An update from the petition started for self-employed... From midday the Coronavirus bill is being voted on in the House of Lords. [1] It includes a 'proposed amendment' that would give self-employed people 80% of earnings each month or £2,917 (whichever is lower, similar to what employees are being given). [2] If enough Lords vote for it - it will pass. Can you tweet a member of the Lords now asking them to vote for the 'Statutory self-employed pay' amendment? There's some sample text if you're not sure what to say: TWEET A LORD Right now, this government support for the self-employed is not guaranteed. Here's how Martin Lewis, the money saving expert, described it [3]: please log in to view this image At least two hundred members of the Lords have a Twitter account and each of them will be carrying their phones into the debate. Let's make sure all they see is messages about the importance of this amendment: TWEET A LORD Thanks for being involved, Nat, Bex, Usman and the Organise team NOTES: [1] The debate starts from midday: https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2020/march/lords-debates-emergency-covid-19-legislation/ [2] Here's the proposed amendment within the Coronavirus bill: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-01/0122/amend/coronavirus_daily_cwh_0320rev.14-18.html?fbclid=IwAR1Q5eqAx79hfiMsfUGfkgX6rzF-nfaFofYzDlsCx1vO6twgvncKmJkZVMo [3] Here's a link to Martin Lewis' Tweet: https://twitter.com/MartinSLewis/status/1242245581910704132 Here's our email from yesterday: Yesterday, we delivered the petition demanding an emergency minimum wage for the self-employed to Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer. Together, we also submitted 8,700 anonymised responses about how financial support for the self-employed should work.You can read our submission of evidence at the bottom of this email. [1] Thank you to everyone who took part. The responses were sensible, heartbreaking and powerful. It's what Organise does as a community - we team up to fix problems at work: "My husband and I earn around 10-15,000 per year. Our earned income has reduced by around 80% overnight. We need help now to cover our basic living expenses. Plus, we're currently in self isolation due to our daughter having a temperature. And I know that our situation is not rare." “If a minimum wage is not possible, I would like the government to guarantee the wages of self-employed people up to 80% of their reported HMRC net income (like Paye employees). £95 per week is inadequate and insulting considering how much tax we contribute to the economy.” “It feels important that there is parity for freelancers and PAYE employees. I appreciate that the mechanisms to help may be more complex, but nonetheless, we still pay the same taxes and have the same needs as employees. The government needs to find a way. Ideally, I would like to see a three month (or until the worst has passed) universal basic income for everyone during this period.” The treasury are expected to make an announcement today or tomorrow afternoon about their plans to properly support the self-employed. Together we've made the needs of the self-employed very clear. Thank you for being part of it Shaun, Nat, Usman, Bex and the Organise team P.S. You can support other workplace coronavirus campaigns or start your own here: https://www.organise.org.uk/ NOTES: [1] You can see the live, anonymised results of the self-employed survey here: https://platform.organise.org.uk/surveys/self-employed-survey-coronavirus/results/public [2] Here is our submission to the Treasury Committee: Dear Treasury, Please find attached our evidence collected over the past 72 hours from 8,700 self-employed individuals. Each of their responses is a line in the spreadsheet - we have removed all personal details. The password for the attached evidence is *redacted*. The key findings are: - 94% of self-employed have lost ‘a large chunk of income’ - Self-employed expect similar income protection as the employed - a minimum wage or 80% of previous income - Universal Credit is not appropriate, as most self-employed people have their future taxes saved - but these are classed as savings so disqualify people from accessing financial support. And 59,400 people have signed this petition asking for an ‘Emergency Minimum wage for freelancers and the self-employed’. To the UK government, Millions of us who are either self-employed of freelance are facing serious uncertainty in the face of Coronavirus (COVID-19). We're being forced into choosing between food and rent. It's even scarier for families or those with dependents. Universal Credit takes five weeks and is nowhere near enough to support us. That's why we're asking for emergency legislation to: Provide a minimum wage for freelancers and the self-employed. Suspend tax payments for the self-employed and freelancers You can see the running total of petition signers here: https://platform.organise.org.uk/campaigns/self-employed-minimum-wage “If the government could give us the same as they are giving the employed, plus extra time to pay our tax, then we may just make it!” - Lighting technician in live events (all work stopped now) “I’m a limited company, but my tax bill isn't huge. If we’re talking about not paying corporation tax that would be a lifeline right now - it equates to about 8k, I've lost about that in gross work through March and April. It would probably see me through the 3 months of expected down time. But past that would then become a struggle if no work came in.” “Tax delays won’t help much long term. 1. Most of the self employed save part of their earnings to pay tax. Most will now be spending that 'tax' money to live. It will be wiped out by January 2021. 2. The Catch 22 problem is that if claiming universal credit the DWP will simply regard that hived away tax money as savings, and the claim will be rejected.” “It feels important that there is parity for freelancers and PAYE employees. I appreciate that the mechanisms to help may be more complex, but nonetheless, we still pay the same taxes and have the same needs as employees. The government needs to find a way. Ideally, I would like to see a three month (or until the worst has passed) universal basic income for everyone during this period.” If an emergency minimum wage was introduced for freelancers and the self-employed was introduced how much should it be per week? “80% of the average for your last 3 years tax returns and/or P60's (if you haven't got 3 years worth of self assessment returns on file).” “I would suggest something along the lines of what the Government is offering to those on PAYE ie. 80% of profit declared on recent self assessment tax return capped at the same level of £2500 per month which could easily be calculated and paid as a tax rebate.” Is there anything else you want to add about what the government should be doing to help? “If a minimum wage is not possible, I would like the government to guarantee the wages of self-employed people up to 80% of their reported HMRC net income (like Paye employees). £95 per week is inadequate and insulting considering how much tax we contribute to the economy.” “I have no income now so anything that just allows me to survive during this time would help. Long term I want to ensure I can build my business up again.” “I think the government are doing an amazing job in such difficult times. But finances as a self employed person, I can’t afford no income coming in. Please help.” “Unless the government treat us fairly we will have no option but to work, putting us and the NHS at risk. It’s not fair. It is negligence for the government to put us in this financial position.”
One thing good about all this staying in with the kids is finding the fun in doing an old style jigsaw puzzle as a family. Along with whiling away some time doing painting by numbers on the iPad makes me feel like an old man but pleasantly satisfying. I can only try and study ECGs for a certain amount of time
I’m old school, I would have done the same as Robinson I’m afraid to say, but not being in the public eye like him I fear Bobby the bat might have made an appearance from the boot.
Interesting contrast in stories... This... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52015969 Or these... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-52019720 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52018360
cheeky git. Nothing wrong with a steam train... I better shut up as people will work out that I am sad train geek.
Unfortunately until my daughter enlightens me on how to transfer stuff from Facebook onto here without me going into a mental breakdown all I can do is give you this, it’s on Facebook. Business, Sole trader and IR35 information. It’s says the following, “Statutory Self Employment Pay - 80% of average income reported under self assessment for last 3 years up-to £2917 per month.Statutory benefits are taxable, so SSEP will probably be included on tax returns for 2020/2021” Until I learn how to understand modern technology I’m afraid this is the best I can do.
Well I can't tell alot of difference between the amount of traffic on the road today compared with yesterday, people in the west country don't seem to be taking any notice of the lock down. Still loads of traffic going by.
Roads are quite quiet but far from empty here in Warwickshire. Walked the dog as my allotted exercise - plenty of people out, and lots of joggers, but social distancing was exemplary and people were thanking each other for moving aside. I think we needed to be told rather than be asked.
I think if people use common sense and distance themselves form others then I cant see the problem. I took the dog for a walk this morning and saw 8 people. I didn't get within 20 feet of them and washed my hand when I got back. I think those in London crushed into a tube are just asking for trouble... saying that I still think the government want as many fit/healthy people to get it as the economy will need to kick start before long.
This is what is down for debate with the Commons, then Lords, today... https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2020/march/financial-support-for-the-self-employed/
My issue with this is a lot of my accounts show large expenses (hotels, mileage allowance, subsistance allowance) so my taxable earnings are reduced. So if I was to be assessed, my benefits wouldn't help (although if I wasn't working I wouldn't have these outgoings). It looks like I'll be out all over the place though, so it probably won't affect me, but should be good news for yourself, Col, Bob, Woody, Stortford and any other self-employed out there.
Just imagine if Jeremy @unt was still Health Secretary and he was advising doctors and nurses in the present situation. They would probably tell him to **** off and send him into quarantine in a lunatic asylum, although would be too good for him. Vile man who didn't give a stuff about the NHS when he could have made a huge difference.
