These are the emergency benefits for self-employed workers during lockdown - and how to claim

With the UK now under lockdown, the government has been forced to introduce a series of emergency measures in order to support workers.

While the government is to cover 80 per cent of salaries for all UK employers under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, supporting workers who would otherwise have been laid off, the current health crisis poses greater uncertainty for those who are self-employed.

However, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said the government will help to pay people’s wages and offer support to those who work for themselves.

Can self-employed workers claim Universal Credit?

If you are self-employed you are able to claim Universal Credit, provided you meet the usual eligibility criteria, according to gov.uk.

This criteria includes the following:

- you’re on a low income or out of work

- you’re 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)

- you’re under State Pension age (or your partner is)

- you and your partner have £16,000 or less in savings between you

- you live in the UK

The Chancellor has said he will suspend the minimum income floor (MIF), which applies to those who have been self-employed for more than 12 months.

The MIF assumes that those who are self-employed work 35 hours per week and earn the minimum wage. However, from 6 April the requirements of the Minimum Income Floor will be temporarily relaxed.

This change will apply to all Universal Credit claimants, and will last for the duration of the coronavirus outbreak. New claimants will not need to attend the jobcentre to demonstrate gainful self-employment.

Can self-employed workers claim sick pay?

Self-employed workers do not have access to statutory sick pay (SSP), but the government has said that if you are ill, or you have been advised to self-isolate, you will be able to claim Universal Credit or new style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).