When can you apply for the self-employed grant?

England is now in its second national coronavirus lockdown which has hit businesses hard. (Picture: Hugh Hastings/Getty Images)

The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) was first launched in May to support those who are self-employed and have had a business that has been adversely affected by coronavirus.

Now, with further lockdowns blighting businesses and the furlough scheme extended until March 2021, the SEISS has been extended again to continue to support the self-employed through the months ahead.

The scheme is providing two further grants, each available for three months, to cover the periods of November 2020 to January 2021 and February 2021 to April 2021.

Here’s how to apply for the self-employed grants and when:

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 When can you apply for the self-employed grant?

The online service for the next grant will be available from 30 November 2020.

The grant (which is taxable) is calculated at 80% of three months average monthly trading profits. The grants are capped at £7,500 total for the three month period.

To be eligible for the grant extension, the government state that self-employed individuals must:

• Have been previously eligible for the first and second SEISS grants (although they do not have to have claimed)
• Declare that they intend to continue to trade and either:
  • are currently actively trading but are impacted by reduced demand due to coronavirus
  • were previously trading but are temporarily unable to do so due to coronavirus

You can apply for the SEISS online. To apply for the self-employment grant, click here.

You will need the following information to hand in order to apply:

• Self Assessment Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)
• National Insurance number
• Government Gateway user ID and password (you can create one of these if oyu don’t have one already)
• UK bank details (only provide bank account details where a Bacs payment can be accepted) including: bank account number, sort code, name on the account, your address linked to your bank account

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