From today, the self-employed can start to claim the 2nd SEISS grants (Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grants) if their businesses are still being impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. The deadline for claims is the 19th of October 2020.
If you were eligible for the first grant and can confirm to HMRC that your business has been adversely affected on or after the 14th of July 2020, you’ll be able to make a claim for a 2nd SEISS grants from today. If you weren’t eligible for the first grant then it’s highly unlikely that you will be eligible for the second, for instance if you have only recently become self employed. You can make a claim for the 2nd SEISS grants if you’re eligible, even if you did not make a claim for the first grant.
The 2nd SEISS grants scheme allows you to claim a second and final taxable grant worth 70% of your average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months’ worth of profits, and capped at £6,570 in total.
You can only claim if your business was adversely affected. You will need to retain proof of why you are claiming which can include dates on or after the 14th of July 2020 when:
- you’re unable to work because you:
- are shielding
- are self-isolating
- are on sick leave because of coronavirus
- have caring responsibilities because of coronavirus
- you’ve had to scale down, temporarily stop trading or incurred additional costs because:
- your supply chain has been interrupted
- you have fewer or no customers or clients
- your staff are unable to come in to work
- one or more of your contracts have been cancelled
- you had to buy protective equipment so you could trade following social distancing rules
In order to claim SEISS you will need your:
- Self Assessment Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)
- National Insurance number
- Government Gateway user ID and password
- UK bank details
“We are building checks into the self-employment support scheme to prevent fraud. Only those already known to HMRC through tax return data as self-employed will be able to apply.
We already have a wide range of statutory and common law powers to tackle fraud and criminality, which will be used.”
– HMRC Spokesperson