Being self employed and the coronavirus

[SparkyChick]

If you want to discuss the virus or the politics of the situation... start a thread. Please keep this thread on topic! How many more times???

On the topic at hand...

My phone has gone a little quiet but I have got a bunch of quoted work that people are still wanting to do and a couple of bigger jobs one of which definitely needs doing (rewire for a couple who were supposed to be moving in this weekend). After that, I'm not sure what's happening. I'd like to hibernate but financially I just can't.

I've gradually been ramping up the protection and am now wiping everything down, wearing glove, glasses or goggles to stop me touching my eyes, respirator.

It's scary times and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't really worried as there is a real possibility my hard work on building up my business could disappear down the pan.

 

[Mike Johnson]

You are not going to like this, you have put your earnings before everyone else's safety?

 

[andyb]

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.
[/QUOTE]
SC, you deleted my post in reply to a political point made earlier, my post was reasonable and polite, yet you've kept the origional post defending this goverment.
All threads morph into diferent areass, you'd have to delete about 75% of posts in just about every thread if you struk to that rule.
And do you think it's reasonable to tell a forum member to 'grow te f' up'?

 

[davesparks]

I'm self employed and work primarily in the entertainment industry so have had a slight headstart on the work vanishing and it's pretty scary to be honest.
Luckily this week we had a job in a local school so I have done a full week's work, but now I'm scratching around for anything I can get.

I hope the government can find a way to help the self employed, I appreciate it is more of a challenge to support us as there aren't normally the systems in place to do so.

The other issue affecting me is that I rent privately, another thing it is very hard to provide government help for. The government know who all of the mortgage companies are and can contact them to arrange help for those with mortgages, there is no easy way for them to contact all of the private landlords or provide help to the tenants.

 

[buzzlightyear]

we are all in the same boat and we are all rowing in the wrong direction, this post is not going off topic, SC. stand back and say we will all pull togeather.

 

[SparkyChick]

SC, you deleted my post in reply to a political point made earlier, my post was reasonable and polite, yet you've kept the origional post defending this goverment.
All threads morph into diferent areass, you'd have to delete about 75% of posts in just about every thread if you struk to that rule.
And do you think it's reasonable to tell a forum member to 'grow te f' up'?

We're trying to keep the thread on topic as it's perhaps one of the most important threads of the day given what's going on. I don't think anyone has said you can't discuss the virus or the politics here on the forum, just try and keep this thread for it's intended purpose.

As for the f', sorry not necessarily directed at you personally, but I'm getting more than a little agitated these days by people who are trying to use what is a world wide catastrophe for political points scoring. Lets all just try and stay alive long enough to discuss the politics after the event.

 

[westward10]

we are all in the same boat and we are all rowing in the wrong direction, this post is not going off topic, SC. stand back and say we will all pull togeather.

It was going well off topic and multiple posts were deleted.

 

[SparkyChick]

Guys, created a new thread about the ethics of working during the outbreak, moving posts over to there. PLease keep this on topic.

New thread is here:-

Ethics of working during the corona virus pandemic

The truth of the matter is that unless you are responding to an emergency stay at home and isolate yourself and your family, you should only be leaving your isolation to buy food or to collect essential medication. In an ideal world, I'd love to stay home as I'm sure everyone else would, but...

www.electriciansforums.net

Please try and keep this thread on topic - i.e. about the help/information that's available for the self employed and small businesses. Thanks
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Thread re-opened now the discussion about the ethics is going in the new thread. Please try and keep this thread for updates/info about the help/information that's available for small businesses and the self-employed.

 

[ruston]

This may apply to some members who are concerned about mortgages and rent in the short term.

Complete ban on evictions and additional protection for renters

Government announces radical package of measures to protect renters and landlords affected by coronavirus.

www.gov.uk

 

[davesparks]

This may apply to some members who are concerned about mortgages and rent in the short term.

Complete ban on evictions and additional protection for renters

Government announces radical package of measures to protect renters and landlords affected by coronavirus.

www.gov.uk

Yes, it's not quite as good as it seems though.
They've banned evictions for 3 months, but after 3 months they can evict you if you failed to pay your rent during those 3 months.
They have urged landlords to be lenient and allow tenants to pay the missed rent once the crisis is over. So as work is slowly picking up again after this crisis those of us who rent will need to be earning more than ever to pay back the missed rent.
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I'm sure i'm not the only self employed person who has thought about this, supermarkets etc are on a bit of a recruitment drive, they need staff in all departments at the moment. The income would be enough to keep the wolf from the door,

It makes me wish id taken the opportunity to get an HGV licence a couple of years ago, i'd be happy to spend the next few weeks driving trucks of food around.

I couldn't do a public-facing job, not because I fear catching the disease but because I just don't have the temperament for it.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Well it seems that we'll just have to wait and see if we get any financial help and if the process of getting it becomes more simple and clear.

