The government has announced a number of "unprecedented" economic measures including £1 billion of support for renters.
Housing benefit and Universal Credit will be increased to allow the local housing allowance to cover at least 30% of market rents during the coronavirus crisis.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak also announced support for the self-employed at this afternoon's conference (March 20).
Mr Sunak said: “I’m strengthening the safety net for self-employed people too by suspending the minimum income floor for everyone affected by the economic impact of coronavirus.
“That means that self-employed people can now access, in full, Universal Credit at a rate equivalent to statutory sick pay for employees.
“Taken together, I’m announcing nearly £7 billion of extra support through the welfare system to strengthen the safety net and protect people’s incomes.”
The Chancellor said the next self-assessment payments will be deferred to January 2021 to further support the self-employed.
He also increased the Universal Credit standard allowance for the next 12 months by £1,000 a year, and increased the working tax credit basic element by the same sum.
“Together these measures will benefit over four million of our most vulnerable households,” he said.
Ahead of the welfare announcements, Mr Sunak said: “We’re starting a great national effort to protect jobs but the truth is we are already seeing job losses and there may be more to come.
“I cannot promise you that no one will face hardship in the weeks ahead.”
During the same conference, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced all pubs, restaurants and other public spaces will close from tomorrow (March 21) to help prevent the further spread of coronavirus.
The announcement follows the news a further 39 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in England to 167.
