Financial Support

Flourishing Crown has conducted a bit of research for our customers and readers who may be facing financial difficulties. These are the places you can go to for financial support in the UK.

For Businesses, Self Employed and Furlough 

The Government will pay up to 80% of your salary (up to a maximum amount of £2,500) per month for up to 3 months. (this could be extended and it can be backdated to the 1st March 2020). This means that businesses don’t need to lay people off

There is a 12 months interest free loan and it is available from 23 March 2020

No VAT to be paid for the next VAT quarter for up to June 2020 q/e- deferred to at least December 2020

The next Self-Assessment payment can be deferred by 6 months to January 2021 (from July 2020)

Self-Assessment (self employed) can also claim the 80% salary pay up to £2,500. 

The minimum earning income is suspended for Universal Credit to help the Self-Employed 

For the General Public and for Family

For the next 12 months, Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit will increase by up to £1000

The Government has spoken to utility suppliers to put special measures in place to help customers during these difficult times, including not having any customers’ utilities cut due to non-payment. More information is provided by the individual suppliers about the special measures: 

 British Gas

Eon Energy

EDF Energy

NPower

Scottish Power

Scottish Power Hardship Fund

Southern Electric

For those who are struggling with food and to feed your family, there are many support out there that can help you including finding where to find your local food bank . If you want to know where your nearest food bank is, click here

Felix Project is a charity that is supported by the Independent newspaper and it support families facing hunger especially during COVID-19.

The Government has also spoken to mortgage providers to help customers with their mortgage if they are facing hardship during COVID-19. The scheme is a 3 months Mortgage holiday. You can find out more from the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority- this is the organisation that governs any company that operate money type business such as lending and storing money) or speak to your provider for more information. You can also click on the individual Mortgage providers for more information (apologises if your provider is not listed as we only list  the major banks): 

Nationwide

Co-Operative Bank

Barclays

Natwest

Aldermore

HSBC

Bank of Ireland

Santander

Halifax

Bank of Scotland

There are many charities and organisation that can help out if you are facing financial hardship. Citizen Advice Bureau  (more to pay utilities) and Turn2Us Grant search have directories of organisations and charities that may be able to help you during these difficult times. There are two charities that can help family in financial crisis such as Family Fund (but this is to help family with disable child/ren click on this link: For Family with disable child/ren) and Family- Action (click this link: Family Action Grants). Also Greggs the bakery have a foundation that helps family in financial crisis, click the link for more information: Greggs Foundation Grants

Reference:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-those-affected-by-covid-19/support-for-those-affected-by-covid-19

 

https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay

 

https://www.bdo.co.uk/en-gb/insights/tax/corporate-tax/covid-19-government-support-for-individuals-and-businesses

 

https://workingfamilies.org.uk/articles/coronavirus-support/

 

https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance

 

https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/covid-19

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-agrees-measures-with-energy-industry-to-support-vulnerable-people-through-covid-19

 

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-and-your-energy-supply

 

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/policy/policy-research-topics/welfare-policy-research-surveys-and-consultation-responses/welfare-policy-research/helping-people-through-the-covid-19-pandemic/

 

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/covid19

 

https://www.eonenergy.com/coronavirus-update/home-support.html    

 

https://www.edfenergy.com/coronavirus-advice

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

 

https://www.gov.uk/lay-offs-short-timeworking

 

https://www.gov.uk/difficulties-paying-hmrc

 

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/03/uk-coronavirus-help-and-your-rights/

 

https://www.npower.com/help-and-support/coronavirus/

 

https://community.scottishpower.co.uk/t5/Extra-Help/Coronavirus-COVID-19-information-for-ScottishPower-customers/ta-p/15029

 

https://community.scottishpower.co.uk/t5/Extra-Help/Hardship-Fund/ta-p/53

 

https://sse.co.uk/help/coronavirus-questions-and-answers   Southern Electric

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/help-the-hungry-coronavirus-food-bank-felix-project-covid-19-a9430756.html

 

https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/       here

 

https://thefelixproject.org/     Felix Project

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/help-the-hungry-coronavirus-food-bank-felix-project-covid-19-a9430756.html

 

https://nationwide.co.uk/support/coronavirus/mortgage-payment-holiday

https://www.co-operativebank.co.uk/news/2020/coronavirus-support-mortgage-payment-holidays

 

https://www.barclays.co.uk/coronavirus/mortgages/

 

https://personal.natwest.com/personal/support-centre/coronavirus.html

 

https://www.aldermore.co.uk/help-centre/coronavirus/coronavirus-information-for-mortgage-customers/

 

https://www.hsbc.co.uk/help/coronavirus/faqs/#mortgages

 

https://www.bankofireland.com/coronavirus-update/

 

https://www.santander.co.uk/personal/support/loans-and-mortgages/coronavirus-faq

 

https://www.halifax.co.uk/mortgages/existing-customers/payment-holidays/

 

https://www.bankofscotland.co.uk/helpcentre/coronavirus.html

 

https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/mortgages-coronavirus-consumers

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-confirms-500-million-hardship-fund-will-provide-council-tax-relief-for-vulnerable-households

 

https://www.familyfund.org.uk/FAQs/our-disability-criteria  For Family with disable child/ren

 

https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/

 

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/

 

https://www.family-action.org.uk/what-we-do/grants/

 

https://www.greggsfoundation.org.uk/grants/hardship-fund

 

 

Photo by Michael Longmire on Unsplash

 

Photo by Steve Smith on Unsplash