As far as I’m aware if you’re struggling to make ends meet until the payment in June, I.e. can’t put food on the table, the self employed can apply for universal credit/ESA ...only do this if you’re desperate though.

However my plan of action is to not pay my rent until the June payment has been received that way I can use the money I have got on other bills such as utilities etc. In these 3 months, go into your overdraft, spend on credit cards if you need to.

Watch Martin Lewis on ITV, He’s got a easy to understand programme about how to manage financially over this pandemic - well worth watching!

I started escorting full time on the 1st April 2019. When I registered with HMRC a few weeks later, this is the date that I (truthfully) gave them. So does this mean I'm not covered by the self-employed support scheme? I will submit my first tax return this year to cover 2019-2020. If anybody else is in the same situation and has any other information I would love for them to share it, please...

It’s too early to do 2020

I know that, but what they seem to be saying is that unless you submitted (or are about to submit) a tax return for 2018-2019, then the 80% wages covered up to £2,500 will not apply, and basically I (and all the others in the same boat) will be entitled to nothing

You can apply for universal credit x

I know that, but what they seem to be saying is that unless you submitted (or are about to submit) a tax return for 2018-2019, then the 80% wages covered up to £2,500 will not apply, and basically I (and all the others in the same boat) will be entitled to nothing

Speak to your accountant about it he should know a bit more. My one was a bit like we will know more later and is not sure of every detail yet but that was couple of days back.

First I'd say get what emergency pay you're entitled to now and worry about the face to face later. Most people aren't benefits experts or lawyers so many people will make genuine mistakes on their forms, it's correctable. So I'd not panic about prosecution.

I don't imagine UC even have enough agents to tackle the tsunami of 5 million physical interviews. That's like 4.5 x Birminghams. My feeling is it might take months to skim the top if they do it the 'old way'.

Yes I recently experienced everything you mentioned. I had the interviews and demands for invoices several times.
The way they couch the questions can be confusing and get you stuck in the wrong category and denied benefit.

The whole point of going on benefit is that you can't support yourself isn't it?
So you're not gainfully employed are you?

I was pulling my hair out with UC demands-till I sat down with a Citizen's Advice lawyer for a couple hours. (You can ring also)
I suggest getting solid legal advice from Citizens Advice before you step into a UC building.
I did and Citizens guided me beautifully. I'm very satisfied.

(I also do my own accounts.I'm registered as something in health and well being field.)

Don't fret too much as the whole UC system is changing daily and who knows, it might be completely different in a few weeks

From what I can find on the gov website, to get universal credit when self-employed, you have to prove you are in 'Gainful self-employment' and prove that 'your work is organised, developed, regular and in expectation of profit'

What that translates as is 'be able to prove you have been living off the earnings of self-employment to some degree'. You don't need to be running a successful business - you might be still paying off start-up costs or your ad spend might have exceeded your income recently - but you have to expect that it will be financially profitable.

So having casual sex with lots of randoms wouldn't count - it's not in expectation of profit. Similarly, waving around a business plan for something you haven't started wouldn't count - it's not developed or regular.

I'd be astonished if anyone who's been doing indoor work for more than a month or two couldn't show this, if they're prepared to be out to the DWP as doing sex work: here are my ads, here's a record of how many bookings I've had over the past couple of months, here's - if you were working in March 2019 - my 2018/19 tax return.

I would rather not show them invoices, accounts, marketing materials etc... plus don't know if they would suffice...

I can't see that they wouldn't, but as I say, this is if you're prepared to be out to the DWP...

I just want to share my experience with applying for universal credit at the moment for anyone considering and concerned. I completed the form online and selected I am self employed. I arranged a time for a phone interview regarding my self employment - all 'interviews' are being done over the phone right now. You will receive a document ahead of time detailing what they expect you to bring for your self employment interview, but this was very obviously written before the current situation.

My 'interview' lasted maybe 10mins at max, they confirmed my details like name and address and then the only real question asked was "what is your self employment?" I chose to answer this with what I have registered for tax as, which is a personal assistant. No further questions or evidence asked. I was fully ready to have to email them copies of my accounts and things, but they didn't want anything. Didn't even ask how long I have been doing it for or how much I usually earn.

I think they have so many applications coming through at the moment that they are just speeding through the process.

Great to know Ashley! Hope you get your monies.