Self employed electrician with no work due to covid19 what are my options

[km12electrical]

Self employed electrician with no work due to corona virus. I’m a 1 man business carrying out work for private households mainly but due to cancellations I find myself with no work for foreseeable future.
What are my options.
Can I contact HMRC and say I’m no longer self employed and then apply for benefits and then when things pick up again contact HMRC and restart business

 

[SparkyChick]

First stop perhaps....

COViD-19 / Coronavirus Community Help Forum

Questions and electrical advice in the COViD-19 / Coronavirus Community Help Forum - I thought it would be handy for us to share advice related to this. We might need it.. Some popular forums: Electrical Forum - Electrical Wiring, Theories and Regulations - Periodic Inspection Reporting...

www.electriciansforums.net

 

[davesparks]

I doubt that they will look kindly on someone ceasing to be self employed and then immediately claiming benefits.
I think you would realistically need to start a PAYE job before ceasing self employment.

 

[ruston]

You should be entitled to carers allowance and other related help.
phone the CAB for information if you can get through.

Sorry this was the reply to the thread about crohn's disease. I do not know hoe it posted here.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Might be worth holding out for the end of week as they are supposedly announcing some help

 

[Mike Johnson]

If I remember correctly you can't apply for any benefit until you have been unemployed for six weeks, do we think the lock down will last that long? it may not if we keep to the suggested self isolation, but will be prolonged if we don't.

 

[JK-Electrical]

Self employed electrician with no work due to corona virus. I’m a 1 man business carrying out work for private households mainly but due to cancellations I find myself with no work for foreseeable future.
What are my options.
Can I contact HMRC and say I’m no longer self employed and then apply for benefits and then when things pick up again contact HMRC and restart business

If you're no longer self-employed, your should notify HMRC:

Stop being self-employed - https://www.gov.uk/stop-being-self-employed

If you decide to remain self-employed and now consider yourself to be temporarily unemployed, you'll need to claim Universal Credit:

Universal Credit if you're self-employed - https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/universal-credit-for-the-self-employed

Don't forget to cancel all your insurance policies if you decide to stop being self-employed!

I would echo Gavin's advice and postpone any decision until the end of the week.

 

[jackhammerJIM]

80 % relief is in the pipeline . Needs to be confirmed by the government . Im in the same boat as you , the big sites im working on have closed .

 

[stevethesparks]

Just read this
"Those who invest their profits in their business, or set themselves up as a limited company and pay themselves via a dividend, will also be ineligible."

 

[SparkyChick]

Just read this
"Those who invest their profits in their business, or set themselves up as a limited company and pay themselves via a dividend, will also be ineligible."

From the official government website....

"Those who pay themselves a salary and dividends through their own company are not covered by the scheme but will be covered for their salary by the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme if they are operating PAYE schemes. "

 

[mattg4321]

But will we still be allowed to work in that case?

 

[cliffed]

When I was self employed,everyone used to say ...Save it for a rainy day.

 

[SparkyChick]

But will we still be allowed to work in that case?

No, if you're furloughed, you're not supposed to do anything for the company.

 

[Dustydazzler]

No, if you're furloughed, you're not supposed to do anything for the company.

this

if you are furloghed then that’s it your are ‘not working at all’

sit at home , put your feet up and stay healthy

 

[mattg4321]

Does posting on this forum count as working for the company.

It's an awkward one, and not at all that helpful for anyone, including the tax man.

I could conceivably carry on working doing a day or two each week. I doubt very much I can find the right sort of work to get anymore than that until this thing is done. It's a shame they couldn't come up with some way I can get a bit of help, whilst also doing a few jobs and paying some tax.

Yesterday I did a 1st fix in a conservatory, next week I may have a garage conversion to 1st fix. I also have an empty flat to rewire, but wet pants has got there first!

If this thing has peaked in a month and we are back to only lighter measures - self isolating, hand washing etc etc then it's not a big deal. My big worry is that it goes on for months. In which case the government will probably be forced into providing more help I guess.

I'm in quite a privileged position in that the business has been doing well so far this year, I have no mortgage/rent to pay and I have some savings to fall back on. However, I do have a wife and 3 month old to look after and we really wanted to move somewhere bigger this year as we have somewhat outgrown our small bungalow. If I had stretched my finances more and bought a bigger house a year or two ago with a big mortgage then I would now be eligible for mortgage holidays, universal credit etc. I always struggle to accept a situation where those that have money set aside for a rainy day get nothing, where those who have been profligate get helped. Often people whose earnings are very similar...

However, it is what it is and I totally understand these people need to be helped to put food on their tables etc. I'm sure some of them are really being put through the wringer lately with money worries I don't currently have.