New figures show self-employed transport workers claimed on average £2,200 in COVID-19 SEISS grants

New figures show the average self-employed transport worker claimed on average £2,200 from the Government as part of its COVID-19 financial support package.

The new data also reveals the uptake of the Self-Employment Income Support Schemes (SEISS) with 206,000 workers applying for the first grant made available. According to SEISS and Self Assessment data up to to 31 May, the total potential claimants could have been as high as 266,000 in the sector marked as “Transportation and Storage”.

Between 13 and 31 May 2020 HMRC received nearly 2.4million SEISS claims from a total potentially eligible population of 3.4million.

These claims totalled nearly £7billion with an average award of £2,900 per claimant across all sectors.

Self-employed individuals can continue to apply for the first SEISS grant until 13 July. Under the first grant, eligible individuals can claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering three months’ worth of profits, and capped at £7,500 in total. Those eligible have the money paid into their bank account within six working days of completing a claim.

Applications for the second grant will open in August. Individuals will be able to claim a second taxable grant worth 70% of their average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering three months’ worth of profits, and capped at £6,570 in total.

The eligibility criteria are the same for both grants, and individuals will need to confirm that their business has been adversely affected by coronavirus.

An individual does not need to have claimed the first grant to receive the second grant: for example, they may only have been adversely affected by COVID-19 in this later phase.