personal financial loss due to the virus.

Exactly GG.
My DS has a part-time job which he's doing from home just now (he is main carer for their child).

Us pensioners have it easiest, in general, I think.

That's definitely not fair FarNorth Gov seem to make it up as they go along. I know some amendments can't be helped as they're 'working in the dark' so to speak but still, your DD might have made different choices if the cut-off date had been March 19th in the first place. ?

My DiL started a new job in March.
Laid off - no hope of income as the cut off date for government help was 28 Feb.
She took a job in a care home, not nearly as well paid as she is used to, and dangerous of course.
Cut off date was changed to 19 March.
DiL was told by her employer that they would not get the 80% for her because she has the care home job - a decision taken by their head office!!
Surely it's not up to them to decide not to bother claiming for her?

My son just been diagnosed with AS. He is only 40 seems to have had it for 12 years. Things are going to be very hard after lockdown.

Jane10 that's an excellent point about paying all bills promptly as businesses need to keep afloat. We've always done the same as both our fathers were company directors and we know how important cash flow is. We're retired, so our incomes are pretty fixed with a combination of state, occupational pensions and investment income. However I have been helping our daughter who is still on maternity leave after the birth of our grandson. I was keen for her to have a full year off so my help has enabled her to do this. Fortunately her husband can work from home (banking) so the rest of their income seems stable for now. If for any reason there was a problem, we would certainly help them out as my parents helped me at a particularly difficult time in my life. I've never forgotten the relief that gave me to have their support, and would do the same for our young ones in a heartbeat.

On the question of the various benefits available to young people at present, I wonder how long it will be before the Tory government revert to type and make excuses to withdraw State support? What they're having to do at present is total anathema to them and they will be looking for an exit strategy as soon as possible!

I am determined to use local businesses that I haven’t used before because they have stepped up to the mark. They are volunteering to help wherever possible and generally putting themselves out. Larger concerns have shut up shop and abandoned ship. I know where my loyalties will lie in future.

We're both on various pensions so OK for now. However, I'm expecting to have to help out younger family members (again) soonish. We'll do that willingly. We also pay all bills ASAP as businesses need to keep afloat. These days everyone should be doing everything they can to get us all through these trying times.

Most of my friends seem to be ok but I don't ask. Many are ex or early retired teachers, head-teachers and have husbands and regular pensions. I know one has just had a new kitchen fitted and many, like other GNers, are decorating, renewing furnishings, buying garden stuff and generally still spending, although I realise that we are not going out to eat and socialise so it evens out.
Although I rent, the cost is only a tiny fraction of the amount gained by the incoming rental of my former family home. Plus I get half my ex's pension and my own private and state pensions. I do dabble in shares but don't rely on them for income. I think it's important now, to instill into our GC and GGC a savings mentality when this is more settled, to build up some solid cushioning in case a future similar scenario occurs.
People who appear well off are not always protected as they tend to live off credit and do not have readily accessible cash.
A thorough review of your finances is always a good idea, no matter your income.
Although Covid-19 has wrecked many budgets, when things settle no matter how far into the future, we will have to work hard to build up reserves as and when we can as a nation. No more overseas aid for a start.

The bankruptcy and insolvency services will be overwhelmed in the coming months and years .

We have been retired some years so both have pensions but not sure if these could be adjusted in the future.
The horrendous situation many people though who will find themselves in is so awful I believe many will be in debt for years to come with no way out.
I don't think anyone could have predicted the catastrophic circumstances the world would find itself in even a year ago,
In our lifetime we will never return to what we had before Corvid19.
We should try and think positive though and hope a vaccine will become available soon.

Some builders merchants are working online. We had 4 fence panels delivered last week and someone is coming in this week to fix them. Later on he is coming into do some work on our workshop.

All this is within the social distancing rules. The fence panels blown down are a good distance from the house. We will unlock the side gate and not go in the garden when the fence is being fixed - and we certainly will not be going up the garden to touch them as soon as he is gone.

