 The Government has announced a major extension to the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) – and for the first time since the scheme launched its scope will be widened to include some of those who weren’t previously eligible.
- The fourth SEISS grant will now be worth 80% of trading profits for three months, capped at £7,500. The value of the grants has varied since they were launched, but the next grant, which is supposed to cover February, March and April, will be worth 80%.
- Applications for the fourth SEISS grant will open in April. The exact date is still yet to be announced.
- More than 600,000 newly self-employed people will nowbe eligible to apply.
Now the Government has said it’ll widen its eligibility criteria. While previously you must have filed a tax return for 2018/19 to apply, it now says those who’ve filed a 2019/20 return may also be eligible – a move it says means over 600,000 more people may be able to apply.
- A fifth self-employed grant will be announced today -The Government’s confirmed there will be a further grant available after the fourth ends, which means support will be offered beyond the end of April. But we don’t yet know what it’ll be worth or who’ll be eligible.
- As the economy reopens in the summer, the government will help people whose turnover has fallen by 30% or more the most
HM Treasury has confirmed that the contactless card payment limit will rise from £45 to £100.
While legally in force from today, the changes to limits won't happen in practice immediately, as businesses will need to update their systems.
 The stamp duty holiday for those buying homes under £500,000 will be extended by 3 months until the end of June
Then those buying properties under £250,000 won't pay stamp duty if they complete the purchase before the end of September.
First-time buyers will get a "government guarantee" on mortgages, with a deposit of 5%, with many big lenders already backing the scheme
Last year the government increased the universal credit standard allowance by £20 a week in response to the coronavirus pandemic. This was set to end on 6 April, but it has been announced that the support will now continue for a further six months.
In addition, working tax credit claimants will get equivalent support for a further six months. Due to the nature of working tax credit these claimants won't get a weekly payment but will instead get a one-off payment of £500.
 In today's budget the following help for businesses has been announced:
- VAT cut for hospitality firms to 5% will be extended for six months to 30 September followed by interim rate of 12.5% for another six months. The standard rate will not return until April next year.
- The business rates holiday will be extended through to the end of June. For the remaining nine months of the year, business rates will still be discounted by two thirds, up to a value of £2m for closed businesses, with a lower cap for those who have been able to stay open,
- There will be a new Restart Grant in April, Non-essential retail businesses will receive grants of up to £6,000 per premises. Hospitality and leisure businesses will get grants of up to £18,000.
 Help is at hand for people in North Devon who have recently been identified as being at increased risk of becoming seriously unwell from coronavirus.
The government has recently written to an extra 965 people in North Devon advising them that research shows that they are at higher risk than previously thought.
If they need extra support because of this, they are being asked in the first instance to be self sufficient and seek help from family, friends and neighbours. If this isn't possible, then there is community help available.
Working alongside local community support organisation One Northern Devon and town and parish councils, NDC is helping to co-ordinate a range of services for those most in need. This includes:
• helping people to register on the government website
• help with grocery orders and deliveries
• collection and delivery of medication
• transport to medical and hospital appointments
• financial support for those in serious hardship
• friendly ear phonecalls to ease social isolation
To access these services, people have to first register on the government's shielding website which allows them to access priority supermarket slots and help from the council. Once registered, they can call NDC on 01271 388280 or go online at my.northdevon.gov.uk/service/Request_for_assistance.
The council is also urging people to ensure they don’t leave requests until the last minute and to give them at least two working days’ notice because the service relies on volunteers and so cannot react any more quickly than that.
The support service is available Monday-Friday during normal working hours.
 A Community Testing Centre, offering rapid coronavirus tests that provide results within the hour has opened in Barnstaple.
It is setting up in the car park at Taw View, Civic Centre, on North Walk road, and will be open 9am to 5pm, seven days a week, with extended hours 7am to 7pm on Mondays and Thursdays.
It will provide lateral flow tests for anyone who leaves the house to work or volunteer, and who comes into contact with others.
The purpose of community testing is to identify people likely to have the virus, so that those testing negative can continue their day while still following public health rules. Anyone testing positive is instructed to go home and self-isolate.
The tests are for people who are not showing symptoms and may not know they are carrying the virus. One in three people with coronavirus do not show any symptoms and could be going about their day passing it to others unknowingly.
People who can’t work from home and who are in contact with others regularly are encouraged to take these quick tests twice a week to prevent the potential spread of the virus.
If you are a front-line worker who has regular contact with the public in your working week, testing twice weekly is advisable.
Do not book a lateral flow test if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 such as a:
- new and continuous cough
- high temperature
- loss of, or change to, your sense of taste or smell
If you are experiencing any of those symptoms you should use the GOV.UK website to arrange an NHS test.
You can also order a home testing kit from the government website.
 The NHS is urging people in Devon who have received a letter from the National Booking System not to contact their GP practice about a vaccination. Practices are reporting a significant number of calls which are preventing people who need medical help getting through to the practice.
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