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I’ve had *so* many DMs and emails from PAYE freelancers struggling because they can’t access SEISS... Please keep them coming. Your stories are important and I will help you to be heard!
#forgottenfreelancers #excludeduk #seiss #lefttorot #dailybriefings #discrimination #parity
#forgottenfreelancers #excludeduk #seiss #lefttorot #dailybriefings #discrimination #parity
One person told me that, like many, they’ve been forced to move back in with parents...
“It's my mental health that's taken the biggest blow, every day I'm reminded of how well other people are being looked after. I worked myself to the bone to have savings for my own home.”
“It's my mental health that's taken the biggest blow, every day I'm reminded of how well other people are being looked after. I worked myself to the bone to have savings for my own home.”
Another PAYE freelancer excluded from SEISS and forced to pack up, said:
“I am luckily that I can return to my parents lovely home, but without them I’d be homeless on the streets using a foodbank.”
“I am luckily that I can return to my parents lovely home, but without them I’d be homeless on the streets using a foodbank.”
A heartbroken woman and her husband (both PAYE freelancers) had to move in with her parents. She said:
“Our life has turned upside down and I just can’t tolerate the unfairness of it all. How is this fair to leave millions of people destitute? I’m at the stage of giving up.”
“Our life has turned upside down and I just can’t tolerate the unfairness of it all. How is this fair to leave millions of people destitute? I’m at the stage of giving up.”
A woman who now has to rely on her partner for *everything* said:
“What the government is doing is extremely unfair. The impact on my mental health is hard. I live my life in anxiety. I can’t imagine how tough it feels for people without any support from family and friends.”
“What the government is doing is extremely unfair. The impact on my mental health is hard. I live my life in anxiety. I can’t imagine how tough it feels for people without any support from family and friends.”
Another PAYE freelancer in dire straits told me...
“I can’t believe after paying tax at source I’m being forgotten when there is no chance of fraud. The joke is that it would be such a quick fix to remove the 50% PAYE cap from SEISS but bring help to so many.”
“I can’t believe after paying tax at source I’m being forgotten when there is no chance of fraud. The joke is that it would be such a quick fix to remove the 50% PAYE cap from SEISS but bring help to so many.”
A 48-year-old forced to move in with her parents, told me:
“Today, I am OK but there have been 2 occasions during this crisis that I’ve planned my death and written goodbye letters to loved ones. I guess that means I’m the ‘collateral damage’ the government keeps referring to.”
“Today, I am OK but there have been 2 occasions during this crisis that I’ve planned my death and written goodbye letters to loved ones. I guess that means I’m the ‘collateral damage’ the government keeps referring to.”
A PAYE freelancer who’s worked in national media for 9 years said:
“I’ve applied for UC and I’m looking for jobs outside the industry. I can’t afford to be a journalist anymore. I’m embarrassed to admit this but I’ve had to apply for food vouchers for the first time in my life.”
“I’ve applied for UC and I’m looking for jobs outside the industry. I can’t afford to be a journalist anymore. I’m embarrassed to admit this but I’ve had to apply for food vouchers for the first time in my life.”
A young man who’s been excluded from SEISS because he’s a PAYE freelancer, told me:
“Thank you for everything you're doing for people like me. So many of my friends got financial aid. I think I'm the only person I know who didn't get help and I've felt so alone in all of this.”
“Thank you for everything you're doing for people like me. So many of my friends got financial aid. I think I'm the only person I know who didn't get help and I've felt so alone in all of this.”
A man who works for a gym as a PAYE freelancer, told me:
“Things are getting really desperate. No money since March. Friends and family have helped with rent and food but that can’t carry on forever. How does the government expect us to live? Just left behind and forgotten.”
“Things are getting really desperate. No money since March. Friends and family have helped with rent and food but that can’t carry on forever. How does the government expect us to live? Just left behind and forgotten.”
A man who has worked his entire adult life, told me:
“I'm a PAYE freelancer in live events with no support for 11 weeks. I’m now sofa surfing as I had to give up my flat, and I’m using food banks. The only support I've had is £250 from hospitality action and a food parcel.”
