Surviving the pandemic

Few of us have been untouched by Covid-19. As well as the impact on health and social wellbeing a particular effect is the devastation of many people’s livelihoods – and those suffering most include those on very low incomes especially self-employed people and many in the gig economy.

Government support was available from early on in the first lockdown through the self-employed income support scheme (SEISS). But some people did not hear of it or did not realise they were eligible. Others struggled to apply. The tax charities – TaxAid and Tax Help for Older People – soon became aware of this and rapidly developed and launched a coronavirus service to assist these people. See Andrew.

The service helped more than 6 000 people to apply for government support and when needed further help...