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Thursday, Oct 30, 2025

Self-employed workers can claim £6,570 coronavirus grant today

Up to two million Britons are estimated to be eligible for the second-round payment, which is supposed to help struggling businesses get back on their feet. The first grant saw £7.8 billion claimed by 2.7 million people, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

But up to a million of the UK’s self-employed workers will miss out – including directors, freelancers and newly self-employed.

Those who are eligible need to prove their income has been ‘adversely’ hit by the virus.

For example, if a business has fewer customers because of coronavirus, or if a self-employed person is unable to work because they are self-isolating or shielding.

The grant is only open to self-employed workers with trading profits under £50,000, and it is the final hand-out under the Employment Income Support Scheme.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the scheme ‘means people’s livelihoods across the country will remain protected – helping them get back on their feet as we return to normal.’

But Labour fears the end of the programme will lead to a ‘cliff-edge’ for millions of self-employed workers – with some self-employed workers going out business even after the first grant in May.

Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds said: ‘This second phase of the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme is too late for the quarter of a million people who left self-employment between April and June.

‘The Chancellor now plans to cut off support for every self-employed worker in the country from October – no matter whether they’re back at work or back under local lockdown.


Labour Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds fears the end of the scheme will lead to a ‘cliff-edge’


‘Just like his one-size-fits-all wind down of the furlough scheme, he’s pulling the plug at the worst possible time.’

It comes amid fears the end of the furlough scheme could create an unemployment rate not seen since the Great Depression.

The Institute of Public Policy Research, a think tank, estimated more than two million Britons could be left without work after furlough ends in October.

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