• Luke welcomes measures to ensure self-employed will receive 80% of average earnings for 3 months
• However, this income will not be available until June
• Leaving these people to claim Universal Credit with 5 week waits is not acceptable

Today the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a new package of support for self-employed people. Luke had this to say:

“I’m pleased that the Chancellor has finally announced support for the self-employed but this help will come too late for many people as people won’t see any money until June. That is simply too late. The headlines are good but this lengthy delay will cause misery for many Plymouth families – many are living pay cheque to pay cheque, and don’t have the savings to support themselves for over two months without any income.

 

The Chancellor’s suggestion that those in need to can apply for Universal Credit is simply not good enough, when applications take time, phone lines are jammed and people still need to wait for five weeks before they receive their payments. People need support now, not later.

 

It looks like the price for this support will be higher taxes on those who are self-employed. Those proposals will need to be scrutinised closely but the priority is getting money to those who are self-employed who are in immediate and desperate need now.”

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