the salary even if dont have a fixed salary ? How to claim if yes.
Thank you
Hi Ross,
The full details of the 80% scheme haven’t yet been published, but our expectation is it will apply to anyone paid through PAYE. It is likely to be calculated based on average previous earnings over a set period and as such should include zero-hour contracts.
Your employer will need to apply for the grant, so you should speak to your employer to see if they will be accessing these grants. For employers who do apply, the first payments are expected at the end of April and should be backdated to when you stopped working in March.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hello my ffriend works with a care assistant agency. She is concerned about the covid19 and getting it. Can she leave the agency and live on her tax credits only but still receive housing benefit and council tax reduction.
Hello,
If she leaves the agency this is likely to constitute a change in her circumstances, so she would need to inform HMRC, which might mean (depending on her other circumstances) she would be moved to Universal Credit. The loss of income might mean she’d be eligible for more support overall though – she could put her details, both now and if she left her job, in our benefits calculator to see how her income might be affected.
You can find more information on what kinds of changes affect tax credits here.
If she’s concerned about Covid, and in particular if she’s in a high risk group, it might also be worth talking with her employer to see what arrangements might be made to limit her risk.
Best wishes
Hello my partner is on a 20 hour contract and has been for the last 7 years but always worked on average a week 40-50 hours. My question is is the 80% from the government 80% of 20 hours or 80% of their yearly HMRC record which would prove hours worked on average? Many Thanks
Hi Georgia,
Full details of the scheme are yet to be announced, but our expectation at this stage is it is likely to be calculated based on average previous earnings over a set period (eg 3 months). So that would mean for your partner it would be calculated based on his actual earnings, rather than on his contracted hours.
You can keep an eye on this page to see more when full details of the scheme are announced, as well as other advice about the response to Covid-19: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/
Best wishes.
Hi, my partner works for a company and is paid hourly, he’s been off since Monday due to our daughter showing symptoms of covid-19 as we’re following nhs advice. It says he’s allowed ssp but his employer has told him not to claim it as their looking into the 80% from the government and his boss has said if he claims ssp he won’t be eligible for that. He’s technically earned nothing since monday. This can’t be right surely? Thanks.
Hi Ruth,
Thanks for getting in touch. First of all, I’d recommend getting in touch with your local Citizens Advice for specific advice on the details of your case, as it’s difficult to know all the details without talking in more depth.
More generally, the full details of the 80% scheme haven’t yet been published, but so far we’re not aware of any reason why claiming SSP should impact it. The broad aim of the 80% scheme is for employees to retain an income while there is no work for them to do – while they are furloughed, before they return to work after the crisis when there is work for them to do. SSP has a different aim – it is to allow employees to retain an income while they are unwell to work (or in this case need to quarantine so can’t work).
So if there is still work for the employee to do, SSP is the appropriate scheme. If there is no work for the employee to do, your employer may be applying for the 80% scheme. It is possible the 80% scheme would give significantly more income than SSP (depending on your partner’s income), so that may be worth taking into consideration. You can see more details for both on this page.
Sorry not to be able to be more specific on your case. You can find your local Citizens Advice here for more specific advice.
Best wishes
I was recently (from the 2nd of March) training with TUI to be a member of cabin crew, when I was unfortunately, after 3 weeks of training, given one weeks notice – the last day of my notice is the 26th, which is tomorrow.
I just wanted to ask you for some advice, as I believe that TUI should re-employ me, since the government is now covering 80% of wages to avoid such redundancies and it will be of not cost to TUI.
I did have a job before I began training with TUI, but left my job to train with them.
If TUI don’t decide to re-employ me (which I don’t think they will, as they haven’t been in contact) what can I claim?
I still have a mortgage to pay and one of our daughters still lives with us; she finished her Master’s degree in December and is looking for a job, she has recently applied for job seeker’s allowance.
My husband has a own one-man-band, small printing business, which of course is very quiet right now.
Thanks, Barbara
Hi Barbara,
Full details of the 80% scheme are yet to be announced but it may be worth asking TUI if they would like to reconsider keeping you on and making use of the scheme, so that you can then put your training into practice after the crisis is over.
Aside from that, I would recommend filling in our benefits calculator to see what you might be eligible for and then, if you are eligible, applying for Universal Credit ASAP. There is a five week wait for Universal Credit income to come through, so the sooner you apply online the sooner that income might come through. If TUI were to reconsider and continue your employment you could then cancel the claim if appropriate.
I would also recommend considering filling in the calculator on behalf of other members of your household (or they could fill it in themselves) to see what else they might also be eligible for. You can find the calculator here.
Best wishes
Hello,
I was due to start a new role on 23rd march (having left my previous role for this one). Due to covid-19 the business I was moving to has had major financial difficulties and put my start date back by a month. Where do I stand?
I seem to be caught in no mans land!
I’ve paid tax for the last 20yrs and there are no benefits available to me (other half is self employed)
Hi Laura,
You may be able to apply for Universal Credit in the interim. When you do apply, there will be a one month assessment period, during which any income will be taken into account for your claim. So if you can apply online today and you are not likely to receive income during that month, you might still be eligible for at least one month’s UC award. You can fill in our calculator to see how much that might be (as well as anything else you might be eligible for).
The other option to consider might be to speak with your employer and see if they would consider taking advantage of the 80% job retention scheme.
Best wishes
Hello,
I ‘ve been laid off from my job due to the corona virus.
( I was working there since last June)
I have 5 years resident and work permit ( non EU citizen). My wife is EU citizen and also has 5 years resident and work permit too.She isn’t working.
Our friends told us we are not eligible to apply for univercal credit.
We try to contact citizen advice but it is so busy at the moment.
Our english not enough to understand something clearly.
We were planning to move. 2 months ago we gave notice to our landlord. I already asked him to stay longer but he didn’t answer yet.
And if he says ‘no’ what should we do?
