Melton’s self-employed can apply for second Covid grant

Over the last six months, the government has paid £12,600,000 to 4,000 self-employed people in the Rutland and Melton area as part of the Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS).

Eligible workers can now ask for a second payment which will provide 70 percent of average monthly earnings, up to £6,570 for three months’ worth of profits.

Those who receive the grant can continue to work and start a new trade or take on other employment.

MP for Rutland and Melton, Alicia Kearns, said: “I urge eligible Rutland and Melton residents to apply for this grant which has already provided almost £13million for Rutland and Melton residents.

“The self-employed are the backbone of our local economy, so it is right that the government is taking such unprecedented action to support them.”

More than £95million has been allocated to the Rutland and Melton area to prop up the economy during lockdown and beyond.

This includes 14,400 people helped through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, £23million in grants paid to local businesses, discretionary grants totalling more than £700,000 for 127 businesses and 1,816 loans totting up to more than £74 million.

Mrs Kearns: “The support our businesses have received in Rutland and Melton has been vital to keep people afloat in this difficult time.

“Now, our responsibility is to generate our recovery and to encourage growth and investment across the UK, the East Midlands and in Rutland and Melton. “The further support through the second SEISS grant, coupled with the continuing CJRS and the Government’s Plan for Jobs means that the our communities and businesses will be well placed to strongly rebound as we recover from COVID-19.”

Claims for the second and final grant must be made on or before October 19.

Go online at www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme for more details.