Self-Employment Income Support Scheme: Claims by age, gender and sector

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has released new statistics for claims for grants through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. The data provides some interesting insights into the UK's self-employed population.

Main findings

As of 30 May, a total of 3.4m self-employed individuals were identified as potentially eligible for the SEISS scheme. This means that they met the income and trading activity criteria for the scheme. However, some of these businesses will not have continued trading since 2018-19 or will not have been adversely affected by coronavirus so will not be eligible.

By 31 May, 2.4m (70%) had claimed SEISS grants totalling £7bn. The average value per claim was £2,900.

Around two-thirds of the potentially eligible individuals are male (2.3m). When it comes to the proportion of people who have claimed a grant, 72% of males have done so, compared to 66% of females.

The average claim for men is £3,200 and for women it is £2,300

Take-up of the SEISS grant is lowest for those aged over 65 (55%) and those aged 16 to 24 (62%).

The sector with the highest number of potentially eligible individuals and the highest proportion of claims is the construction industry. By 31 May construction workers had made 800,000 claims for SEISS totalling £2.9bn.

The two regions with the highest number of claims are London (433,000) and the South East (352,000), although London has the lowest take-up rate amongst the UK countries and regions.

SEIS claims by gender

By 31 May, HMRC had received 2,380,000 claims for SEISS grants from a total potentially eligible population of 3.4m. The claims totalled £6.974bn with an average of £2,900.

Of the claims, 1,677,000 worth £5.358m were from men, with 701,000 claims for £1.609bn from women. Males have a higher take-up rate than females (72% compared to 66%) and their average grant value (£3,200) is 39% higher than the average for females (£2,300).

The SEISS potentially eligible population and SEISS claims to 31 May 2020 by gender

SEISS potentially eligible population, number and amount of claims by 31st May by gender

SEISS claims by age group

Over 90% of claimants are aged between 25 and 64 and take-up of the grant in these age-groups is at or above 70%.

HMRC said the take up rate is noticeably lower for those who are aged 65 and over (55% have claimed), although they have the highest average claim value at £3,300. The youngest age group have the second lowest take up rate (62%) and the lowest average claim value at £2,100.

Total potentially eligible population and number of SEISS claims to 31 May 2020 by age group​​​​​​​

SEISS potentially eligible population, number and amount of claims by 31st May 2020 by age band (excludes those with missing gender)

SEISS claims by industry sector

The construction industry has the largest potentially eligible population with over 1m self-employed individuals potentially eligible to apply. By 31 May construction workers had made 801,000 claims for SEISS totalling £2.864bn; an average of £3,600 per claimant.

Of other large sectors affected and making SEISS claims, transportation and storage has 8% of the potentially eligible population and made 206,000 claims totalling £451m.

Administrative and support services also make up 8% of the potentially eligible population and have made 177,000 claims totalling £371m.

The total potentially eligible population and number of SEISS claims made to 31 May by sector for the six largest SIC industries potentially eligible for the scheme​​​​​​​

The total potentially eligible population and number of SEISS claims made to 31 May by smaller sector

_Average value of claims to 31 May by primary industry of self-employment, ranked by average claim

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SEISS claims by geography

London has the largest potentially eligible population and number of claims (433,000) but the lowest take up rate (67%).

This compares to other regions where between 70% and 73% of the potentially eligible population are claiming.

Self-employed individuals in Scotland have made 146,000 claims totalling £425m; in Wales 102,000 claims for £273m have been made and in Northern Ireland 69,000 claims for £198m have been submitted.

The regions and countries with the lowest average claim values are the North West (£2,700), the North East (£2,600), Yorkshire and the Humber (£2,700) and Wales (£2,700).

The East of England (£3,200), South East (£3,200), South West (£3,000) and London (£3,000) all have average claim values above the UK average.

_The total potentially eligible population and number of claims made to 31 May by country and NUTS1 region, ranked by size of potentially eligible population

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The average value of claims by NUTS1 region, ranked by value