Thank you
Hi Eren,
The rules around benefits for non-EU citizens is complicated. If you have settled status you can apply for all benefits. If you have not applied for settled status then you should do so as soon as possible. The link to do so is here https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families/applying-for-settled-status.
If you cannot get through to your Citizens Advice you can try your local council. They may be able to put you in touch with an organisation that helps non-EU nationals. Your council can also give you advice about your housing situations.
I wish you the best of luck.
Whilst there is fairly clear advice about the current benefits, there is a paucity of information for those still claiming income based JSA as a legacy benefit. Very little mention has been made of the situation for this still significant group. Does anyone know the specific requirements affecting those claiming income based JSA? The only semi-reliable information I have found was on Swansea City Council’s website, and even here the information was vague and ambiguous. It seems that signing on has been suspended, and that payments will continue to be made, but there is no mention whether or not JSA recipients will be entitled to the temporary £20 a week increase that UC and Tax Credit claimants will receive. The only definite and important difference is on the need to report sickness, which has been suspended for Universal Credit claimants, but not as yet for legacy JSA claimants, who are still required to report sickenss and to present a fit note after seven days of self-reporting. Some clarity on this would be very much appreciated.
Hi Padi,
The published government advice that we’ve been able to find is here. This advice states that the requirement for in person JobCentre attendance is suspended. If claimants are ill or self-isolating, sanctions and work search requirements appear to be removed if suitable notification is given. The advice doesn’t explicitly state whether digital or phone appointments need to be kept, so it may well be that JSA claimants will need to call the JobCentre.
With that in mind, the £1000 topup to UC is not being applied to those on JSA. This means that come legacy claimants could be better off voluntarily moving to UC. Claimants can check whether they would be better off on UC using our online calculator. I would note that some groups (e.g., income-based ESA claimants) currently tend to be worse-off on UC, but that this may change with the addition of the £1000 top up. If there’s any doubt over the change in income associated with moving to UC, we strongly recommend that claimants seek personalised support from their local CAB.
Unfortunately we haven’t been able to find any more specific information about the requirements on JSA claimants, but we are updating our Covid FAQ page regularly and will amend it as soon as we have clarification from DWP.
I hope this was helpful – do let us know if you have further questions.
Good Afternoon,
Please could you offer some advice? If the family owned business that I work for folds as a result of the virus what if any support could I get? The work is drying up and I am really worried. I have no partners income to rely on. My problem is that I am part way though a full renovation of a house. The house was in such a state when I moved in and I haven’t been able to get the kitchen finished before lockdown. There’s unfinished walls and wiring everywhere… No oven, cupboards, no flooring… I have the savings to finish the work, but will having savings mean that I am not entitled to any support, even though I need to use the savings to make this house liveable? Should I spend the money and make the house saleable in case I can’t afford it anymore or should I save the money and live off it despite the house conditions until I have a new job? I’m so confused 🙁 Any advice welcome. Thank you.
Hi Tor,
If you have made sufficient contributions to National Insurance over the last two financial years, you may be eligible for contributory Job Seekers Allowance regardless of your level of savings. If you are ill or self-isolating, you may instead be eligible for contributory Employment & Support Allowance, again, no matter how much you have saved. You can find out exactly what you are eligible for using our online calculator. If you have any questions when using the calculator, you can let us know through the built in help function and we’ll do our best to help.
As for savings, the DWP will generally take into account savings that you have spent, even if you can no longer access the money. The exception to this is savings spent to cover debts or ‘necessary replacement purchases’. Given your situation, it may be the case that necessary household repairs fall into this category. However, the guidance around savings is discretionary, so we would strongly recommend that you seek formal advice from your local Citizen’s Advice before taking any major action. It’s also worth noting that the capital used to determine beneift eligibility includes both savings and the current value of your property and investments. There are some deductions to this (e.g., mortgage costs or a percentage of estate agent fees), but the situation is quite complex. Again, you can enter your details into the calculator linked above to get a better sense of your situation.
I hope this is helpful, but please do let us know if you have further questions (or would like more clarification on any of the above).
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. It’s really kind what you’re doing. I will start looking into all of your suggestions. All the best to you.
Hi, I am on Esa and Pip, and get housing benefit but am having to self isolate. Is there any extra help available?
Hi Bronwyn,
There are a couple of situations where you may be able to get some extra support, depending on your exact circumstances.
– If your rent is currently higher than your local LHA rate, your housing benefit will automatically increase in April.
– If you are having immediate difficulty paying your rent, you can apply to your local council for a Discretionary Housing Payment to help cover the cost. Check your local council page for details on this.
– If you were working, but are now not working due to self-isolation, you may be eligible for Universal Credit if you have less than £16,000 in savings. However, the way UC is calculated means that often, households claiming ESA are eligible for less support under UC. To find out if this would be the case for you, you can use our online calculator to find out whether you would be better or worse off on UC. If you do decide that you might want to voluntarily move onto UC, I would also strongly recommend seeking personalized advice from your local Citizen’s Advice first.
I hope this is helpful. Do let us know if you have any further questions.
Hi, I have left my current job to start employment with a new company which I should start 31st March. They have stated they can only give me a 0hr contact but my acceptance letter states 40hrs they are saying I can’t get the 80% pay. I have also found out I am high risk and should be isolating but the new company have said I can’t claim ssp as not started there yet.
They have told me to try claim benefits and I don’t know what to do. My previous employer won’t keep me on either. Really worried as I have bills ect to pay and no money. I can’t get through to anyone for help or advise
Hi Elizabeth,
If you are self-isolating but not eligible for SSP, you may be eligible for contributory Employment & Support Allowance (sometimes called ‘new style’ ESA). Eligibility is based on your National Insurance contributions over the last two financial years. If you are eligible, ESA is normally pays £73.10/week. Also, since your income is likely to be low on a 0 hour contract, if you have less than £16,000 in savings you may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support.
