The original Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) covered March – May and most people received their payments during May. Individuals can continue to apply for the first SEISS grant until 13 July. An extension has now been announced where the self employed can apply for a further grant in August if they have been adversely affected by the coronavirus crisis. The grant will be 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.
If you’re eligible for the second and final grant, and your business has been adversely affected on or after 14 July 2020 you’ll be able to make a claim in August 2020. You can claim for the second grant even if you did not make a claim for the first grant.
Recent guidance released goes through how different scenarios can affect whether you should claim the grants.
For example if you worked on a building site and it closed during March & April so you couldn’t work but then went back to work as normal from May you would be adversely affected for the first Grant period but not for the second so should not claim the second grant.
Please read the guidance here before making your claims: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-different-circumstances-affect-the-self-employment-income-support-scheme?fbclid=IwAR0UuJ_JRC4Q6L1qnow6GFSCnvNH8VrXvKdJoLsnYzC0eMMu5VbqmmTkth0#adversely-affected-examples
It is likely that HMRC will seek to examine claims down the line so it is important that when you make the claim you are eligible.
