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Self-employed face big cut to Universal Credit next week

Emma Lunn
Written By:
Emma Lunn
Posted:
Updated:
02/11/2020

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) and Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) have joined forces to stop a cut in support for Covid-impacted self-employed workers which could leave them thousands of pounds worse off.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is currently on course to reinstate what the TUC and FSB call a ‘flawed formula’ which overstates the income of many low-earners in self-employment, and so unfairly cuts their Universal Credit payments, on 13 November.

This benefit cut, combined with a second lockdown, could leave thousands of struggling self-employed workers in the lurch, according to the TUC and FSB.

The formula – known as the ‘Minimum Income Floor’ – assumes claimants are earning the equivalent of the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage.

But in reality, many self-employed people are earning significantly less, particularly in sectors where the Covid-19 pandemic has hit the hardest.

TUC and FSB have written a joint letter to the secretary of state for work and pensions, Thérèse Coffey MP, raising ‘serious concerns’ over the benefit cut.

The government suspended the Minimum Income Floor in March as the first wave of Covid-19 hit, recognising the loss of income and hardship many self-employed were facing. But it’s due to be re-instated on 13 November.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has estimated that about 450,000 self-employed workers are negatively impacted by the Minimum Income Floor, losing an average of £3,200 a year each.

Mike Cherry, FSB national chairman, said: “Universal Credit was never designed around the self-employed, who often feel like square pegs forced into round holes.

“Suspending the Minimum Income Floor for Covid has therefore been both welcome and crucial. As the second wave of this crisis hits, and further decimates income, the removal of the suspension assumes that the self-employed are not affected by restrictions and that their earnings aren’t affected if they need to self-isolate or fall ill. This would hit livelihoods, and create poverty and hardship.

“The reintroduction of this flawed formula will turn Friday 13 November into a real-life nightmare for hundreds of thousands of talented but struggling entrepreneurs doing their best to get through this crisis so they can play their part in rebuilding the UK economy out the other side.”

Frances O’Grady, TUC general secretary, said: “Self-employed workers have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic. With restrictions stepping up again, it’s a disastrous time to cut this lifeline. It will mean a surge in unemployment and severe damage to sectors like live events and creative industries. The economic damage is bad enough, but it would tragic for Britain’s cultural life too.

“The families of self-employed workers will be desperately worried. They urgently need reassurance from the chancellor that this support will be extended.”

Many of those who will be affected by the reintroduction of the Minimum Income Floor were ineligible for financial help under the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS).