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<p>The government is committed to supporting self-employed individuals through any
period in which they have to self-isolate. Self-employed individuals may be eligible
for “new style” Contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if they are incapable
of work due to Covid-19, including those who are required to self-isolate according
to Government guidance. We have made it easier for people to claim new style ESA by
removing the seven-day waiting period which means people can get support from day
one. If they are on a low-income, they may also be entitled to a £500 self-isolation
payment.</p><p> </p><p>Individuals who are self-isolating can also access the wider
support which the government has made available to self-employed people. In addition
to bounce back loans, self-employed individuals may be eligible for the Self-Employment
Income Support Scheme (SEISS) which remains open for applications and has recently
been extended. The SEISS Grant Extension will last for 6 months, from November 2020
to April 2021.</p><p> </p><p>This support for the self-employed is in addition to
a comprehensive welfare offer: according to OBR estimates, the government has injected
a further £9.3bn into the welfare system to support individuals who are unable to
work or on a low income, including the self-employed. For those on low incomes, the
government has relaxed the UC minimum income floor for all self-employed claimants.</p><p>
</p><p>The Government launched Bounce Back Loans on 4<sup>th</sup> May 2020 to ensure
that the smallest businesses can access loans of up to £50,000 in a matter of days.
However, decisions regarding which products, like business bank accounts, to offer
remain at the discretion of lenders, and the Government does not intervene in these
decisions.</p>
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