To check your exact eligiblity, and get a specific figure for how much you might receive, you can use our online calculator. If you have any questions when using the calculator, you can reach us through the built in help function.
We also have page dedicated to providing up to date information about the support available under Covid-19, here.
I hope this is helpful. Do let us know if you have further questions.
Hi myself nitin I just lost my job due to covid 19. I was working frm last 21 months with agency. But yesterday they canceled all agency contract immediately nd sent us home. Can govt pay that 80 percent of wages Pls suggest
Hi Nitin,
If you have paid enough contributions to National Insurance over the last two financial years, you may be eligible for contributory Job Seekers Allowance. If you are ill or self-isolating, you may instead be eligible for contributory Employment & Support Allowance. Also, if you have less than £16,000 in savings, you may be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support.
You can find out exactly what you are eligible for using our online calculator. If you have any questions when using the calculator, you can let us know through the built in help function and we’ll do our best to help.
We also have page dedicated to providing up to date information about the support available under Covid-19, here.
I hope this is helpful. Do let us know if you have further questions.
My partner works for a large tree surgery contractor in a team of people & is still expected to work currently. Is this correct? Do companies have to use the retention scheme? It seems they are avoiding closing down.m
Hi R,
Companies do not need to use the scheme and an employee can only be furloughed if it is agreed between the employer and the employee. It seems a bit strange that your partner’s company is continuing as this is against Government advice. We are not experts in employment law but you may want to seek further advice on this through other resources.
I am sorry we cannot help you further and wish you the best of luck.
Best wishes,
Alannah
Hi
I have had my new contract revoked on Friday 20th March, I was due to start work on the 23rd but due to the covid 19 I have had my contract withdrawn, what should I be able to claim for?
Hi Laura,
If you have paid sufficient National Insurance contributions in the last two financial years, you may be eligible for contributory Job Seekers Allowance (or contributory Employment & Support Allowance if you are ill or self-isolating). If you have less than £16,000 in savings, you may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support, on top of any contributory JSA/ESA.
To calculate exactly what you are eligible for, you can use our online calculator. If you have any questions when using the calculator, you can let us know through the built in help function and we’ll do our best to help.
We also have page dedicated to providing up to date information about the support available under Covid-19, here.
I hope this is helpful. Do let us know if you have further questions.
hello.
Im self employed – taxi driver. My job completely finish because of coronavirus. Can I apply for universal credit if already receiving working tax and child tax?
if yes. what to write in the column how many hours I work? in the universal credit application form? whether to give normal working hours or now this situation with coronavirus where I stopped working
Hi Sebastian,
I’m sorry to hear that. As you are self-employed you may be eligible for support through the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. This will provide a grant worth 80% of your average profit up to £2,500/month. We are awaiting the exacts details on this scheme, but if you have filed a 2019 tax return then HMRC will be in contact in early June and payments will be backdated to March.
While you wait for this payment you may be eligible for Universal Credit if your savings are less than £16,000. You can check if you are eligible on our free calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
As your hours have fallen below 16 hours, this will be considered a change of circumstances and you will need to apply for Universal Credit (as long as you are eligible). This will mean that you stop receiving working and child tax credits. When applying for Universal Credit you should state that you are not working instead of putting what your normal hours would have been.
It’s also worth noting that there is a 5-week wait for your first payment from Universal Credit. You can ask for an advance which is a loan that is repayable back to the Government.
I hope this helps and please do get in touch if you have any further questions.
Hi
My husband started self employment in March 2019 as a private hire. He is not working at present due to covid 19 .Do we have to report tax credits about change of hours? Because we have tax and working tax credits.We also have child care payments from them.We are sacred of applying for housing benefit as we dont want to be transfer to UC.Please advice us what are our options?
Hi Maria,
He does not need to report this change for at least the next 8 weeks. HMRC have confirmed that due to coronavirus, they will ignore changes to working hours and continue to pay tax credits as before. I would check this page before the 8 weeks is up, since it is possible that these 8 weeks will be extended.
I would recommend using our benefit calculator to see how much income you would receive under Universal Credit, as it may be that the housing element within UC would mean you are actually better off claiming UC. However, it is also important to consider the five week wait for the initial UC payment, as tax credits would stop over this time. (You may be able to apply for an ‘advance’ loan payment during this time, though it would need to be repaid over the coming year).
Best wishes.
Hey, hope you can help me.
My husband started new job in November 2019. And was in 6 month probation.
They were going to give him a full contract in May, but due to covid-19, they let him go.
We pay part rent with house and benefits, now we don’t have any income coming in, we’ve never received any other form of benefits we don’t know what we going to do or what we can do.
Please let me know how we can receive any help,
Would he need to apply for job seekers allowance. Until the covid-19 is finish.
Hi there,
Thanks for getting in touch. There are a number of ways to get financial support. Universal Credit is the main benefit, but there are additional forms of support such as Council Tax Support. You can use our online calculator to find out if how much you can receive if you apply for these benefits, here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. When you’ve completed the calculation you can click on ‘Universal Credit’ and on ‘Council Tax Support’ to apply for these benefits respectively.
If you are struggling to meet housing costs such as rent you can also look into Discretionary Housing Payments – you local council will have information on this and details of how to apply on their website.
Lastly, I would recommend that you take a look at our dedicated Covid-19 page, where we discuss the various support options available as a result of Covid-19. See here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/. The page has information about support with mortgage costs, rent, covering your bills if you use a pre-payment meter, and getting help for children that qualify for Free School Meals.
I hope this helps.
All the best,
Louise
Hi,My maternity leave ended on 20th of January and I extended it until 20th of April so I have unpaid for three months.I work in supermarket part-time.I have been employed for 4years 11months in this supermarket.If I don’t return to work on 20th of April can I get any benefit from government?
