Self employed & shielding as instructed by government

trishyfield
trishyfield Community member Posts: 5 Listener
edited November 2020 in Benefits and income
Hi everyone 
can I claim SSP ... Im self employed & currently shielding as per email & letter recently received from  the government ...  thank you. 

Comments

  • trishyfield
    trishyfield Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    Thank you so much for your kind reply ... I will try my local council ..wishing you a great day .
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,447 Championing
    edited November 2020
    Hello and welcome to the community @trishyfield :) 

    It doesn't look like you can receive SSP if you're self-employed. The Turn2Us website says:
    Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is paid by an employer when an employee is unable to work due to sickness. If you are self employed, you cannot get Statutory Sick Pay as you are working for yourself and therefore do not have an employer.

    If you are self employed and temporarily unable to work due to illness, you should check if you have made enough national insurance contributions to qualify for New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
    You might like to read this page on the gov.uk website on what to do if you're self-employed and getting less work or no work, if you haven't already.
  • Ross_Alumni
    Ross_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,611 Championing
    Hello and welcome to the community @trishyfield :) 
  • trishyfield
    trishyfield Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    Thank you ?
  • trishyfield
    trishyfield Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    Many thanks for the above information I have just applied for the ‘ new style employment & support allowance’ hopefully I may be able to claim as throughout all my shielding months I have never been eligible to claim anything.. 
  • Ross_Alumni
    Ross_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,611 Championing
    Hopefully @trishyfield, let us know how you get on :) 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,372 Championing
    HI and welcome,

    To be eligible for the New style ESA you must have paid the correct amount of NI contributions in tax years April 2017 to March 2019. If you haven't paid the correct amount then you will not be able to claim. You can check your NI contributions online here.

    If you haven't paid the correct amount of NI contributions then you can look at claiming Universal Credit but claiming this will depend on your circumstances. If you have savings/capital of more than £16,000 you're excluded from claiming. If you live with a partner you need to claim as a couple. A claim for Universal Credit will end any tax credits you may already be claiming. Use a benefits calculator to check entitlement.

    If you claim New style ESA and UC at the same time, your NsESA will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

    May i also ask if you claimed the Government SEISS grant for self employed? Whether you're eligible will depend on circumstances and you must have submitted your self assessment tax return for 18/19 by 23rd April at the very latest. Information here. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme





  • trishyfield
    trishyfield Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    Thank you so much for the above information 

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