[Jonny 87]

Thought this might be interesting.

I think I’m the third option at the moment. I have been adversely effected, but I’m still paying my bills by working so I don’t technically “need” to claim at the moment.

[matthewprice]

I haven't earned a bean since lockdown. So will need the help .I would work but as said before ferry is not allowing travel

[JackieW]

I don't 'need' to claim it either. I would still survive without it  but its a grant/gift/cash help that's  being offered  and I will gladly accept it.         

[zesty]

I don't 'need' to claim it either. I would still survive without it  but its a grant/gift/cash help that's  being offered  and I will gladly accept it.         

Same.

I’m paying my bills, but I have seen a drop in income. Therefore, I will take what is offered.

If I hadn’t seen any drop in income at all. I may well have thought twice about it.

We’re all going to need to pay it back through taxes anyway, so you might as well take it! There won’t be any partiality when the taxes rise to pay all this back.

The sovereign debt we’re in now, well, the less we think about it the better - because it’s eye watering.

[KS Cleaning]

I have been working throughout but will still be claiming. I have lost approx £270 of work per month, mostly commercial. I was also due to increase prices in April but won’t be doing that for at least another year now.

[NWH]

The sovereign debt as you say will be around 25%.

[wayne m]

What are people classing as adversely effected? I had the Tuesday and Wednesday off work after Boris dome the speech on the Monday night but then been back at work every day ever since. I’ve had a couple of pubs I can’t do and another office and a couple of customers say leave it for now but that’s it otherwise been work as normal?

[SB Cleaning]

I have worked through but im still claiming as I have had jobs put on hold and enquires have been slower than usual so my income and business has been adversely affected and who knows what's to come?

[zesty]

I have worked through but im still claiming as I have had jobs put on hold and enquires have been slower than usual so my income and business has been adversely affected and who knows what's to come?

You picked up on an important point at the end of that sentence. You’re right, who knows what’s to come.

That help might be very, very crucial come a few weeks time.

[Slacky]

I had this conversation with another shiner from here on the phone last week. I said the same thing to him, not knowing what will be coming round the corner in 4,5,6 months time.

Or a year for that matter.

Take it, you just don’t know.

[AuRavelling79]

I sat in on an HMRC web seminar last week. At the end were Q&A - dozens of them.

   
Take aways.

You decide whether to claim.
You decide if your work has been adversely affected.
You can continue working.
If you have lost a percentage of your income you can claim.

Questions were asked such as "I've lost 90%; I've lost 50%; I've lost 25%" All those were met with "you may make to claim if your business has been adversely affected."

One person asked "If I have KEPT 95% of income so far can I still claim?" The answer was "you may make a claim if your business has been adversely affected  - HMRC have powers to act in cases of fraud - you should do the right thing."

Another asked what proof was needed that you have been adversely affected. The answer was "That you should keep records anyway and that they should show you have been adversely affected."

Now my view of that and if it were me.

Let's imagine that over the previous year I declared £48,000 "profit" after costs. So £4,000 per month. Let's say I look at George for March, April and May and compared with last year I am £800 down in March £2000 down in April and £1200 down in May. I would make the claim if I could show that those losses were due to CV.

I would note that "X,Y,Z" businesses asked me to go on "hold" - that customers 97, 101, 183, 222, 345 had asked me not to call. I would note down any days early on I had not worked due to the Govt announcement. They would be ready next year if the HMRC asked me to explain why I had made the claim.

If I could afford it I would put the grant money to one side in a separate account and treat it as savings not to be touched until the year end.

When I submit my return at the end of the year, let's imagine that instead of a "customary" £48,000 I report £50,500. I would show that as £43,000 earnings plus £7,500 grant.

I might lose more. I might get a mahoosive contract in July (fat chance) - but right now at point of claim I have lost money and so I'll take the grant legitimately.

[Richard Groves]

I've worked on and off the last 6 weeks albeit a reduced round so I have seen a loss of income. Just so I could pay my bills the last 2 months. My partners a key worker but has worked remotely from home the entire time. This may change for her though  (care homes for profound multiple learning disabilities). She's retained due to her experience /qualifications  (although she's now in a training and admin role) to step in for staff shortage or a viral outbreak within the homes. When or if that happens I may need to self isolate so I'll be claiming the grant incase I need it  in the coming weeks. As others have said, who knows what's yet to come ?  We will all be paying it back one way or other.

[swanson]

I’ve been working
But I will still claim stupid not to.

[KS Cleaning]

Like I said earlier on this thread to date I have lost approx £270 per month of regular work due to covid-19. In that time I have picked up approx £100 per month of regular work, which isn’t uncommon at this time of year. So let’s say these figures remain much the same for the whole financial year, that would mean me being approx £2000 down on the year. I normally go on holiday for 2 weeks in the Summer and then between 7 and 10 days in October, that obviously won’t be happening this year so from those 15 working days usually lost to holidays I might decide to work let’s say 7 of them, this could wipe out the £2000 I would be losing in the financial year. I have also put off a price increase due in April.
 So despite the fact that my earnings will perhaps be much the same as the previous year, my business has been affected and I will be claiming the grant.