Hi Oni
Your employer can choose to access the furlough scheme so that you receive 80% of your salary if you cannot return to work after your maternity leave due to coronavirus. it will be up to your employer whether they are accessing this scheme so you should discuss this with them.
If this is not a possibility, you may be able to claim contributory JSA (often called new-style JSA) if you have paid enough National Insurance contributions. If you have savings under £16,000 you may also be able to claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can use our benefits calculator (links on this site) to see if you qualify and how much you would get. Further information on all these benefits is also on this site.
I wish you and your baby the best of luck
Hi. I’m self employed. I’m cleaner. I’m single mum. I’m claiming house benefit, working tax credit and child tax credit. Because of cv I’ll not be able to work as always 16 hours per week. Should I stop to claim benefits mentioned above in current situation. If yes which other benefits I can claim? Thanks.
Hi.
I became self employed in January this year. Operated under a ltd company.
The business I contracted at suspended my contract early due to Corona virus impact. I am now without a contact and there is a recruitment freeze in the market.
I have received UC for a few months before I became self employed but my claim has been closed in February.
Will I be able to reapply for UC and how will it be calculated. Will my already earned money from the contract for prior months count? I am currently receiving no earnings and no prospect of future earnings on the horizon
Hi Zahn,
Firstly you will be able to reapply for Universal Credit. Universal Credit calculations are based off the last month of income, so if you applied today then any earnings from earlier in the year will not be considered. If you would like to check how much Universal Credit you are likely to receive, as well as any other benefits you may be eligible for then you can use our free calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
As you are self-employed, you may be eligible for support through the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. This will provide a grant worth 80% of your average profit up to £2,500/month. We are awaiting the exacts details on this scheme, but if you have filed a 2019 tax return then HMRC will be in contact in early June and payments will be backdated to March.
I hope this helps and if you have any further questions then please do ask.
Hi, my workplace has closed and they have confirmed that I will receive the 80% income as offered by the government in addition to an Army Widowers Pension that I also receive. I have zero savings and no additional income other that what has already been indicated. I live in housing association accommodation that I share with my son (aged over 25) who currently receives Universal Credit (he doesn’t work). The property has 3 bedrooms the third of which is used for my sons daughters when they stay (so not affected by the bedroom tax). I’m very confused with what I can claim. Policy in Practice calculates I can claim Working Tax Credit. Turn2Us calculates I am not entitled to anything. Entitledto calculates I can claim Universal Credit and Council Tax benefit. The government website for Working Tax Credit indicates I am not entitled to this. With this in mind I progressed to making a claim for Universal Credit, but this wants to commit to finding extra work, but all I am wanting to do is recoup the 20% loss in earnings. In summary the 3 calculators contradict one another with their results in addition to the results I receive with my claims through the government websites. I am totally confused and I know there is no point telephoning the benefits helpline as I’ll just be sat in a queue with all the other thousands of people in the same situation/similar situation. HELP with advice if at all possible. Thank you.
Hi Barbara,
In general, all the calculators are very accurate.
It is just that you may have missed some questions etc on some of them. You cannot claim Working Tax Credits any more as it has been replaced by Universal Credit. It only exists for those already claiming. You will need to claim Universal Credit and Council tax Support. If you use the Policy in Practice calculator it shows results for tax credits and UC and tells you at the top which benefit you can claim. You need to press the button that says Universal Credit. This will show if you qualify.
If you are unsure, still put a claim in for UC and Council Tax Support as these cannot be backdated. The DWP is extremely busy at the moment and some of the advice on its pages has not caught up with the Covid19 situation. If you are a furloughed worker then you count as employed and the DWP is not going to expect you to look for further work during this period. You need to ensure the application is completed and then make a note to the DWP regarding the situation.
I wish you the best of luck.
Im a sole trader plasterer paying cis work has stopped due to covid19 what can I cla me for
Hi Stephen,
I’m sorry to hear that. As you are self-employed you may be eligible for support through the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. This will provide a grant worth 80% of your average profit up to £2,500/month. We are awaiting the exacts details on this scheme, but if you have filed a 2019 tax return then HMRC will be in contact in early June and payments will be backdated to March.
While you wait for this payment you may be eligible for Universal Credit if your savings are less than £16,000. You can check if you are eligible on our free calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
It’s also worth noting that there is a 5-week wait for your first payment from Universal Credit. You can ask for an advance which is a loan that is repayable back to the Government.
I hope this helps and please do get in touch if you have any further questions,
Best wishes
Hello,
I recently started a new job at the start of February, and due to the effect the coronavirus has had on the economy, my current employer has lost a large portion of their client base, and have had to let me go as a result (as well as other people).
The decision was made a day or so before the government stepped in to help, however my employer is sticking with their original decision (it appears that he is wrapping the company up as a result).
My job has been lost as a direct result of Covid-19, therefore is there any temporary income support I could be eligible for? I’ve never claimed benefits or UC in my life, I’ve never had to and nor do I want to, but i’m now a victim of a complete knee-jerk reaction from an employer. I’ve had a job interview today that I’m waiting to hear back from and I’m regularly applying for roles in the profession I work in, but until that time comes, I have a mortgage and bills to pay – I don’t want to claim any kind of benefits or UC until it’s absolutely necessary for me, so I just wondered what options I have, if any.
Many thanks,
Dan
Hi Dan,
There isn’t any support specifically targetted at those that have lost their jobs directly due to Covid-19. But if your income is affected as a result and your savings are below £16,000 you should consider applying for Universal Credit. If you pay Council Tax you may also be able to claim Council Tax Support from your local Council. To find out your eligibility and how much you might receive you can use our online calculator: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
If you’ve been in employment for the last 2-3 years, you may also be eligible for JSA based on National Insurance (‘New Style JSA’). This doesn’t have a savings limit, so you can apply even if you have savings over £16,000. You can find more information here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance
You may also want to check our page dedicated to providing up to date information about other support available, here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/
I hope this helps and best wishes,
Fabiana
Hi
I am a single parent with 2 children , I work full time and receive UC to supplement my income . I am now on 80% of my salary , will my UC increase as my earnings will be less ?
