Martin Lewis has issued a warning to those who are planning to apply for the next round of covid support grants.
People will soon be able to apply for the fourth round of grants but the official gov.uk website which says when you can expect your grant hasn't been fully updated, meaning the information might not be correct.
The Money Saving Expert said people should take any date that you are given "with a pinch of salt" until the website is fully updated on April 19 - reports Chronicle Live.
He tweeted: “Many are logging in to find [they] are getting their SEISS 4 grant date.
“However a note, officially HMRC that link isn't live for SEISS 4 until next Mon as it doesn't have full data in.
“So I'd treat with a tiny pinch of salt.”
HMRC is staggering the days for when people can claim the fourth self-employed grant, so it will be different for everyone.
But Martin said some people have already been contacted with their date by text, email or post.
If you have been messaged by HMRC with a date, this will be the official time for when you can apply.
The warning from Martin only applies to those who are trying to find their date online before being contacted by HMRC.
Separately, his Money Saving Expert website claims application dates are likely to open for some starting April 22.
HMRC will contact you via text, email or post from now until April 20 if you are eligible.
If you think you should be able to claim, but HMRC does not write to you, you can call their helpline on 0800 024 1222.
An HMRC spokesperson said: “HMRC is in the process of contacting customers who are potentially eligible for the fourth Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant.
“HMRC will send an email, letter or SMS, depending on the information held, and customers should keep an eye out for contact.
“Customer claim dates may not yet be visible via the Government Gateway and we thank customers for their patience.”
How much is the fourth SEISS grant worth?
The fourth grant issued through SEISS - officially known as the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme - will be worth a maximum of 80% of three months' worth of average trading profits, capped at £7,500.
It is the same amount as the first and third grants and covers February, March and April.
The fourth grant will be based on your tax returns from four tax years.
A fifth and final self-employed grant will be available from late July, although exact details are yet to be released.
Who is eligible for the fourth SEISS grant?
Unlike the previous grants, the fourth SEISS instalment has been expanded so it includes 2019/20 tax returns.
This means that some 600,000 recent self-employed starters can now claim for the support.
To be eligible for the fourth grant, you must have:
- Filed a 2019/20 tax return
- Traded in both the 2019/20 and 2020/21 tax years - and continue to trade beyond this
- Seen your business impacted by the coronavirus crisis
