| Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > | Poll: If your business has been affected by covid-19, have you considered applying for public assistance? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "If your business has been affected by covid-19, have you considered applying for public assistance?".
This poll was originally submitted by Muriel Vasconcellos. View the poll results »
| | | | Thayenga 
Germany
Local time: 22:15
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
My business has been affected by Covid-19. However, it is only one of three financial "legs" I'm standing on. Therefore, I am fortunate enough not having to apply for any governmental assistance.
| | | | Ventnai
Spain
Local time: 22:15
German to English
+ ...
My business has been affected to a limited extent, so I'm not sure I'd qualify public assistance. I'd say it was down by more than half.
| | | | Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
United States
Local time: 13:15
Spanish to English
+ ...
When I proposed this poll I thought I included "No." I guess "Other" will do. The idea came to me when a friend who is a court reporter decided to apply for unemployment, even though she has been called to take down a few depositions. I still have my pension from when I worked as a full-time translator, but I'm watching my pennies a lot closer.
In the U.S., our unemployment system is so overloaded that people can't get through to apply for benefits.
[Edited at 2020-04-20 09:0... See more When I proposed this poll I thought I included "No." I guess "Other" will do. The idea came to me when a friend who is a court reporter decided to apply for unemployment, even though she has been called to take down a few depositions. I still have my pension from when I worked as a full-time translator, but I'm watching my pennies a lot closer.
In the U.S., our unemployment system is so overloaded that people can't get through to apply for benefits.
[Edited at 2020-04-20 09:00 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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| Applied for it and received it | Apr 20, 2020 |
My business experienced a dip of 21%, not terribly detrimental, but my accountant suggested I apply for it, and I did. I have already received funds for March and anticipate receiving a slight increase in the March amount for April and May. Quarter 2 only, I expect. Furthermore, the Croatian government agreed to waive employee contribution fees in the amounts granted, so my pension and health insurance costs are down by about 1/3.
| | | | | Not even worth trying | Apr 20, 2020 |
Spain's "socialist" government will not even suspend the country's freakishly high Social Security payments for freelance workers during the crisis.
If they cannot even take this simple, common-sense measure, I can only imagine the red tape involved in receiving any kind of subsidy.
Following age-old truisms ... as you get older ... you realise you can only count on yourself.
| | | | Nikolay Novitskiy
Russian Federation
Local time: 02:15
Member (2018)
English to Russian
| How can it be? | Apr 20, 2020 |
For freelance translators it's a recession, not a catastrophe. I don't think it's wise to ask for help - it's wiser to use this dark times to work harder and to get more clients.
When the epidemic ends, you will be among those few who has money, buying discounted goods and cheap property. So, go on - work hard and prepare to feast on your success later.
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Work has been scarce this fortnight, but I’ll manage without public assistance. Like Muriel I have a pension from when I worked in-house. In Portugal, the lockdown is in place until the 2nd May but business will gradually reopen if the spread of the disease continues to slow and the coronavirus curve keeps on flattening.
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I don't think I am hit hard enough.
| | | | Jo Macdonald
Spain
Local time: 22:15
Member (2005)
Italian to English
+ ...
Applied for and received (€700 last Saturday) from the Spanish social security system.
Social security payments are €305/month and should be suspended for the duration of the state of emergency.
Just one simple form to fill in.
You're eligible for it if you had a 75% or more reduction in work.
You can also postpone tax payments for several months.
[Edited at 2020-04-20 10:29 GMT]
| | | | | I guess I can't complain ... | Apr 20, 2020 |
Was pretty easy, eh?
Hats off to the government, then. I must eat my words in terms of the red tape I envisioned.
I am fortunate, as my revenues have not dropped anywhere near 75%, so ... I guess I can't complain.
Jo Macdonald wrote:
Applied for and received (€700 last Saturday) from the Spanish social security system.
Social security payments are €305/month and should be suspended for the duration of the state of emergency.
Just one simple form to fill in.
You're eligible for it if you had a 75% or more reduction in work.
You can also postpone tax payments for several months.