Hi Suzanne,
Yes, the 80% Job Retention Scheme will exist alongside the existing benefits system. This means that you will still be able to claim Universal Credit, and the amount you will receive will be calculated in the same way as before. You can use our calculator to estimate what this will be.
Best,
Fabiana
I am 70 and still work I’ve been told by my employer that I do not qualify for the 80% wage that the government has agreed to pay as I do not pay NI is this right
Hi Neil,
As long as paid through PAYE then from information available at the moment it appears that your employer can take this grant.
If we find out anything more we will post details here.
However, it is up to your employer whether to take the grant or not.
Best wishes
My employer is choosing to make people redundant rather than offer the 80% scheme. Are they allowed to do this?
Hi PAS,
Yes, they are. Unfortunately there’s is nothing in place in the legislation that protects jobs; instead the Government has opted to encourage employers to avoid job losses where they can. If you have been laid off you can claim some immediate financial assistance via ‘guarantee pay’, which will pay a maximum of £29 per day over five days in a 3-month period (this will be lower if your work was part-time or your daily wage below £29).
There are other, more long-term, options available depending on your circumstances if you have lost your job. In particular, you may want to apply for Universal Credit to support you. Below are some helpful links you might find useful:
1. Benefit and budgeting calculator
You can use our calculator to work out if you are eligible for benefits (including Universal Credit) and how much you can expect to receive.
2. Information about benefits and Covid-19
We have a page dedicated to keeping up to date with policy announcements. This is because the Government has enacted emergency policies (resulting in more financial support) in the face of the current Covid-19 pandemic: such as support if you are private renter, if you have a mortgage and/or if you have a pre-payment meter for your household bills.
3. Apply for Universal Credit (Government page)
Applications for Universal Credit are done mostly online. It is recommended that you work through a benefits calculator first to check that you are eligible.
Best,
Fabiana
Hi, I have no hours due to the virus but have only been with company for less than three weeks, my husband gets state retirement pension but I am struggling to claim any benefits as I do not earn enough to pay national insurance, we are not entitled to pension credit and have been turned down previously for universal credit, this would affect our rent/council tax benefit if we claimed, what can we do
Hi Debra,
If your only income is your husbands state retirement pension you should be able to claim Universal Credit, especially if you have rent and council tax payments. I am presuming that this is due to having savings over £16,000? Unfortunately if this is the case you will not be able to claim Universal Credit until your savings drop under this amount. You can use our calculator to see if you would be eligible.
I wish you all the best
Hi – my life partner and I are both self-employed with an average annual gross profit of £10,000 and £17,000 respectively. We live together with our one child who is 11 years old. Any benefits calculator linked to the gov.uk website has concluded that we are ineligible for Universal Credit and that we may be eligible for £144 perweek jointly and £20 perweek for our child in ESA benefit. Our fixed outgoings, utilities + mortgage + house insurance +service charge (not including phone or food or any other bills) are £826. We have a back up fund of £2500 in our current account. All work has been cancelled. We are creatives and can, limitedly, continue to create at home. We have no other income. Is it correct that the most that we may be able to claim right now is £656 pmonth?
Hi Cat,
You will only be able to claim ESA if you are ill, self-isolating, or caring for a child who is self-isolating, and have paid the necssary NI contributions – you can see information on what this is through our calculator. If your income is now down to 0 then you need to put this into the calculator. With zero income it looks like you would get about £775/month and may get some assistance towards your service charge through Universal Credit. This will go up by about £100/month from April. The Government has introduced a new initiative in response to Covid 19 so that self-employed actual income is taken into account rather than a notional income. In your case, the actual income will be 0 so you are likely to get some assistance. You should put in a claim for UC and for Council Tax Support (with your local council) as soon as possible as these cannot be backdated.
Best wishes
I live with my 80 year old mother who has alzheimers. A week ago she fell and broke her right shoulder, replacement given by great NHS staff. I normally work two 12 hour shifts in a care home. Unfortunately due to mums accident and 12 week recommended isolation by the government I am unable to work. The care home have offered me a week SSP, what else can I claim. They have already told me they are not participating in the Government 80% wages payment.
Hi Amanda,
Thank you for getting in touch. I am presuming that you are ill and so receiving SSP? If that is the case, then your SSP should last 26 weeks. If you are ill and your SSP ends then you can claim contributory ESA if you have paid enough NI contributions. You should also claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if you are liable for Council Tax. It is important to claim as soon as possible as these aren’t backdated. You can use our calculator to see what you may be eligible for.
I wish you all the best
Hi i am self employed doing 16hrs a week, claiming children tax and working tax credits and also a full time student nurse. Currently i have no hours of work as people are self isolating, do i need to ring up children tax credit and explain this and also what does this mean for me with my benefits?
Hi Hayley,
If you are now working less than 16 hours/week you will need to move to Universal Credit. This will be assessed using zero income due to the new Government support for self-employed people from April 2020. You can use our benefits calculator to see what you may be eligible for. Your Universal Credit will get an amount for you and for your children and an amount for being a carer. If you pay rent you will also get help towards the rent. If the 5 week wait causes an issue, you can ask for an advance immediately after claiming. The benefit calculator also has links to the application procedure.
Best wishes
Hi ..
I work 16 hours per week and receive tax credits , my company have furloughed me , do I need to contact tax credits to tell them this ?
Hi Sue,
We are waiting for further information on how the tax credits hours rules will apply under COVID-19.
It is likely that they will be suspended but we do not know for sure. As soon as we know we will post details on this site.
In the meantime, it is probably best to inform HMRC of the situation.
