Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what financial support is available to self-employed workers who have to self isolate (a) once or (b) repeatedly due to themselves or a personal contact testing positive for covid-19.

The government is committed to supporting self-employed individuals financially through this difficult time The self-employed whose businesses have been adversely affected due to Covid-19 because they are self-isolating may be eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) which remains open for applications until the 19 October.

As announced on 20 September the government will introduce a new package to support and enforce self-isolation. People required to self-isolate who are on a low income, cannot work from home and have lost income as a result will be eligible for a payment of £500. Just under 4 million people who are in receipt of benefits in England will be eligible for this payment from 28 September.

These measures sit alongside 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 for the self-employed. For those on low incomes, the government has relaxed the UC minimum income floor for all self-employed claimants. Self-employed individuals are 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.