PJA Members Covid-19 Update 2
This is the second of our regular updates. Big changes yesterday with the lockdown announced, details below. Also, racing in Ireland has also been suspended with immediate effect from tomorrow.
General Covid-19 Updates
Government Covid 19 Public Advice: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public
Government Covid 19 Travel Advice: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus
Government Advice for Employers, Employees and Businesses: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19
Government Lockdown Announced
Yesterday evening the Government announced a ‘stay at home’ order, effective immediately, in order to protect the NHS and save lives.
These measures are:
1. Requiring people to stay at home, except for very limited purposes
2. Closing non-essential shops and community spaces
3. Stopping all gatherings of more than two people in public
Everyone must comply with these new measures. The relevant authorities, including the police, will be given the powers to enforce them – including through fines and dispersing gatherings.
You should only leave the house for one of four reasons
● Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible
● One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle – alone or with members of your household
● Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
● Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.
These four reasons are exceptions – even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are 2 metres apart from anyone outside of your household.
The full guidance, which we sent out last night, is attached to this update.
Useful Contacts
Paul Struthers – 07966 590105/01264 730770, ps@thepja.co.uk
Dale Gibson – 07970 149415, dg@thepja.co.uk
Izzy Desailly – 07771 656396, id@thepja.co.uk
Vicky Lee – 01635 778108/ 07585 633400, vl@thepja.co.uk
Aodhagan Conlon, Performance Mindset Consultant – 07815 016900
Sporting Chance 24/7 Helpline – 07780 008877
Lisa Delany, JETS – 07919 417462, lisa@jets-uk.org
Phil Kinsella, JETS – 07970 673351, Phil@jets-uk.org
Oaksey House, Lambourn: 01488 674242
Jack Berry House, Malton: 01653 602090
Peter O’Sullevan House, Newmarket: 01638 662246
Questions and Answers / Additional Information
- Can I still ride out?
Yes, but it is vital that you follow the Government’s guidance. Make sure that you only travel to work with other people from your household – do not share lifts, and ensure that you follow social distancing protocols (2m apart from other people) and wash your hands for 20 seconds with regularity.
- Where are you with plans to support jockeys financially?
Paul continues to work on a funding mechanism to try to incorporate a number of factors for your potential loss of earnings for up to three months. A proposal is almost finalised and will be approved by the PJA Board in the next 24 hours all being well. This will then be considered as part of the wider industry support work that Paul is part of. As part of the PJA’s proposal, we are looking at utilising PJA funds for an additional Hardship Loan Scheme, in partnership with the IJF.
- Will there be Government help for self-employed people?
We hope so but it is unclear. Indeed, the Guardian reported on an exchange in Parliament today, which would suggest help for the self-employed may be some way off.
This is what Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, told MPs a few minutes ago about why constructing a scheme to protect the self-employed who are losing work because of the coronavirus crisis was so complicated. He said it may require a brand new system. He explained:
“We’re looking at pace at what support can be provided. The fact is that five million universe that we’re dealing with contains such a wide variety of different people where we don’t have the ability to target support – that’s the challenge that we have in designing something that gets to the people that we want it to help whilst at the same time being affordable, not having to benefit absolutely everybody. That is proving to be problematic, but we are hard at work on it.
“In terms of delivery, it is almost certainly going to be the case that we would have to build another brand new system to deliver any support.
“I think it’s right, and I’m sure honourable members on both sides of this house would agree, that in terms of prioritising system design, the scheme we have set up for 90% of the workforce that is employed should be delivered first and quickly, and that is what we have committed to do, ideally by the end of April.
Labour’s Wes Streeting pushed him for clarification on this. He said people wanted an announcement very soon.
Sunak said that he “hoped to have something to say very shortly”. But he said that did not mean he would be able to implement a scheme immediately. Implementing the proposals “will take longer”, he said.
If this is accurate, it is vital that racing finds the funding to support our own self-employed workforce, which includes jockeys, valets and agents.
- Sick Pay / Universal credit
The chancellor has announced that the “self-employed can now access in full universal credit at a rate equivalent to statutory sick pay for employees”. In general, when it comes to working out which benefits you are eligible for and how much you might get, the same rules usually apply whether you work for an employer or are self-employed, according to the benefits advisory group Turn2Us. Your earnings from self-employment will count as income when working out what benefits might be available to you. Turn2Us also offer a useful benefits calculator.
Further information is available at https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/coronavirus/
- Reminder on Tax and VAT
The Chancellor said he will be deferring the next round of self-assessment payments on account (originally scheduled for 31 July 2020), to January 2021. It appears this deferment will be automatic – see the Help for Employers and Businesses link at the top of this Q&A.
Most self-employed earn below the threshold for registering for VAT, which stands at £85,000. However, for those jockeys who are VAT registered the chancellor said he will be deferring VAT for the next quarter. More information is at the same link.
Those jockeys with accountants should speak to them about these assistance measures.
- Other employment during shut down
It’s possible to be employed and self-employed at the same time. This could apply to you if, for example, you work for an employer part time and run your own business part time. You pay tax and National Insurance contributions on your employment and self-employment income in different ways.
We would advise you to ask an accountant or tax adviser for clarification but it is unlikely that any such initiative would affect your entitlement to other means of Industry support.
- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – of particular reference for Valets and, possibly, some Agents
There is a very handy and informative Q&A on the website of the NTF about this scheme, which will allow employers to place staff on a period of “paid leave” and claim 80% of their salary back from the Government:
https://ntfmuse.wordpress.com/2020/03/24/furlough-faq-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme/
- Sky Sports Subscription
It is worthwhile logging on to sky.com to pause Sky Sports subscriptions to the dedicated sports channel. The discount appears from the day you activate the change. Your Sky Sports channels plus your recordings will remain available. As soon as the action returns, Sky will reinstate your Sports subscription. You don’t need to do anything else.
Finally please keep your eye on these two excellent websites which offer easy to read information:
www.moneysavingexpert.com Twitter @MartinSLewis
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or if we can help in any way, and warmest wishes to you and your families.
The PJA Team – Ann, Dale, Izzy, Nigel, Paul and Vicky