We must do whatever it takes to protect jobs and livelihoods across the UK, and I am pleased at the Government’s continued commitment to supporting the self-employed, who have often been hit hardest by this pandemic. The March budget had extended the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS), notably by expanding the scheme to include 600,000 more people, including the newly self-employed in 2019-20.
It is welcome that the SEISS continued with a fourth and a fifth grant. The fifth grant, covering May to September, was determined by a turnover test to ensure that support is targeted at those who need it the most as the economy and society reopens. This protected millions of jobs across the country and gave people and businesses the support and certainty they needed.
We must do whatever it takes to protect jobs and livelihoods across the UK, and I pleased at the Government’s continued commitment to supporting the self-employed, including self-employed mothers, who have often been hit hardest by this pandemic. I want to assure you that the Government is aware and actively considers the challenges faced by mothers, and those with periods of maternity leave. The amount of any SEISS scheme grant was determined based on the applicant’s average profits from self-employment in the previous three tax years, as reported through their tax returns. By calculating the grant on average of three years of profit, the scheme effectively supported people who saw a drop in profits for any reason, including pregnancy. As you may be aware, a legal challenge was launched over this, and I am pleased the judge confirmed that the Government properly considers the situation of women and self-employed mothers.
Claims for the fifth SEISS grant have now closed. The last date for making a claim was 30 September 2021.
I am also not currently aware of plans to backdate SEISS to March and April 2020.
Since March 2020, the SEISS has helped around 2.9 million people, with claims totalling £27.1 billion. These have been a lifeline for individuals, yet I know it remains a difficult time for many self-employed people.