Best wishes,
Alannah
I’m just trying to find out if I can get finance support during covid19 lockdown, I’m self employed. YES OR NO in plain ENGLISH
Every thing I click into is of no use at all
Yes you may get Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if your savings are under £16,000. Otherwise not. How much you get will depend on your and your partner’s income. You can use the calculator here to see if you would qualify. Put in the income you receive now rather than your income before Covid-19. We are expecting a new announcement regarding additional support for the self-employed any time soon.
Hello, I’m having difficulties applying for any of the benefits re recent corona virus updates. I am a student who works part time to pay for my private tenant property. All the calculators are saying I cannot apply as my student status does not allow me to complete any of the forms. I don’t know who to contact and I can’t go see anyone after last night’s update to close everything/stay indoors. Can anyone help my case? Very worried about not being able to pay my landlord rent. Thanks
Hi Jodie,
Part time students can claim UC. Most of the free calculators do not allow students to use them as student claims are complicated. However, as a part time student you can claim Universal Credit. Use the calculator as a non student and enter your grant or loan as other income to see if you are eligible. You should claim as soon as possible as it cannot be backdated.
I wish you all the best
Hi I’m a sole trader . Window cleaner due to the present situation I’m unable to work . I live in a private rental . What can I claim
Hi Paul,
If you have less than £16,000 you should claim Universal Credit. You should claim as soon as possible as this cannot be backdated. If you pay Council tax, you can also claim Council Tax Support. You can use our calculator to see if you are eligible for both of these.
I wish you all the best
Hi,
I was made redundant in February (the company went into administration) I have been claiming job seekers allowance and looking for a new role but I am pregnant and due to the corona virus I now need to self isolate so I can not find work. My husband is self employed but his business is only a year old and getting started so we really need my salary to cover our mortgage and house hold bills. We can not live on job seekers allowance for the next 12 weeks are there any other benefits I can claim?
Hi,
How much you can claim will depend on your partner’s income. You may be able to top up your JSA with Unviersal Credit. You can use our calculator to see how much you can get. If you are eligible for support then you should claim as soon as possible as this cannot be backdated. You may also be eligible for Council Tax Support – the calculator will show you if this is the case. Again, you should claim as soon as possible.
I wish you all the best
Hi there, is THE 80% of wages before tax or take home money? Ta
Hi Matilda,
It is our understanding that the payment will be 80% of your wages before tax. We will be updating our dedicated Covid-19 page, here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/, as soon as we hear more clarification.
Best wishes
Fabiana
I see I dont deserve a reply for a simple question. Thanks for no help.
Hi Matilda,
In case you missed it earlier, my colleague has provided a previous reply.
It is our understanding that the payment will be 80% of your wages before tax. We will be updating our dedicated Covid-19 page, here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/, as soon as we hear more clarification.
We wish you all the best. If you have any more questions, please do come back to us.
Alannah
i am a self employed builder who has been on short time since xmas but in the last 4 weeks i have worked 6 or 7 days so all my bills have caught me up it is now obvious
that i shall have no income for the foreseeable future apart from my wifes 6 hrs a week as a dinner lady at our local school.
i need direction in what to claim and where, i am not very well informed about benefits and not very computer savvy.
any assistance would be welcome
with thanks
paul seddon
Hi Paul,
Thanks for getting in touch. There are a number of ways to get financial support. Universal Credit is the main benefit, but there are additional forms of support such as Council Tax Support.
You can use our online calculator to find out if how much you can receive if you apply for these benefits, here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. When you’ve completed the calculation you can click on ‘Universal Credit’ and on ‘Council Tax Support’ to apply for these benefits respectively. Applications are online so you may want to ask somebody in your house to assist with this, or you can call the helplines for them to guide you in the process.
If you are struggling to meet housing costs such as rent you can also look into Discretionary Housing Payments – your local council will have information on this and details of how to apply on their website.
Lastly, I would recommend that you take a look at our dedicated Covid-19 page, where we discuss the various support options available as a result of Covid-19. See here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/. The page has information about support with mortgage costs, rent, covering your bills if you use a pre-payment meter, and getting help for children that qualify for Free School Meals.
I hope this helps, and best wishes
Fabiana
I work for a driver hire company have worked consistently for last five months nothing at all now what do they to do reg pay. They just say claim universal credit and are not helpful at all.
Hi Mark,
You can use our online calculator to find out whether you are eligible for Universal Credit: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. The calculator also includes a link to the government pages where you can start your UC application. The calculator will also show you other support you might be eligible for, and provide instructions on how to apply. You may also be eligible for Council Tax Support.
If your employer has kept you on, they can get help paying your wages through the new Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This can cover 80% of your normal wages while you are not working during the COVID-19 measures. You should talk to your employer about this (they can find information about the scheme on the government’s website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme).
You might also find our dedicated COVID-19 page useful: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/. The page has information about support with mortgage costs, rent etc, and we are updating it regularly as the government announce new changes.
I hope this is helpful, but please do let us know if you have further questions.
Im self imployed and have had to shut my business. im also a pensioner .what can I claim please
Hi,
Thanks for getting in touch. You may be eligible for pension credit and/or Council Tax Support. You can use our calculator to see if you are eligible. If so you should make a claim as soon as possible.
Best wishes
I live in a one bedroom flat , my partner has been told to self isolate for 12 weeks because of a lung illness, I work in a supermarket as a delivery driver so I am expected to work, but I have chose not to work because I do not want to infect my partner because I would be mixing with lots of people ,including people self isolating with the virus. can I clam anything if so what ?
Hi Peter,
Your employer can take out a grant to cover 80% of your salary and use this to pay you whilst you are not working – you should check with your employer and see if they intend to do this or not. If not and you have under £16,000 savings, you should claim Universal Credit and Council Tax Support as soon as possible as this cannot be backdated. I would recommend that you take a look at our dedicated Covid-19 page, where we discuss the various support options available as a result of Covid-19. The page has information about support and links to our calculator which you can use to see how much support you will get.
