New government tool checks you’re eligible for £7,500 self-employed grant
SELF-employed workers can use a new government tool to check if they’re eligible for a coronavirus grant offering up to £7,500.
The tool is part of the new self-employment income support scheme (SEISS) which opens for applications today.
The scheme has been set up to help support self-employed workers who’ve been unable to work during the coronavirus lockdown.
As part of the help, the government will give grants worth 80 per cent of total profits, up to £2,500 a month.
SEISS can be backdated to cover March, April and May meaning you could claim up to £7,500.
The self-employed scheme is similar to the government’s furlough help for workers on PAYE payroll.
You'll need to log in to the service on your given date and time to put forward your claim.
HMRC says the money will then being paid into your account six days later.
This means the first batch of payments, from those who've been chosen to apply today, May 13, should hit bank accounts on May 21.
If you miss your claim window, or forget to check your eligibility, you'll still be able to apply beyond May 18.
The government has yet to officially announce an end date for SEISS.
You can check the status of your claim .
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Previously, the scheme was due to go live in June but the government has fast-forwarded this date.
For those who don't have internet access, HMRC says it will be contacting these people separately.