Equally the workshop is 100 foot from the house so he can work there without breaching any distancing rules. We will be helping a good local self-employed craftsman weather the the current problems.

“ There are "builders/plumbers/electrical wholesalers open Davidhs they are classified as essential.”

Not here they are not, retail hardware stores are open, plumbers and electricians, emergencies only. Everyone closed quickly to protect employees

We are lucky in that we are both still working - from home - so both on full salaries.

Our son who lives with us, is also still working full time (supermarket), so also on full salary.

My son who lives and works in London - also still working full time (in a laboratory, making up chemo and other therapies so probably classed as a key worker) and still earning his full salary. I don't know how they're managing with the bills in his house share, as I think at least two of his three housemates are furloughed.

My daughter is the worst off, as although she is a key worker (a nursery nurse) she has been furloughed as there are not enough children going to nursery to warrant more than one staff member going in. IF she struggles financially (she's already negotiated only paying half rent this month, but once the furloughed payments are received next month, she has to pay the other half with next month's rent), we will be able to help her out financially.

Overall, I think my family has been lucky financially - even though it does mean that one son is working in close proximity with the public in a shop, and the other is having to commute on public transport, so both are quite vulnerable to catching it.

It is so hard. This will have ramifications for a long time. The one good thing os that everyone can now take stock and consider what is essential and important in their life. How young people are ever going to afford houses I don’t know; I think there will be a major recession.

One son is still working from home and as his wife and youngest daughter are key workers they are still ok. Their eldest daughter is also able to work from home but her partner in the car trade has been furloughed which is a relief as they were very worried about paying their rent and bills etc.

Youngest son and his wife are both self employed in NZ with large property rents on home and studio so this is hitting them hard as they are unable to work in the lockdown. I don't know how long they can manage before we will have to try and help.

Although we both have our state pensions when my husband retired from work last year he set up as self employed to work part time. He doesn't have the required 3 years accounts or a tax return for the last year so doesn't qualify for any help. We wouldn't apply for anything anyway as we can probably manage but there are so many in the same situation who really do need help with seemingly no way out other than to apply for Universal Credit which doesn't go anywhere near the 80% of salary others are getting. There are some desperately worried people out there wondering how on earth they are going to get through

I didn't know that Grannyactivist I've only just begun reading about it in any detail.

I do worry about the world our children and grandchildren are going to be left with after this.

sodapop Sweden currently has a Covid-19 death rate that is more than three times that of Norway, its nearest neighbour. In fact the Swedish death rate is greater than the totals of its three Nordic neighbours combined.

But of course there is less damage to the Swedish economy.

There are "builders/plumbers/electrical wholesalers open Davidhs they are classified as essential.

Some are delivering, some are operating a collection only system.

Nobody is paying bills, simply because nobody is paying them,
the whole economy is grinding to a halt. Those that want to work can’t because you can’t get any materials delivered , so even if you are a one man builder, no supplies. The government is going to have to get businesses working normally quickly.
I asked for a mortgage holiday 2 weeks ago and have heard nothing, anyone on fixed payment pension income is very lucky indeed.

SalsaQueen your husband's overtime should be included when the 80% of his salary is worked out.
It's commission payments that aren't included.

There is a school of thought that says the cure is worse than the illness and we should look more closely at what we are doing. Sweden is doing things differently I wonder how things will turn out there.

If this had happened while I had my business, there is no way I could have survived. Awful though it is now I feel lucky that I am on a pension and have a few savings. Ten years ago I think I would have been breaking down with the stress.
My neighbour is still working. I think she works in the care field in some way and she is very worried. There isn't really much you can say.

I was paid last month, and in theory was paid this month BUT can’t seem to access my salary from overseas. So I’m wondering if in fact, I haven’t had the credit to my overseas account.

I’m ok at the moment but with no other form of income, will be in trouble in a couple of months.

Probably will yes but that will be a long time coming. We would never have made till June which is the earliest it looks like being paid.

Hazbeen doesn’t your husband qualify for the 80% help from the government?