[wayne m]

Like I said earlier on this thread to date I have lost approx £270 per month of regular work due to covid-19. In that time I have picked up approx £100 per month of regular work, which isn’t uncommon at this time of year. So let’s say these figures remain much the same for the whole financial year, that would mean me being approx £2000 down on the year. I normally go on holiday for 2 weeks in the Summer and then between 7 and 10 days in October, that obviously won’t be happening this year so from those 15 working days usually lost to holidays I might decide to work let’s say 7 of them, this could wipe out the £2000 I would be losing in the financial year. I have also put off a price increase due in April.
 So despite the fact that my earnings will perhaps be much the same as the previous year, my business has been affected and I will be claiming the grant.

A good way of putting it but when you say lost do you mean put on hold or they have cancelled you completely? I’ve lost less than you a month But put on hold so still effected but had 2 days off as soon as Boris done the speech as unsure if we could work so that’s 2 days of lost earnings Too. I know we are saying we’re not sure what the future holds but in the eyes of HMRC the grant is for the last 3 months and not the future so not sure they will accept that .  So would you all agree that any loss of earnings is enough to put a claim in as were all be paying it back anyway

[Bungle]

Can’t see much dosh being paid out for any of us tbh. They say the grant covers 3 months. I don’t think anyone can say their business was affected by CV before the Boris speech unless they had to self isolate or had it? He told us to go back to work from today. We’ll be able to claim for 6/7 weeks max IF your business was affected. Not a lot of help if you look at people on furlough is it. We don’t know what the questions are on the claim yet but I bet if you worked all the way through you’ll get zilch.

I can claim from Wednesday, will they help us if our businesses start going tits up a few months down the line? No they won’t. They’ve spent the kitty and now want it back. We will have a 2nd spike after what he said last night.

My advice is to take all work coming your way and not dump unless it’s absolutely necessary.

[KS Cleaning]

Like I said earlier on this thread to date I have lost approx £270 per month of regular work due to covid-19. In that time I have picked up approx £100 per month of regular work, which isn’t uncommon at this time of year. So let’s say these figures remain much the same for the whole financial year, that would mean me being approx £2000 down on the year. I normally go on holiday for 2 weeks in the Summer and then between 7 and 10 days in October, that obviously won’t be happening this year so from those 15 working days usually lost to holidays I might decide to work let’s say 7 of them, this could wipe out the £2000 I would be losing in the financial year. I have also put off a price increase due in April.
 So despite the fact that my earnings will perhaps be much the same as the previous year, my business has been affected and I will be claiming the grant.

A good way of putting it but when you say lost do you mean put on hold or they have cancelled you completely? I’ve lost less than you a month But put on hold so still effected but had 2 days off as soon as Boris done the speech as unsure if we could work so that’s 2 days of lost earnings Too. I know we are saying we’re not sure what the future holds but in the eyes of HMRC the grant is for the last 3 months and not the future so not sure they will accept that .  So would you all agree that any loss of earnings is enough to put a claim in as were all be paying it back anyway

Lost due to covid-19, so I would hope to get some back at some point, but not anytime soon. Knowing the businesses/individuals that have decided to stop the service, I believe reinstating the window cleaner will be just about last on their list of priorities when things eventuality get back to some kind of normal. The grant is for 3 months yes, but the qualifying criteria is, has your business been adversely affected by covid-19, no time frame involved.

[dazmond]

Like I said earlier on this thread to date I have lost approx £270 per month of regular work due to covid-19. In that time I have picked up approx £100 per month of regular work, which isn’t uncommon at this time of year. So let’s say these figures remain much the same for the whole financial year, that would mean me being approx £2000 down on the year. I normally go on holiday for 2 weeks in the Summer and then between 7 and 10 days in October, that obviously won’t be happening this year so from those 15 working days usually lost to holidays I might decide to work let’s say 7 of them, this could wipe out the £2000 I would be losing in the financial year. I have also put off a price increase due in April.
 So despite the fact that my earnings will perhaps be much the same as the previous year, my business has been affected and I will be claiming the grant.

ive never failed to earn more money year on year for over 10 years now...i cant see this year being any different......i put most of my customers prices up in april(notified them in march)so im earning £200+ a month more for the same work......to date ive only got ONE £50 a month commercial  job on hold for now and fully expect to be cleaning it when they open up again probably in june..i had around 8 jobs that skipped in april...all but one have resumed their cleaning schedule this month already....

ive picked up 10 new jobs since the lockdown started....5 one off add ons and 5 regular window cleaning  jobs.....

i wont be claiming the grant.....it would be morally wrong for me to do so......some people out there are really suffering financially because of this virus......im not one of them fortunately.....

[Dave Willis]

Daz, will you be giving up your council flat to someone who needs it?
It would be morally wrong if you didn’t.

[G Griffin]

The grant is for the self employed. It wasn't drafted for window cleaners.
If your business has been adversely affected by covid you should claim it. You have to decide this yourself or speak to an accountant.
No one claiming, honestly, should feel guilty about it because the adverse effects were out of our control.