Due to the pandemic many businesses were forced or advised to close by The UK Government, without certainty on their futures, many such as restaurants despite closing physical stores, kept delivery services open, operating on websites such as deliver or their own delivery service. Supermarkets and essential service stores were kept open, and began operating a new way as a way of social distancing in stores, such as queuing 2 metres apart outside stores so that only a select number of individuals are allowed inside to minimise the risk of catching COVID-19.
Rich Sunak and the conservative government have been praised by many due to the support they are giving to many individuals and businesses, including a government taxable grant of up to 80% of your wages up to a cap of £2,500, However there have been many criticisms following the fact that even if you are self-employed, if you became self employed after April 2019, you will not receive any help from this scheme due to the fact that you have not filed a tax return.This leaves many individuals struggling to provide for their families during lock down, especially with children no longer in school, the amount of food parents will need to buy a week despite the amount said to be covered by the government, However it has also been warned that scams are circulating stating certain children are eligible for free school meals and therefore parents should send their bank details, which is also a worry for vulnerable parents during this pandemic.
If you are not covered by the grant package to help the self employed then universal credit is said to be available.
Larger businesses are said to be ensuring that their workers are able to work from home and if not a furlough scheme has been introduced in order to pay workers who are unable to work, this should cover 80% of wages for individuals that are applicable. Government information on how to access furlough is on their website.
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