The SNP has renewed calls for the UK Government to deliver additional support for the self-employed after the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) warned that two million self-employed people would fall through the gaps in the UK government’s proposals.
New analysis from the IFS shows that around two million will not be eligible for the Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) Almost half of self-employed people would see their family income fall by at least 40% if their work dries up before the SEISS grants are paid in June.
A quarter of self-employed people earning less than £50,000 a year do not have enough liquid assets between themselves and any partner to cover three months’ lost earnings, and 15% don’t have enough to cover a single month.
SNP Westminster Leader, Ian Blackford MP, has said the UK Government’s support for the self-employed fails to match the Prime Minister’s pledge to deliver parity.
The Resolution Foundation estimates that one in three people in self-employment, a total of 1.7 million, are at risk of losing their income - including around 330,000 in Scotland.
The SNP has again called on the UK government to introduce an emergency Universal Basic Income to protect people in the face of the pandemic and prevent people from being pushed into, or further into, debt and hardship.
Kenneth Gibson MSP said:
“Self-employed people across North Ayrshire and Scotland, including thousands from low-income households and key workers, have bills to pay and families to feed. They need support now. They cannot wait until June, nor can they wait five weeks for a Universal Credit payment.
“The Chancellor must use the tax and welfare system to provide a guaranteed income for everyone and bring forward an emergency Universal Basic Income. Increasing Statutory Sick Pay, bridging the gaps in the support for the self-employed and strengthening welfare protections by increasing Child Benefit and making Universal Credit more flexible must also be prioritised.”
ENDS
