Coronavirus Update – What It Means To An ADI
The Coronavirus update – what it means to an ADI is a little bit of news for driving instructors on where things lie at the moment. As a result of the latest government and NASP advice, we’ve suspended lessons for non-key workers for a minimum of 4 weeks. We will continue to keep you updated as events progress.
Who Are The NASP
The NASP or (National Associations Strategic Partnership) is a representative body. In effect, they’re involved with protecting the interests of driving instructors. They comprise of the organizations ADIJNC, DIA, and MSA GB.
The NASP has urged all driving instructors to refrain from delivering driving lessons to non key workers until at least the end of April 2020. The situation will then be reviewed and decisions will be made going forward.
Of course, this is just advice and the decision to close your business is ultimately yours to make.
Pass Me Faster has decided to close based on the advice given by the NASP and the government.
Since most driving instructors are self-employed closing your business means it will no doubt be an extremely worrying time financially.
What help are we entitled to as of today (25th March 2020)
What Are The Current Problems For Self Employed
As of today, there is no definitive help package prepared for self-employed workers. Rumours of a promise of help from the chancellor Rishi Sunak over the next couple of days have just started to emerge. As of now, there is little commitment as to an exact date this may happen.
Mr. Sunak has said the government has come up against complications. Distinguishing any form of help from self-employed tax returns over the last year and a half is a considerable challenge.
A proposed plan from the Liberal Democrats has been suggested mirroring a scheme Norway has currently implemented. This scheme suggests self-employed workers should receive 80% of their monthly Nett earnings. However, nothing has been said as of yet.
What Can Self Employed Claim
ESA
If you are ill or unable to work due to coronavirus you may be eligible for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). ESA eligibility will depend on how much National Insurance you have paid in the past.
If you do qualify for ESA your payments will start from the day of your claim rather than the usual eight days after.
Universal Credit
If coronavirus has effected your income through time off ill or work drying up you may be entitled to universal credit. Firstly to qualify you (and your partner or spouse if you live as a couple) have to have no more than £16,000 in savings. The amount awarded if eligible we’re lead to believe is £94.00 per week but then again some sites are saying £86.67.
Here’s the link to Universal Credit online.
Grants And Loans
A wide range of grants and loans have been available to help small businesses throughout the U.K.
Additional Measures to help self-employed
- Working tax credits to be increased to £1000
- Next self-assessment payments deferred to January 2021
- Lenders to offer three-month payment relief for mortgages
- Landlords cannot evict tenants for three months
- Housing benefit increased to 30% of the market rent
Weathering The Storm
It’s easy to focus on the negatives but now we have a bit of time to work on things we have been putting off. This might be work around the house, more family time or even getting stuck into your accounts or CPD.
I’m sure we were all planning to have a rest and take some holidays at some time this year so they’ve just come a bit early. Look, when this clears up we’ll all be pretty busy with the mad influx of learner drivers gagging for their licenses. Let’s just chill and look forward to this.