Best wishes
I’m on maternity leave will I still get my SMP through my work now they have had to close due to COVID-19
Hi Vanessa,
If your company is still trading, although shut at the moment, then they should still cover your SMP and reclaim this from the Government in the usual way. If the company closes down you should claim Universal Credit as soon as possible as this cannot be backdated. If you pay Council Tax you should also claim this from your local council. If the situation regarding your company is unclear still claim UC as soon as possible, if the company does continue your SMP then this will be deducted from any award but if not you will not have lost time waiting to claim. Our pages here provide information and links around these benefits and links to our benefit calculator so that you can see how much Universal Credit you will get should your SMP end.
I wish you all the best
Hello. I am totally confused, having read many different articles on financial support for those affected by corona virus.
I work as a self employed caterer, and have been running a cafe at our local church for the last 20years.
. The church has now closed and I am now without an income.
Please could you advise me which, if any, benefit I may be entitled to?
I have paid all my NI contributions up to date.
Many thanks.
Rosemary Bennett
Hi Rosemary,
So sorry to hear that- it’s a really worrying time.
The Government is providing business loans that may help you to keep your business going during Covid-19. You can find out more by clicking here: http://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme-cbils/
You may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if you have less than £16,000 in savings. You can find out if you’re eligible by using our Benefits Calculator to see how much you may get: betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
All the best,
Louise
Hi I’m a self employed builder who has managed to keep my job throughout the lockdown period and have not been affected by a drop in work or income and still paying tax; do I have to accept the gov. Self employed 80% scheme as I do not feel entitled to it as I am still working.
Many thanks ,john.
Hi John,
HMRC will be contacting self employees and encouraging them to claim for the support. In order to receive the support, you must show reduced earnings at least, so it sounds like you may be ineligible anyway but you could of course decline the invitation to apply in any case.
All the best.
please help. my husband works two days a week for nottingham police and takes home 900 pound. we have a first aid business teaching first aid and covering events such as velodrome and fetes over summer. most of our money will come from that but as virus has hit we will not be bringing any money in at all within our company.
my husband is not sick and i am still working as a paramedic within custody and obviously concerned that bills mortgage will not be able to get paid. can we get any assistance at all please
Hi Gail,
Sorry to hear this, it’s a really worrying time.
The Government is providing business loans to self-employed people – this may help you to keep your business going during Covid-19. You can find more information here http://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme-cbils/
You may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if you have less than £16,000 in savings and your income is low. You can find out if you’re eligible by using our Benefits Calculator: betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Finally, The Government has announced measures to allow those affected by Covid-19 to have a three month mortgage holiday. This means that you will not need to pay your mortgage for three months and the debt will be added to future repayments, or the mortgage will be extended. It is important to understand the implications for future repayments, so you should contact your mortgage provider for more information.
All the best,
Louise
hello at present im on adhoc hours if get laid off I will need help to pay my rent which is paid to a private landlord the cost of rent is 470 a mth also I need money foe my electric can you give me info for which site I must enter to get the help I need please
Hi Ian,
You should be protected during this time by the Government’s ‘Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme’. This is a package of support from the Government to o businesses to help them to retain staff. It will allow employers to cover 80% of employees wages (up to £2,500/month per employee), even if you won’t be working due to Coronavirus. This applies to you whether you are part time, fulltime, or on a zero hours contract. Your employer should be able to tell you more about this.
You may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if your income is low and you have savings less than £16,000. You can find out if you’re eligible by using our Benefits Calcuator: https://betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
All the best,
Louise
Hello ..
I have just been laid off from my job due to the cv.
I want to apply for job allowance benefit,and need advice please.
Hi Kim,
So sorry to hear that, it’s a really worrying time.
If you have worked and paid sufficient National Insurance contributions in the last two years, you may be eligible for contributory Jobseekers Allowance (sometimes called “new-style” JSA). You can find out more and apply by clicking here: https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/eligibility
You may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax support if you have less than £16,000 in savings and your household income is low. You can find out if you’re eligible by using our Benefits Calculator: betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
All the best,
Louise
Hello, I have a question, if my work and my husband were closed due to a virus, where can we apply for funds?
Hi Sylwia,
If your work has been closed, you may be protected by the Government’s new ‘Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme’. This is a package of support that the Government has offered to businesses to help them to retain staff. The Government is offering employers grants to cover 80% of employees wages, up to £2,500/month per employee. Your employer can use this grant to pay your wages during this period, even if you are not going into work. This applies whether you are part time, fulltime, or on a zero hours contract.
If you have lost your job and have paid sufficient National Insurance contributions in the last two years, you may be eligible for contributory Jobseekers Allowance (sometimes called “new-style” JSA). You can find out more and apply by clicking here: https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/eligibility
Finally, if you have less than £16,000 in savings and your household income is low, you may qualify for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can find out if you’re eligible by using our Benefits Calculator: betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
All the best,
Louise
Dear Sir/Madam, thank you for the information provided. I would like to ask the question in the relation of exposing to the risk of travelling from home to work via public transport. I work in social care as adult social care; live-in. Using public transport appears very dangerous with a high risk of contamination. Currently, I am on-off for 2 weeks. I am worried about coming back to work. I am looking for PPE including the mask with appropriate filter and eye protection. Unfortunately, the term expected delivery of purchase is 1 month. Rent private transport is very expensive in proportion to my income. I must pay the rent, bills, council tax, coach travel ticket, living cost. Can I ask for advice and support regarding this issue?
Thank you for your consideration.
Hi Elwira,
At Policy in Practice our mission is to help people to navigate and make the most of the benefits system, including in the context of flux due to Covid-19. In terms of health advice and precautions to be taken due to Covid-19, however, you will find that other organisations are better placed to provide expert advice.
