Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to provide financial support to casual workers and freelancers in the creative, entertainment, event and performance industries during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government has announced unprecedented support for businesses and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency. The Government has made significant changes to the operation of Statutory Sick Pay, Universal Credit, and Employment and Support Allowance, in order that people have quicker and more generous access to a support system.

For casual workers and freelancers, the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will provide grants to those who are self-employed, or members of partnerships, worth 80% of their trading profits/partnership trading profits, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month. The value of the grant is based on a three-year average of trading/partnership trading profits, from the tax years 2016-17 to 2018-19. SEISS is available to those who generate majority of their income from self -employment and who earn less than £50,000. Some 95% of people who receive the majority of their income from self-employment could benefit from this scheme.

To support those on low incomes, the Government has announced a package of temporary welfare measures, including:

• A £20 per week increase to the Universal Credit (UC) standard allowance and Working Tax Credit basic element.
• An increase in the Local Housing Allowance rates for UC and Housing Benefit claimants.
• A relaxation of the UC minimum income floor for all self-employed UC claimants affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19.
• Advances for all new UC claimants are now available online or via telephone.

Details of the range of support for individuals affected by COVID-19 is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-those-affected-by-covid-19/support-for-those-affected-by-covid-19.