Being self-employed can be tough at the best of times, with unpredictable income and no sick pay if you fall ill.

But, it has been even harder for this group of workers since the coronavirus pandemic hit, with clients disappearing and no employer to fall back on.

The Government may have launched unprecedented grants and loans to help people survive during the pandemic but many people are slipping through the net.

Electrical engineer Lee Burden, from Maidstone, has been self employed since April last year so has just missed the cut off point for the government grant as he doesn't have a 2018/19 tax return.

Although his wife, gardener Sally, qualifies for the grant she is not the main income earner of the household.

Mrs Burden, 45, said: "In effect, apart from a mortgage payment holiday which we will pay interest on, we have slipped through the net.

"One issue we have is we have now reached the end of the 2019/20 tax year so people who have registered as self-employed prior to the Government's announcement will all be able to submit a tax return, and the Government will then have knowledge of their earnings.

"When the chancellor was challenged on this, his overriding comment was that tax returns for 2019/20 were not due until Jan 2021, and this left the system to open to fraud.

"But surely we should deal with protecting people in their hour of need and chase up those who claimed fraudulently afterwards?"

The Maidstone couple have written to their local MP, Helen Whately, who has responded with advice including deferring tax payments and applying for benefits.

Mrs Burden added: "We have had to think long and hard about our situation - we have a level of savings that will get us by for the time being, and we have always set our finances up so that we are six weeks in advance of our bills so we are by no means in as poor position as some, but we have always paid our taxes and NI and been financially responsible and independent so we feel the Government has seriously let us down at this difficult time.

"This small sector of people are having to dip into savings that others aren't having too. We are just one of thousands across the country who have been missed out of the loop."

"I feel we are being left behind and punished for doing the right thing. We can't survive like this for much longer."

In light of the financial difficulties the pair could soon face, they have taken the difficult decision to reopen Sally's gardening business from next week providing government guidelines don't change.

"We have assessed the risks, put rules in place and spoken to all customers and have decided, while we would rather do as the government has requested and stay at home, it just isn't an option to not work for a sustained period of time, without any support from the Government.

"With a gardening business as you can imagine it is feast or famine - this is our peak period to work but we are both dreading backlash from members of the public," Sally added.

Elaine and Kevin Board have been running their small business, providing sales support and marketing assistance to other companies, for three years.

Since the lockdown, many of their clients have stopped trading which means income has dried up for the Maidstone couple.

Without any savings, the pair, who have two children, have had to borrow money from Elaine's parents for food and have been struggling to afford the rent. Their private landlord said he was not able to get a mortgage break, so the rent must be paid.

Mrs Board, 38, said: "I feel we are being left behind and punished for doing the right thing. We can't survive like this for much longer.

"I haven't been sleeping and can barely cope."

The couple's eldest daughter, 16-year-old Emily has autism and has been struggling with the change brought on by the pandemic and Jessica, 9, has chronic asthma so has to be extra careful.

After many phone calls and verification issues, the family has luckily now qualified for Universal Credit, which has ended their initial panic. But they worry many other families might be in a similar position as they were before.

Craig Cameron from Eccles, is a freelance project director operating his own company, Cameron Digital.

He pays himself in dividends which means he does not qualify for the grants which has left him furious.

Mr Cameron, 42, said: "I am furious the chancellor has the nerve to portray himself as a hero of the people but fails to mention he is not planning on helping all self-employed people such as those who pay themselves via dividends from their limited company.

"I do not qualify for help, even though my tax bills each year are at the same level of higher earners.

"The chancellor has not yet explained his decision why he has excluded dividend paying directors, he has only hinted that this is because he does feel they pay fair tax - although they comply with the tax laws of this country."

He added: "I am unhappy for those who are not being provided the same safety net as everyone else.

"My wife, Samantha, and I are currently helping family members and friends with whatever financial support we can because they are not entitled to help."

Read more: All the latest business news

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone