THE Governement has revealed its plans to help the self-employed through the coronavirus crisis.

Yesterday Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced self-employed workers will be able to apply for a grant worth 80 per cent of their average monthly profits up to £2,500 a month.

The average will be calculated based on workers' profits from the past three years.

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But the scheme, which is only open to anyone with trading profits up to £50,000, will not be up and running until June, with one lump sum payment backdated to March.

It will be open for those three months initially but could be extended.

Unlike the Government's scheme for employed workers, the self-employed will be able to claim support while continuing to work.

The grants will be taxable and will need to be declared on workers' tax returns by January 2022.

The Treasury said the plans would help 3.8 million people, but admitted there are about 200,000 people who would not be covered - including those with earnings over £50,000, such as designers, web developers, accountants and other high earners.

The scheme also does not cover anyone who has started a business very recently, and has not filed a tax return for the 2018/2019 financial year.

The Government has faced widespread criticism for failing to provide a support package for the self-employed sooner, after it announced plans to help employed workers last week.

Musicians, taxi drivers and those working in the gig economy were among the self-employed workers who feared for their livelihoods as the coronavirus crisis deepened.

As he announced the scheme, Mr Sunak told the self-employed: "You have not been forgotten."

He said the Government had faced difficulties in coming up with the scheme because self-employed workers are so diverse, with a vast range of different earnings.

The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving.org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund.