The plan to reinstate a feature of Universal Credit which overstates the income of low-earners in self-employment will cut their Universal Credit payments for many claimants.
Around £1.3 billion has gone to people unaffected by the crisis, while others suffering catastrophic income losses have missed out on any support at all.
Low-paid self-employed workers were unable to shift to home working during lockdown, unlike higher paid freelancers in professional services like consultancy or tutoring.
An 'emergency basic income' for the self-employed would leave three in four better-off – especially those on low incomes – compared to the government's proposals, and get cash into their hands immediately, new analysis shows.