I personally think the American idea of £1000 monthly to everyone is a good idea. It's simple to put into place and negates the need to look into everyones financial circumstances which would take ages and cost a fortune, it is also enough for people to live on if they are frugal.

 

[davesparks]

I personally think the American idea of £1000 monthly to everyone is a good idea. It's simple to put into place and negates the need to look into everyones financial circumstances which would take ages and cost a fortune, it is also enough for people to live on if they are frugal.

Its a good idea, but as with any plan it has it's issues.
Where does the money come from and does it have to be paid back?

 

[Phil L]

I agree £1000 per person would be of a benefit for those that need it, however was that to be a £1000 per household that is another story, how would your average family with let’s say 2-3 children survive on that when you take into account Mortgage/Rent, gas, leccy, water and all the other standard monthly bills, that doesn’t even take into account car/van payments that most people will have especially there self employed

 

[pirate]

These are difficult times, no-one's fault, but a huge shake-up for humanity. I don't know what can be done really, but the fact is the government has certainly tried to help with mortgages and rents and i expect many people will be very glad of that assistance, and I expect more measures will follow. What heartened me yesterday was that the big box at Tesco where folks donate a box of cereal or tins of soup etc for the food banks was overflowing and on asking one of the staff he told me it wasn't just an accumulation but they had had to get the guys to uplift the donations twice as often recently. As for self-employed, like I am, I am retired but not yet of pensionable age so I don't expect any assistance...however, with folks being stuck at home I am very busy doing minor works for loads of people! As I don't usually charge for tiny jobs, my cellar is growing with the bottles i get given, so that's a bonus!
My daughter was offered a new job 2 weeks ago, having been made redundant before Christmas...naturally, as she can be self-employed doing freelance work, she has made a small amount that way, but the new job heralded a big step forward...then last week she got an email saying her new employers couldn't manage to take her on after all, which resulted in the bathroom fitter being put on hold and he has put his tiler and plasterer on hold so none of them have any work for about 2 weeks, with more cancellations coming in daily. The Men's Shed where i volunteer has been closed too...this is sad because we exist to help those who need the company and help of others, so we are in effect failing those we seek to support, but cannot support them in the Shed because many have health issues which require them to be extra careful about contact with others...
and, oddly, my golf course has closed too, which seems daft, but there are some good reasons for this, so instead of golf "spoiling a good walk", I am just going for a walk without my golf clubs, which, to be fair, is less hazardous for those nearby!
Just when I thought things were getting better, here I am STILL supporting my daughter!
On a serious note, being self-employed has a bonus if you are a one-man/woman band, in that you don't have the awful task of laying people off...but if you run a bigger show, it is one of the hardest things to do to tell employees that you have to let them go. Difficult times...

 

[ipf]

Bit harsh @FatAlan....people didn’t vote for this at all no one saw it coming, 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!

I'm with you, generally but I'm sorry to say all this 'herd' mentality being shown in the supermarkets by panic buying, inconsiderate, selfish, ignorant, common senseless, so called fellow citizens is really pi$$ing me off.
Trying to put work together to help others whilst earning, along with many health workers, daily and then coming across these true artisans of life really takes a great deal of class......from our side at least.

 

[JK-Electrical]

Useful information for those of us who are self-employed and may be in need of financial assistance can be obtained via these two links:

COVID-19: support for businesses - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses#support-for-businesses-through-the-coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme

https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme-cbils/for-businesses-and-advisors

 

[Baddegg]

There’s now talk on the news of enforcing a lockdown, I’d like to think if that happens they’d have to sort the issue of self employed people, as much as people would like to comply.,,.kids need feeding bills need paying.....

 

[plugsandsparks]

I am currently on a Ferry coming back from Spain doing the last Calais to Dover crossing leg.
I have flown out to Alicante and drove back with my mum who has been struggling.
Both Spain and France are deserted totally and utterly. This is coming our way so plan for the long term. In terms of Gov support, i think if you give citizens advice a few days to absorb the government intentions i would ring their support line. Citizens advice are specialists in UC and benefits in general so ultimately i would trust their advice over either a website or a rep from DWP.
Hope this helps

 

[Baddegg]

Just watched the PMs latest news conference, not all of it the kids are here ?....but the question I wanted asked was relevant to this thread in that If Simeon the 1.5 m people list is the sole bread winner AND self employed what are the government proposing?

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

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.

as i understand it you could claim universal credit and would get rent or mortgage support, they will base the uc claim on what you earn not assume a certain income.


I share you worry. I am fortunate to have some savings and have checked my diary and have 5 weeks of work booked in, none should be cancelled unless I get sick myself, all are either me outside in the garden or up scaffolding away from people. got lots of ev chargers to fit and still booking them in.
long term I dont know what will happen, by the sounds of it my work should run out come the peak of this virus in the UK when I will probably want to stay home anyway. I had planned for 2 1/2 weeks off at start of June anyway for a now cancelled holiday so will get the 5.2k back for that once the FCO give the dont travel notice for June. the money will keep me going for a while if I need it,