The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has encouraged members whose businesses have been affected by Covid-19 to apply for the second stage of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS).
The opening of SEISS applications was announced on Monday (August 17) by HMRC.
Almost three million self-employed business have benefitted from the first stage of the scheme.
So far, the Government has provided £7.8 billion worth of grants to help self-employed business owners through the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis.
Commenting on the second stage of the self-employed scheme, UFU president Victor Chestnutt said: “Covid-19 has created a lot of challenges for farm businesses and all support is welcome. We encourage members to make use of this government support if it is relevant to them.
“Farmers who did not apply for the first stage are not excluded from the second stage.
Affected farmers are eligible to receive a second and final grant worth 70% of their average monthly trading profits, capped at £6,570 with the money set to land in their bank accounts within six working days of making a claim.
SEISS
Self-employed businesses which have been adversely affected by Covid-19 since July 14, are eligible to apply for the scheme.
The eligibility criteria remains the same as the first grant, with people needing to have had trading profits of no more than £50,000, making up at least half of their total income.
You do not need to have claimed the first grant to be eligible to apply for this grant. All claims must be made before October 19, 2020.
