Covid-19 Self employed 3 year average - 1 bad year

[Smasher]

I'm self-employed - Handyman by day, musician by night. Well, I'm a stay at home musician right now.

I had decent trading years 2019-2020, 2018-2019 and 2017-2018
.
However, in 2016-2017, I spent most of the year building an annexe at my parent's house, so that a) we can look after my dad and help around the house and b) we have somewhere cheap to live, get out of debt and save for the future. We're very lucky to have that opportunity and it has been working out very well for all of us.
We also spent December 16 & January 17 in Peru with her family. My profits for that year were only £4k, mostly just gigs.

Like most, all my work has completely stopped and my income is 0 for the forseeable future.

Looking at how the government will work out payments for the self-employed, it will be averaged over those 3 years. However my year 2016-2017 will dilute it a lot. Anyone know if they will take that into consideration, or have I just fallen through a crack?

[ULA]

Unfortunately, it looks likes that will be the case as the formula being used to work out average profit does not take into account profits for the year 2019-2020, so your 2016-2017 will be taken into account even it is lower due to the reasons you have given.

You will also need to meet the other criteria of the trading profit being less than £50k and it making up more than half of your total income.

[EXC]

Looking at how the government will work out payments for the self-employed, it will be averaged over those 3 years. However my year 2016-2017 will dilute it a lot. Anyone know if they will take that into consideration, or have I just fallen through a crack?

Fraid so, it's pretty much as Ula said.

Here's Martin Lewis' guide to it https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/ne...elp/#sesupport

[Smasher]

Thanks guys.

Well, I guess I'll just have to get what I'm given. I have a roof over my head and a garden outside and making lots of music, so still one of the extremely lucky ones.
It was 100% of my income and definitely nowhere near £50k. I Just paid off a big chunk of my credit cards with the last of what my clients paid in. I think if I get enough to keep making payments to them, that'll be a big weight off..

Hope y'all keeping well