The UK chancellor has today (26 March) announced that self employed people will be able to apply for a grant to help them cope with the loss of income many have faced due to the coronavirus lockdown.
The grant will be equivalent to 80% of their average monthly profits over the last three years, up to £2,500 a month.
Rishi Sunak told the self-employed: "You have not been forgotten."
It puts the self employed on the same footing as furloughed workers in staff jobs, who are receiving 80% of their usual salary. Mr Sunak said that made the rescue package one of the most "generous" such schemes in the world.
The chancellor spoke after the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the UK jumped to 475.
The government had faced criticism for failing to provide support for self-employed and freelance workers in its earlier huge package of economic measures.
Mr Sunak said the steps taken so far were "already making a difference" but it was right to go further "in the economic fight against the coronavirus".
Mr Sunak said the grants would be available to people across the UK for at least three months, and longer if necessary.
In all, 95% of people who earn most of their income as self-employed would be covered, the chancellor added.
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