Our Updated Call on Government to Protect the Self-Employed

Last week’s announcement was good news for many of our members. However, we are concerned about the self-employed musicians who are not covered by these new measures, and also how the Government will cover the gap until support is made available in June.  

As we learn more about the scheme, we have been updating our call on Government to bridge any gaps that it leaves.

Our call on Government

We’re currently asking Government to:

• Provide meaningful support for those who have been self-employed for less than a year  
• Ensure people who are part employed and part self-employed can access support through both the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-employment Income Support Scheme
• Allow those who have gaps in their earnings due to pregnancy or caring responsibilities in the last three years to access the Self-employment Income Support Scheme without discrimination.
• Remove the £50,000 cap in the Self-employment Income Support Scheme, as no equivalent cap exists for employed people 
• Provide support for self-employed people who run as limited companies and pay themselves in dividends through the Self-employment Income Support Scheme 
• Extend the Self-employment Income Support Scheme to musicians here under working visas, such as the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa 
• Speed the Universal Credit application process up to cover the gap until support via the Self-employment Income Support Scheme is made available in June, or find an alternative method of covering the income gap 
• Announce statutory sick pay that is really for all from day one of self isolation whether you have coronavirus or someone in your household does 

Take action now

Write to your MP. If there is one thing that will change the game for all musicians, it is immediate and informed Government action.

We’ll guide you through how to contact them, and even have a template letter if you’re not sure how to get started – take action now.