Being self employed and the coronavirus

[HappyHippyDad]

Morning all.

I have had nearly all my jobs cancelled now. Still got a weeks work ahead but then perhaps 1 day a week. I was wondering if anyone new what the government plans are for the self employed with regards finance?

This might be a good thread to add to as new government plans come out.

All I really know if that they are postponing the July tax payment.

I expect I'll continue to get small jobs over the next few months perhaps amounting to a day a week, perhaps emergency jobs only, who knows. Does this mean I'll still be able to get some financial help even though I still have work?

It's all a bit confusing.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Whatever they decide to do it will be to their advantage and not yours, they don't give money away without recouping it in some way.

 

[telectrix]

it's our money anyway. we've paid it allin taxes. time to get some of itback.

 

[westward10]

At present the financial help is aimed at the employed so whether this is an over sight which will be addressed we will see as the self-employed sector are kicking up a fuss.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I am not saying we shouldn't, but how will all those poor politicians pay for their next pay rise if they don't keep something back.

 

[westward10]

This isn't about politician knocking. It seems the powers that be want to help.

 

[Strima]

Luckily I have savings to fall back on so I'm not overly concerned.

As I'm high risk as are two of my girls I've decided to sack work and keep my distance. Working on BT street cabs is grotty at the best of time but the risk of infection is too much for me to keep working.

 

[snowhead]

It seems S/E is being looked at.
The issue they've got with payments is they're trying to use existing systems, so amongst other things they know they're paying to genuine people and not scammers, who will of course be out in their thousands.

The U.S plan of sending a cheque for every household for $1500 or so doesn't seem a good idea when all the Millionaires and Billionaires will also get them.

 

[Vortigern]

I must say @Strima I am in the same boat praise be, we could afford a protracted period without work. I actually do worry about the guys on the forum who are not so lucky and will experience hardship with no work. Indeed the wider community as well. It is worrying but at the same time so many mixed messages that I am not sure which way to jump. So I err on the side of caution. The builders I work with say it's a load of B%%$%%s, which I think is pretty stupid! The expectation seems to be I should work but...why take the risk it is at least for me non essential strictly speaking.

 

[Pretty Mouth]

Universal credit apparently:

[Withdrawn] Support for those affected by COVID-19

www.gov.uk

 

[littlespark]

Reading up on the govt website doesn't really clarify a self employed position.
It says, "if you are self employed and self isolating"
Well, its only self isolating if you or someone in your family is showing symptoms..and guidelines said to self isolate for 2 weeks until the symptoms passed.
None of us are self isolating. My kids are off school, because its closed to non-critical workers children, my wife runs baby classes and her head office has shut them down and im the self employed.
I am thinking of just stopping all work now, but will I get the universal credit?

 

[FatAlan]

It’s Cummings plan still for the self employed to carry on spreading as he’s all for the herd immunity scenario and is not worried about a few pensioners. Still, good majority voted for this deceiving bunch of criminals so the public gets what the public wants!

 

[DPG]

It’s Cummings plan still for the self employed to carry on spreading as he’s all for the herd immunity scenario and is not worried about a few pensioners. Still, good majority voted for this deceiving bunch of criminals so the public gets what the public wants!

Seems to me the government are handling things pretty well considering. Certainly better than some other countries. And to say they dont care about pensioners dying is pretty unbelievable to be honest.

 

[littlespark]

Pack it in!
This is a discussion about Covid-19 and what we can do to support ourselves as work dries up. Not a have-another-go-at-the-government right now chat.

Ive just had the old house job suspending works for the time being, so im really thinking of just stopping myself and staying put in the house. Will I get support financially if I am choosing not to work and not actually "self isolating"

 

[Baddegg]

Bit harsh @FatAlan....people didn’t vote for this at all no one saw it coming, people voted as to who they felt best represented their views and aspirations of the future, sounds like more sour grapes from the socialist left wingers (or anyone who’s spent they life mollycoddled in state employment) I’m not a fan Particularly of this or any other government but to use this situation as a point scoring political exercise is disgusting...you should be ashamed, I’m very impressed on the whole with how this country has come together and all trying they best in a very bad situation!

 

[Mike Johnson]

Ok chaps, back to the Corona virus.

 

[happysteve]

Back to @happyhippydad 's original post:

I've had some jobs postponed - from older folk, or those with health issues - until it all blows over (so not outright cancelled), but most bookings still want to go ahead.

I've been phoning/emailing folk with bookings coming up, explaining I'm perfectly happy to postpone if they want. Where it's older clients, and the work is elective rather than a safety issue, I've been trying to put them off.

Enquiries are starting to dry up, and I have no problem with that, it's understandable.

I've been taking precautions when in peoples' homes: touching as little as possible (e.g. bannisters etc) and wiping down everything I do touch as I go or just before I leave. I no longer accept kind offers of tea/coffee.

As time goes on and the social pressure and/or "advice" to avoid "unnecessary" contact ramps up, I suspect I'll be doing safety-related works only.

But it worries me that folk will just try to do things themselves. A couple of times in the last week alone, when doing relatively simple jobs I've uncovered dangerous situations, whereby due to existing faults, they're down to one layer of protection (an earth connection) to avoid electrocution. It's about balancing and assessing the risks (shock/fire risk vs inadvertantly passing on a virus that could kill someone) and it's something I'm just going to have to deal with on a case-by-case basis (until the work runs out and I don't have to worry about it anymore).

Stay safe, folks

 

[buzzlightyear]

no one saw it coming

your wrong on that score ,those bloody airlines company's where still flying in out of china .

 

[SparkyChick]

Guys... Westward has already deleted political points scoring and I've just had to do the same. Keep it up and I'm sure one of us will close the thread.

Now is not the time or place for political arguments. This is a thread about how we are going to cope and what help/advice etc. is available, so grow the f' up and if you can't contribute to the actual topic, take yourself off to another thread.

 

[buzzlightyear]

i have just ordered a cattle prod so if I'm called out to a fault it will come handy ,stay back I said. lol. .