I’ve found the following pages which might be useful:
• Government advice for those providing adult care
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-residential-care-supported-living-and-home-care-guidance/covid-19-guidance-on-home-care-provision
• Carers UK has written about precautions as a carer
https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/health/looking-after-your-health/coronavirus-covid-19
If your income is low, you may also be able to claim benefits such as the mean-tested Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You can find out your eligibility and amount on our online calculator: . There are also frequent updates to do with benefits and the measures the Governent are putting in place to provide extra support. We will write about these (insofar as they relate to welfare benefits) here:
I am a self employed sole trader with a retail premises on my local high street, since the beginning of March my turnover is down to about 20% of normal and is still dropping, my profit at this point isn’t even going to cover my business water rates. I will have no income to pay my lease, my phone/broadband etc and if I am expected to shutter my business for 3 months I won’t even be able to cover the water bill after this month. I will have a shortfall of about £800 each month and no way to cover it. Since my accommodation is directly tied to my business premises if I lose my business (very likely at this point) I will also lose my accommodation so in one step I will become both unemployed and homeless after spending (literally) every penny I have on the business, working a full 6 day week for that two years for less than nothing.
Hi Hugh,
So sorry to hear this, it’s a really worrying time.
If your business is in retail, hospitality or leisure, your business rates will be suspended for the tax year 2020-21. If you are a small business and currently pay little or no business rates, you may be eligible for a one-off grant of £10,000 to help meet your ongoing business costs. You can find out more information here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses
You may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if your savings are less than £16,000. You can find out if you’re eligible by using our Benefits Calculator: betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Regarding your water bill, I would recommend getting in touch with your water supplier and explaining your situation to them – they may be able to help you during this uncertain time.
All the best,
Louise
I am self employed my business is drying up quickly because of the knock on effects of Coronavirus ….what do o do for income? What and how do I claim?
Hi there. I’m sorry to hear about how this is affecting you, it’s a really worrying time.
If you are not ill, but your income has decreased due to the knock-on effects of Coronavirus, the Government is providing business loans that may help you to keep your business going during this period. You can fine more information here http://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme-cbils/
You may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support if you have less than £16,000 in savings and your income is low. You can find out if you are eligible by using our Benefits Calculator: betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
All the best,
Louise
IM UBER DRIVER. I DIDNT EARN ANY MONEY TO COVER MY LIFE EXPENCE SO PLEASE ADVICE E WHAT CAN I DO
Hi Lasar,
The main benefit that offers financial support is Universal Credit. Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit to top up your income, providing you meet certain criteria. There are also additional forms of support available: for example, Local Council Tax Support (to assist with your Council Tax payments – this is provided by your local council) and Discretionary Housing Payments (to assist with housing costs – also provided by your local council). Below are some helpful links in relation to Universal Credit and financial assistance that you might find useful:
1. Benefit and budgeting calculator
You can use our calculator to work out if you are eligible for benefits (including Universal Credit) and how much you can expect to receive here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free.
2. Information about benefits and Covid-19
We have a page dedicated to keeping up to date with policy announcements. This is because the Government has enacted emergency policies (resulting in more financial support) in the face of the current Covid-19 pandemic: such as support if you are private renter, if you have a mortgage and/or if you have a pre-payment meter for your household bills. You can access the page here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/
3. Apply for Universal Credit (Government page)
Applications for Universal Credit are done mostly online and can be made here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit. It is recommended that you work through a benefits calculator first to check that you are eligible.
4. Find the website for your local council
You can search for your local council tax support information by entering your postcode below. Your council’s webpage will also have information about Discretionary Housing Payments.
https://www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction
I am a self -employed free lancing musician – all my concert bookings, which provide my only income have been postponed because of corona virus. I pay self employed national insurance. I am single 33 yrs old and live in rented accommodation What do you advise? I have £12,000 savings. Many Thanks
Hi Fred,
So sorry to hear that. If you are registered as a small business, the Government is providing business loans that may help you to keep your business going during Covid-19. You can find out more by clicking here.
You may also be eligible for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support since your savings are less than £16,000. You can find out if you’re eligible by using our Benefits Calculator to see how much you may get: betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. If you are eligible, you will need to make two applications: one for Universal Credit, and another to your local council for Council Tax Support.
All the best,
Louise
I work in duck bay and my work has no work for me at min coz of this covid19 what can i calm
Hi Phillip,
Thanks for getting in touch. There are a number of ways to get financial support if you have lost your job due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Universal Credit is the main benefit, but there are additional forms of support such as Council Tax Support.
You can use our online calculator to find out if how much you can receive if you apply for these benefits, here: https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free. When you’ve completed the calculation you can click on ‘Universal Credit’ and on ‘Council Tax Support’ to apply for these benefits respectively.
If you are struggling to meet housing costs such as rent you can also look into Discretionary Housing Payments – you local council will have information on this and details of how to apply on their website.
Lastly, I would recommend that you take a look at our dedicated Covid-19 page, where we discuss the various support options available as a result of Covid-19. See here: https://policyinpractice.co.uk/your-income-and-coronavirus-covid-19/.
The page has information about support with mortgage costs, rent, covering your bills if you use a pre-payment meter, and getting help for children that qualify for Free School Meals.
I hope this helps, and best wishes
Fabiana
Hi ive just started a new job the 16th march ive sighned an agreement to be furloughed but now being told i will not be eligible to recieve the 80% is this right? what can i do as ive never been out of work but have no savings to see me through this difficult time.
Hi Matt,
We are seeing more and more people who have been hit like this. It is really unfortunate for you. As you were not employed on the 28th February the Job Retention Scheme cannot apply to you. Your employer will need to decide whether to keep paying your wages, or come to an unpaid leave arrangement, or lay you off.
If you are laid off, you are likely to be able to claim contributory JSA. But if your employer retains you on unpaid leave you will not be available for work and so cannot claim this. In either situation you should also apply for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support. You should claim these as soon as possible as they cannot be backdated.
More information on these benefits is available on this page.
I wish you the best of luck,
Alannah