[Edited at 2020-04-20 10:29 GMT]
| | | | Luiz Barucke
Brazil
Local time: 18:15
Member (2013)
Spanish to Portuguese
+ ...
| Not affected (yet?) | Apr 20, 2020 |
My work volume has not been affected, but I'm sure if things will stay this way.
What I certainly notice now is virtually a single theme - the most part of my translation work today is directly or indirectly related to COVID-19 (health guidelines, corporate messages and updates, new procedures, furloughs, press releases etc.).
Considering there are many people hardly affected by this new, weird situation, I don't consider applying myself for public assistance if things ... See more My work volume has not been affected, but I'm sure if things will stay this way.
What I certainly notice now is virtually a single theme - the most part of my translation work today is directly or indirectly related to COVID-19 (health guidelines, corporate messages and updates, new procedures, furloughs, press releases etc.).
Considering there are many people hardly affected by this new, weird situation, I don't consider applying myself for public assistance if things get worse for a couple of months.
Stay safe! ▲ Collapse
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Paul Dixon
Brazil
Local time: 18:15
Portuguese to English
+ ...
In memoriam
The crisis in Brazil has been very bad for at least ten years, and is now even worse thanks to Covid 19. No work at all, I was doing a large job but the client has put it on hold. The only new jobs that come in are microjobs, and even so if you are one minute late someone else has taken it.
I have applied for public assistance but am awaiting a reply. The problem is that the criteria for qualification to receive assistance are very strict. In addition, the sum given is nothing compa... See more The crisis in Brazil has been very bad for at least ten years, and is now even worse thanks to Covid 19. No work at all, I was doing a large job but the client has put it on hold. The only new jobs that come in are microjobs, and even so if you are one minute late someone else has taken it.
I have applied for public assistance but am awaiting a reply. The problem is that the criteria for qualification to receive assistance are very strict. In addition, the sum given is nothing compared to the bills we have to pay.
(There is a big debate going on here about whether to reopen industry and businesses or maintain the lockdown. While I see the reasons for a lockdown, I would personally like to see industral companies opening as at least there would be some jobs. Most State Governors like Dória want to keep the lockdown while Brazil's far-right President wants to reopen businesses). ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Not but yes but yes but no | Apr 20, 2020 |
We haven’t seen a drop in turnover yet but we have still received a grant.
The Welsh government have kindly given either £10,000 or £25,000 to all small businesses with rateable premises.
I had some misgivings about claiming this but did in the end. There’s no real reason why we should go without just because we’ve built a sustainable business that is continuing to thrive. But I don’t think chucking money around indiscriminately like this is the best approach,... See more We haven’t seen a drop in turnover yet but we have still received a grant.
The Welsh government have kindly given either £10,000 or £25,000 to all small businesses with rateable premises.
I had some misgivings about claiming this but did in the end. There’s no real reason why we should go without just because we’ve built a sustainable business that is continuing to thrive. But I don’t think chucking money around indiscriminately like this is the best approach, especially when there are some deserving people out there apparently receiving nothing. I guess they did it that way for simplicity.
If we did see work dry up over the summer, we could presumably furlough ourselves and get paid 80% to sit in the sun, but summer is normally very quiet for us anyway so I’ll have to revisit the ethics if and when we get to that point. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kaisa I
Canada
Local time: 16:15
English to Finnish
+ ...
| I refuse to vote "other" | Apr 20, 2020 |
Muriel Vasconcellos wrote:
When I proposed this poll I thought I included "No." I guess "Other" will do.
I was wondering about that! I didn't vote at all, because there was no option to say "no".
It's too soon to tell if my business has been affected. I had two of my best months ever directly before the pandemic was declared, and those will probably make up for the lack of work in April, potentially even May. Therefore, I am fortunate enough to leave the public assistance to those who actually need it.
This is a survey prepared by FIT Europe to gauge the impact on translators and interpreters: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDVqzZQP86hsz2in5a913JzzLQpWKGf5UIbg1CdnDvqdXomQ/viewform
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