Martin Lewis warns SEISS eligibility rules have changed – who can claim third grant

We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Martin Lewis was back to answer questions from ITV viewers today, broadcasting from his home. During his appearance, the This Morning resident money expert spoke about the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.

It came following a question from self-employed viewer, Kirsty, who works in the wedding industry.

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, she has found herself with no work at this moment in time.

Kirsty explained while she had claimed two government support grants during the crisis, she has recently had a baby.

As such, she wondered whether her claim for Maternity Allowance would impact her ability to claim future grants.

Addressing the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme eligibility rules, Martin said: “The fact that you cannot work because you are temporarily on maternity is not relevant for whether you can claim the self-employment grant or not.

“So sort of discount that and answer the questions as if your business was operating as it would have done were you not on maternity leave. That’s just been put in the guidelines in the last couple of days, that maternity – and of course paternity is the same – and paternity leave shouldn’t affect that.”

However, Martin did issue a wider warning that eligibility rules have become stricter.

As such, not only may those who were excluded from the first two grants continue to be ineligible, but more people may no longer qualify.

“As I mentioned earlier the criteria on self-employment are quite complicated now,” he warned.

“It used to be just, ‘Has your business been adversely affected?'”

The financial journalist and campaigner continued: “Now there’s a whole range more of different questions you need to answer before you can tick the box declaring that you’re eligible for the grant.”

Martin went on to explain he would be covering more details about the SEISS grant later this evening, during The Martin Lewis Money Show Live.

The new Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant covers the period of November 1 to January 31.

The amount a person can claim has recently increased to 80 percent of average monthly trading profits over the course of three months, capped at £7,500.

It’s possible for eligible people to claim the third grant even if they didn’t claim the first or second grants.

It’s possible to claim via the Government claims portal from Monday, November 30.

Claimants will have until January 29, 2021 to claim the payment.

This Morning airs weekdays on ITV from 10am.

Source: Read Full Article