The Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) opened for applications on 13th May 2020, and has since been extended three times, lasting until the end of April 2021.
Whilst the scheme provides some much needed support for most freelancers, not all are able to benefit from the grant.
To qualify for Government help, freelancers must have traded from 2018-2020. For many young workers whose primary income is their freelance work, this means they may not earn a penny during the pandemic.
It’s us smaller people who need the grant and the income, not the bigger companies”
2019 saw a 31 per cent rise in freelancers, all of whom would now be ineligible for support from the Government.
Without the help of the grant, which compensates 80 per cent of workers’ taxable income, many young freelancers and new companies are forced to quit trading.
Our reporter, Emily Weatherill, spoke to Harry Kingston about the collapse of his company and being forced into looking for a new job in the midst of a pandemic.
Read more from Buzz:
Exclusive: Bournemouth nightclub owner predicts half of local venues will be forced to close