Martin Lewis on how he’s fighting to help those missing out on coronavirus cash support
MARTIN Lewis, founder of financial website MoneySavingExpert, has revealed how he’ll keep fighting for those missing out on coronavirus cash support.
The financial guru said there are still loopholes he has not closed, such as freelancers on short-term PAYE contracts.
Many of these workers aren't entitled to be furloughed under the coronavirus job retention scheme, while they also can't claim for a grant through the self-employed income support scheme.
Mr Lewis described how he's been acting as an “intermediary” between people who've been struggling and the government during the coronavirus crisis.
Speaking to , he said: “When I realised I hadn’t helped them, I felt sick. I thought: ‘God, I can’t believe I’ve missed it.’
“I’ve been working flat out, but I was very upset with myself.”
However, his successes include getting the government to change their guidelines to confirm people could be re-hired by their old employer and furloughed.
This meant thousands of people were able to be furloughed who hadn’t been before, including those who'd left their employer shortly before the pandemic started and had a new job offer fall through.
Although not specifically mentioned in his latest interview, other government guidelines Mr Lewis has called out in the past include a "bizarre" rule that means business owners could miss out on the second self-employment grant if they can't prove their work has been affected AFTER July 14.
From August, employers will have to contribute national insurance and pension contributions rather than the government picking up this bill.
Then in September, they'll have to pay 10 per cent of salaries as well, before this increases to 20 per cent of salaries from October when the scheme is due to finish.
Employees can still be made redundant while on furlough.
So if bosses don't believe they can afford to start making contributions towards furloughed pay from August, it means redundancy letters could start arriving.
Mr Lewis is no stranger to using his platform to help those who are struggling financially.
Back in March 2020, he announced he was donating £1million to charities specifically working on UK coronavirus-related poverty relief projects.
Successful applicants were eligible for grants of between £5,000 and £20,000.
Other ways Mr Lewis has helped people during the coronavirus crisis is urging holidaymakers to check their travel insurance so they don't miss out on cash for cancelled trips.
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He's also told people to stop “furlough shaming” others who are having fun at a park or beach.
As more people struggle with cash, Mr Lewis recently called for thuggish debt letters to be stopped while the pandemic is on-going.