What to do as a self-employed photographer who has lost work due to the Covid-19?
The Covid-19 Pandemic has had a huge impact on the photography industry. Over 90% of working photographers have reported upcoming jobs either being rescheduled or cancelled. As a result, many self-employed photographers have been left with a large income deficit.
We have been working around the clock to ensure our clients are supported in every way possible through this difficult time.
Contact us for expert tax advice for photographers
Below, we have compiled a list of some of the different reliefs and aids available. If you have any questions just get in touch.
Mortgage Holiday and Eviction Protection
At the early stages of the UK Covid-19 outbreak the government announced ‘Mortgage Holidays’ and ‘Eviction Protection’, which is available to anyone who has been financially affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. This will not only work to protect homes from being lost, but also bring down the overall monthly outgoings so there is less demand for a higher income.
Many self-employed photographers have reviewed the scheme as ‘extremely helpful’.
Tax payment delay
The government has delayed tax payments through the self-employed assessment system by six months. This will help lessen monthly outgoings further. Currently the next income tax bill will be due in July 2020 until January 2021. It is likely in the scenario that the Covid-19 pandemic continues to thrive and affect income into the July period; the start date will be further pushed back.
Business Insurance
It may be possible to claim some loss of income back on business insurance. Successful Covid-19-related claims will depend on the detailed outlined in your insurance policy, and the claim itself.
Below is a list of some of the most common policies that may cover Covid-19 related claims:
· Business Interruption Insurance
· Public Liability Insurance
· Employers’ Liability Insurance
It is important to note that even if a self-employed photographer has one of the insurance policies listed above, Covid-19 related issues still might not be covered. This is due to:
· Some insurance policies list the specific diseases that can be claimed on. The recent emergence of Covid-19 means that most- if not all of these policies will not list Covid-19 as a claimable illness.
· Other insurance policies may allow a Covid-19 claim, but in order for the claim to be successful there must have been a outbreak of the illness at the business premises or within a proximity of the business premises.
Most insurance companies are not allowing Covid-19 cover to be added to insurance policies going forward.
Universal Credit
Universal Credit is a Government Funded payment towards your living costs. The amount is usually available to those who have low income or are out of work. This is often the first port-of-call for self-employed photographers that have lost work and are in need of financial support.
Universal credit can now be applied for online and/or by telephone.
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
ESA is a financial aid for those with a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work. ‘New Style’ ESA may be claimable for self-employed photographers who have paid enough National Insurance Contributions (NIC) in the last 2 to three years.
If you have a private pension worth more than £85 per week the amount of ESA you can receive may be affected.
Self-employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS)
The SEISS is available to those who are self-employed or a member of a partnership and have lost income due to Covid-19. In order to receive the amount self-employed photographers must have:
· Filed a 2018-19 tax return
· Annual profits below £50,000 on average over the last 3 years.
· Still be registered as self-employed
· More than half total income come from being self-employed
The maximum amount claimable is £2,500 per person, per month. The grant will be fully taxable and so will be included on the 2020-21 income as income. A working example of this in practice shows that, if a person is to receive £2,500, of the credit, per month for 3 months, the total taxable income would be £7,500.
Statutory Sick Pay relief
For photography business owners, it may be an option to claim SSP relief. This is available to businesses with less than 250 employees and allows businesses paying its employees Statutory Sick Pay to be refunded 2 weeks of SSP per eligible employee.
Benefits Calculator
The Charity ‘Turn2Us’ offers a benefits calculator on their website to help work out some of the benefits you may be entitled to. This does not take into account non-means tested benefits and contributor benefits.
Arts Council Emergency Fund
The Arts Council has released an emergency fund of £20million, which is available to individuals working in the cultural sector, including ‘visual artists’. The grant itself will range up to £2,500. The final date to apply for this grant is the 30th April 2020.
Ways photographers are adapting their work to social isolation
Loss of upcoming income being said, there are many photographers demonstrating the amazing creativity and perseverance of the photography community. Below are to name a few:
Isolation Portraits
Miles Fortune, a freelance photographer, participated in Jackie Russo’s call for isolation portraits. Photograph: Jackie Russo
““There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment.”
— Robert Frank”
Many photographers have been documenting the history of the pandemic by showcasing the unique circumstance of social isolation. An example above, is a Miles Fortune portrait of journalist Jackie Russo in social isolation. Since mid-March, Fortune has photographed people from all over the world, working to capture ‘what this particular brand of social isolation feels like, and how different people approach and react to it’. The project has received attention from the masses.
Elsa Mitsoglou
Age 40
Brooklyn, New York
Elsa experienced a company mandate to work from home for two days, after which her office had planned to close for one full week and reassess.
Josh Ruben and Lauren Sick
Ages 36 and 35
Los Angeles
Josh and Lauren are practicing social distancing at home in Los Angeles. Sick has had four jobs cancelled so far. Ruben just wrapped a feature film shoot in upstate New York a few days before Los Angeles began implementing social distancing measures.