“I'm a PAYE freelancer in live events with no support for 11 weeks. I’m now sofa surfing as I had to give up my flat, and I’m using food banks. The only support I've had is £250 from hospitality action and a food parcel.”
A PAYE freelancer just told me:
“I was 20 weeks pregnant when lockdown happened and all of my work stopped overnight. I’m now 32 weeks pregnant. As a freelancer i don’t get maternity pay, so I was counting on every bit of money earned going towards my maternity leave.”
“I was 20 weeks pregnant when lockdown happened and all of my work stopped overnight. I’m now 32 weeks pregnant. As a freelancer i don’t get maternity pay, so I was counting on every bit of money earned going towards my maternity leave.”
This is why PAYE freelancers aren’t being heard. Oppression by fear. A frontline nurse (bank staff) told me:
“I can't speak out because if I do I won't get offered any more work from the NHS.“
“I can't speak out because if I do I won't get offered any more work from the NHS.“
A PAYE freelancer living in a council flat (who helped make PPE for NHS workers) explained the impact of being excluded from SEISS:
“I feel less than human. I feel like the scum of society. Why don’t I deserve the help of the system that I’ve paid into my entire working life?”
“I feel less than human. I feel like the scum of society. Why don’t I deserve the help of the system that I’ve paid into my entire working life?”
A PAYE freelancer who’s worked front of house at a theatre for years, said:
“I’ve lost weight due to the stress & I’m struggling to put it back on. I’m already thin. There is no weight on me to lose. This is the first time I’ve seen stress physically take its toll on my body.”
“I’ve lost weight due to the stress & I’m struggling to put it back on. I’m already thin. There is no weight on me to lose. This is the first time I’ve seen stress physically take its toll on my body.”
A father (of a 2-year-old) excluded from SEISS, told me:
“I’m the lowest I've ever been, my mental health’s taken a battering. I don't qualify for any benefits, I'm stuck & being refused help. I can't be the dad I want or need to be & it breaks my heart. I'm struggling to cope.”
“I’m the lowest I've ever been, my mental health’s taken a battering. I don't qualify for any benefits, I'm stuck & being refused help. I can't be the dad I want or need to be & it breaks my heart. I'm struggling to cope.”
An NHS bank staff nurse (a PAYE freelancer), said:
"The NHS cancelled all of our work due to Covid. We've had no income for the duration of lockdown and no government support. If we had zero hours McDonald's contracts, we’d have been looked after..."
"The NHS cancelled all of our work due to Covid. We've had no income for the duration of lockdown and no government support. If we had zero hours McDonald's contracts, we’d have been looked after..."
Another PAYE freelancer, told me:
“I’ve been working since I was a teenager. The work I do is arduous and I’ve paid tax all my working life. I’ve not received a single penny off the government when it’s not possible for me to work during lockdown. How is that fair?”
“I’ve been working since I was a teenager. The work I do is arduous and I’ve paid tax all my working life. I’ve not received a single penny off the government when it’s not possible for me to work during lockdown. How is that fair?”
A PAYE freelance fitness instructor & a father-of-one, told me:
“I’ll likely have no income for at least 6 months. Things are getting really desperate. Pretty ashamed to begging for help. How do the government expect us to eat or live? We’ve just been left behind and forgotten.”
“I’ll likely have no income for at least 6 months. Things are getting really desperate. Pretty ashamed to begging for help. How do the government expect us to eat or live? We’ve just been left behind and forgotten.”
I will update this thread shortly, but for now:
Anyone struggling due to being #ExcludedUK PLEASE use this resource!
#forgottenfreelancers #ForgottenLtd #50kcliffedge #newstarters #newlyselfemployed #annualPAYE #maternitypetition #MentalHealthMatters https://www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/get-help/
Anyone struggling due to being #ExcludedUK PLEASE use this resource!
#forgottenfreelancers #ForgottenLtd #50kcliffedge #newstarters #newlyselfemployed #annualPAYE #maternitypetition #MentalHealthMatters https://www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/get-help/
