![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.productionbase.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/coronavirus-header-active-Copy.png\")
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This is a difficult time for the industry, with many productions large and small delayed or cancelled, and thousands across the sector laid off. It’s an unprecedented situation, and a lack of financial support from the government has only added to the worry. When help was announced for businesses and employees last week, one major omission was support for the 15% of the UK workforce who are self-employed freelancers, including the majority of people working across the production sector.<\/p>\n
Today, that was finally addressed by the government, with an announcement from chancellor Rishi Sunak.<\/p>\n
What Support Has Been Announced For Freelancers?<\/strong> There are some criteria for the new scheme:<\/p>\n If you’re eligible, HMRC will contact you directly, with the scheme expected to be up and running by June at the latest. 95% of self-employed workers should be covered by this support.<\/p>\n What Support Has Been Announced For Permanent Staff?<\/strong> What Other Financial Support Is Available?<\/strong> Statutory Sick Pay<\/strong> – If you are a full-time employee either on a short-term PAYE contract or staff earning at least \u00a3118 per week, and have had to self-isolate due to Coronavirus, then you’ll be able to claim Statutory Sick Pay<\/span><\/a> of \u00a394.25 a week from the first day that you’re unable to work. This will usually be paid by your employer, who will then reclaim it from the government. This sadly won’t apply to a large portion of workers in the creative industries, but there are other options for the self-employed:<\/p>\n Universal Credit – You may also be eligible to receive universal credit if you’re unable to work. The system is widely known to be complex, so your eligibility and the amount you can receive can vary. More info can be found on gov.uk<\/a><\/p>\n What We’re Doing<\/strong> New job vacancies are still being posted on our jobs board, including some which allow for remote working, and for projects being pencilled in for when the shutdown eases.<\/p>\n We’ve also greatly expanded the availability of our hugely popular telephone CV & Career Advice sessions<\/strong><\/a>, where our expert team will give you personalised advice to help you make the most of your skills and experience. Hundred of PB members have used these sessions already, and we’ve had great feedback from production professionals at every stage of their career.<\/p>\n These are now free to all ProductionBase members<\/strong>, with appointments available throughout the coming days and weeks. If you have found yourself looking for work at this time, please do take advantage of this service. You can request the next available dates and times here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This is a difficult time for the industry, with many productions large and small delayed or cancelled, and thousands across the sector laid off. It’s an unprecedented situation, and a lack of financial support from the government has only added to the worry. When help was announced for businesses and employees last week, one major […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[753,390,154],"series":[],"class_list":["post-3814","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-industry-news","tag-coronavirus","tag-freelancing","tag-tax"],"episode_featured_image":false,"episode_player_image":"https:\/\/www.productionbase.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/TOTI-Podcast-Artwork.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":[],"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/www.productionbase.co.uk\/blog\/feed\/podcast\/turn-on-tune-in-2","embedCode":"
\nMatching the package announced for full-time employees, self-employed people will now be able to have 80% of their wages covered by the government, up to a maximum of \u00a32,500 per month. The amount paid will be based on average monthly profits over last three financial years. This support will last for 3 months initially.<\/p>\n\n
\nAs previously announced, companies that need to temporarily lay off permanent employees can claim for 80% of their salaries to be paid by the government, up to a maximum of \u00a32,500 per month.<\/p>\n
\nSelf-Assessment Tax<\/strong> – If you’re self-employed, tax payments due via self-assessment this July have been postponed to January 2021.<\/p>\n\n
\nAt ProductionBase, we’re aiming to do everything we can to support our members during this period. We have robust systems in place and will be able to continue to provide our full service uninterrupted for as long as the outbreak continues.<\/p>\nCoronavirus: Help Announced For Freelancers<\/a><\/blockquote>