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Money Box: Self-employment income support scheme discrimination claims

30/01/2021

Self-employment income support scheme discrimination claims

BBC Radio 4 - Money Box, Self-employment income support scheme discrimination claims

Mothers go to court claiming discrimination in the self-employed income support scheme.

Rishi Sunak is being taken to court by self-employed mothers over discrimination claims, firms face 50% hike on FSCS levy, UC identity fraud and self assessment tax deadline.

The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is being taken to court by mothers who claim the self-employed income support scheme discriminates against them. That's because they took maternity leave during the period their profits were assessed. The government currently calculates how much a self-employed person should receive in their grant, which covers lost profits during the pandemic, by looking at a three year average. And the maternity discrimination charity, Pregnant then Screwed, claims this disadvantages mothers whose average profits were hit because of time taken out from work. Paul Lewis talks to one of the mothers affected and speaks to Anna Dews from solicitors Leigh Day.

A record one billion pounds will be spent next year on compensating customers of  financial miss-selling by firms that have gone out of business, according to a forecast in  The Financial Services Compensation Scheme Plan and Budget for 2021/22. The cost is more than a third higher than was paid out this year and that was over a third higher than last year’s total. It has just about doubled over three years. What's going on?  Paul Lewis talks to FSCS Chief Executive, Caroline Rainbird.

Nearly two months after Money Box first reported that the DWP was wrongly telling thousands of people that they owed it hundreds of pounds, Money Box continues to hear from listeners who say it is still going on. The Government told Money Box before Christmas that it had sorted the problem out. But Dan Whitworth talks to one woman who lost £1400 in December.

The self assessment tax deadline has been extended to 28 February, so if you file after the original deadline of 31 January , the £100 penalty can be avoided. But the tax does still needs to be paid by the end of this month, not February. Confused? Don't worry because Heather Self, tax partner at Blick Rothenberg explains all. 

Presenter: Paul Lewis
Producer: Ben Carter
Reporter: Dan Whitworth 
Researchers: Darin Graham and Sowda Ali
Editor: Rosamund Jones

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