C19 BUSINESS NEWS UPDATE

by Rob Stokes

Published on 2nd June 2020

CHANCELLOR EXTENDS SELF-EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT SCHEME

The government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will be extended, giving more security to individuals whose livelihoods are adversely affected by coronavirus in the coming months, the Chancellor announced on Friday 29 May 2020. Rishi Sunak announced the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will be extended – with those eligible able to claim a second and final grant capped at £6,570.

• Individuals can continue to apply for the first SEISS grant until 13 July. Under the first grant, eligible individuals can claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering three months’ worth of profits, and capped at £7,500 in total. Those eligible have the money paid into their bank account within six working days of completing a claim.
• Applications for the second grant will open in August. Individuals will be able to claim a second taxable grant worth 70% of their average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering three months’ worth of profits, and capped at £6,570 in total.
• The eligibility criteria are the same for both grants, and individuals will need to confirm that their business has been adversely affected by coronavirus. An individual does not need to have claimed the first grant to receive the second grant: for example, they may only have been adversely affected by COVID-19 in this later phase.

Further guidance on the second grant will be published on Friday 12 June and we will keep you up to date with the details when we know them. See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-self-employment-income-support-scheme?utm_source=95036a42-e8c3-49f3-8f73-6300a69ea34a&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

TAX-FREE CHILDCARE AND 30 HOURS FREE CHILDCARE DURING CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

To help make sure critical workers can continue to access the childcare they need to enable them to work, even if their circumstances have changed during the Pandemic, the Government have made some temporary changes.

Find out about temporary changes that may affect you if you are applying for, or already getting, Tax-Free Childcare or 30 hours free childcare here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-can-get-tax-free-childcare-and-30-hours-free-childcare-during-coronavirus-covid-19?utm_source=5cea66ef-bdea-4149-af68-be0015ce3b32&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

The changes may affect you if you, or someone you live with, are:

• on furlough
• not able to work or you are working less
• self-employed
• a critical worker

If you are on furlough:

If your employer has no work for you they might be able to keep you on the payroll and put you on temporary leave instead. This is known as being put ‘on furlough’ and you are paid 80% of wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

You should apply, or reconfirm if you already have a childcare account, if your wage, and your partner’s wage if you have one, is:

• at least the National Minimum Wage for 16 hours a week
• below the normal minimum income requirement, but you would normally expect to meet the income requirement

If you are not able to work or you are working less

You should apply or reconfirm if you already have a childcare account if you are:

• getting sick pay or statutory sick pay (SSP) – time spent on sick pay or SSP will count as working and meeting the minimum income requirement
• taking unpaid leave to care for others, such as your children – if you expect your income to meet the minimum income requirement (at least the National Minimum Wage for 16 hours a week) after coronavirus
• living with someone who has coronavirus – you must stay at home – if you expect your income to meet the minimum income agreement (at least the National Minimum Wage for 16 hours a week) after coronavirus
• working less, your hours have been reduced and your wage:
• meets the minimum earnings requirement
• is below the normal minimum earnings requirement but you would normally expect to earn above it

If you are self-employed

You should apply or reconfirm if you already have a childcare account if you are:

continuing to work, and your earnings:

• are above the minimum earnings requirement
• are below the normal minimum earnings requirement but you would normally expect to earn above it

not able to get work because of coronavirus:

• you may be eligible to claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme – payments made to you through the scheme will count as earnings
• and you are not eligible for self-employed income support but would expect to earn at least the minimum income requirement

If you are claiming Universal Credit

If you are now claiming Universal Credit and were getting:

• Tax-Free Childcare, you cannot apply or reconfirm for Tax-Free Childcare – if you stop claiming Universal Credit you can apply for Tax-Free Childcare again
• 30 hours free childcare, and you meet the revised minimum income requirement or would expect to normally, you should apply or reconfirm if you already have a childcare account

If you missed the 31 March deadline

If you have missed the application or reconfirmation deadline for 30 hours free childcare, you should apply or reconfirm if you already have a childcare account. Local authorities will be able to extend the validity dates on 30 hours codes for eligible critical worker parents during the summer term.

If you are a critical worker and If you are working more

If you are a critical worker you may have exceeded the maximum income threshold of £100,000 per year – If this is because of increased hours as a direct result of coronavirus, you will still be eligible for 30 hours and Tax-Free Childcare for the current tax year.

See more: https://www.gov.uk/apply-30-hours-free-tax-free-childcare

INFORMATION FOR FARMERS, LANDOWNERS AND RURAL BUSINESSES 

Farm visits and inspections

The Government is planning a phased return to on-farm visits and site inspections. These will begin next week (week commencing 1 June) and will be based on business priority, starting with Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship inspections.

To ensure they work within the regulations arising from COVID-19, they will adopt a revised approach to inspections, including the use of technology and remote inspections. They will also contact customers before a visit to find out if there are any issues they need to be aware of, including vulnerability, and they will follow social distancing rules at all times.

Receipts for Environmental Stewardship (ES) claims

The Government will acknowledge receipt of ES claims differently this year. You may receive an email or a letter depending on the contact information they have for you. This is a change from previous years where they confirmed receipt by returning the slip from the front of your claim form.

Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19)

On 11 May, the government published updated guidance setting out its plan to return life to as near normal as possible.

RPA continues to work closely with Natural England and the Forestry Commission. They will continue to provide any updates to the service while maintaining vital services and ensuring the safety of staff and customers.

Government updates for farmers, landowners and rural businesses can be found: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-farmers-landowners-and-rural-businesses?utm_source=ff14348c-d60b-4218-80f7-e709cc5b1f15&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate