Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason (a) self-employed individuals receive wage support up to 20 per cent of pre-covid-19 income under the Self Employment Income Support Scheme and (b) people in full-time employment can receive up to 77 per cent through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) is helping self-employed people adversely affected by COVID-19. 2.7 million people claimed £7.8 billion of support under the first grant, and as at 20 September 2.2 million people had claimed £5.6 billion of support under the second grant.

The Government has announced a package of measures in the Winter Economy Plan that will continue to protect jobs and help businesses through the uncertain months ahead. The package includes a new Job Support Scheme (JSS) and an extension to the SEISS.

Under the next phase of the SEISS, eligible people will be able to claim a taxable grant covering 20% of their average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months’ worth of profits, and capped at £1,875 in total.

Under the Job Support Scheme, employees must be working 33% of their usual hours. For every hour not worked by the employee, both the Government and employer will pay a third each of the usual hourly wage for that employee. The Government contribution will be capped at £697.92 a month.

The Government has broadly aligned the next SEISS grant with the Government’s contribution to the Job Support Scheme. The extension is not intended to provide a direct income replacement, as people will be continuing to work while claiming the grant. Those who require more support may have access to other elements of the Government’s support package.