Following the announcement of national lockdown, the Government have provided funding to all local authorities to support businesses which, whilst not forced to close, have been severely impacted by the national restrictions.

The government has also recognised that some businesses may not have rateable commercial premises but still have been severely impacted. The Additional Restrictions Grant will cover businesses that fall into these categories.

If you have applied for this grant before during the November lockdown, then you do not need to apply again. Your previous application will be used to determine if you are eligible for the grant for the lockdown from the 5 January onwards and these payments have been made.

Applications for this grant will be considered for eligibility from the 5 January 2021 onwards only and any payment will be a one off grant for the whole lockdown period.

A further payment will be made shortly to all previous recipients for the period 1 April to 12 April 2021.

Grant Payment amounts:

Any total grant awarded to businesses will be a one off payment amount for the 5 January 2021 onwards lockdown period. A further payment will not be made to those who receive the additional one off payment following the extension of the lockdown beyond the middle of February as the one off payment exceeds the 28 day period amounts.

If your business is listed on the business rates assessment list:

If your business is not listed on the business rates assessment list:

An additional one off payment for businesses mandated to close in the lockdown regulations for 5 January onwards will also be considered:

Is my business eligible?

Your business may be eligible if it occupies a property in the district or is run by a local resident and trades within the district and:

• Have been effectively forced to close due to the national restrictions, whether they are liable for business rates or not. This will include personal service providers, market traders or
• Is a business where trade has been severely impacted* whether they are liable for business rates or not
• Businesses outside of the business rates system or are not directly the rate payer for business rates, such as those in shared spaces and are not legally forced to close but have been severely impacted by the national restrictions
• Businesses that do not have premises but do have high fixed costs

*By severely impacted we mean at least 50% of your revenue comes from businesses that were required to close due to the national restrictions and this has had an impact on your income by at least 50%. This does include suppliers of good and services to businesses forced to close.

Is my business not eligible?

The following businesses are not eligible for this grant:

• Businesses that can continue to trade or operate remotely and do not rely on providing ‘in-person’ services
• Businesses which have already reached the state aid limit
• Business which are subject to insolvency or striking off action
• Specific businesses subject to national closures since 23 March 2020 will not be eligible for this funding. This includes nightclubs and entertainment venues where grants will be paid under a separate scheme for nationally mandated business closures

The full eligibility criteria can be viewed in the schemes policy.

If you already receive state aid

The Additional Restrictions Grant counts towards state aid.

Payments count towards the total de minimis State aid you are allowed to get over a 3-year period - €200,000. If you have reached that threshold, you may still be eligible for funding under the COVID-19 Temporary Framework. The limit for the framework is €800,000.

If you proceed to make an application, we will ask you to complete a declaration confirming that you will not exceed the relevant State aid threshold.

Tax implications

Grant income received by a business is taxable. The Additional Restrictions Grant will need to be included as income in the tax return of your business.

How do I apply?

If you have already applied for this grant before during the November lockdown, then you do not need to apply again. Your previous application will be used to determine if you are eligible for the grant from 5 January onwards and these payments have been made.

If you think your business is eligible please complete the online form. Your application will be considered for eligibility from the 5 January 2021 onwards. The closing date for applications for this grant will be 30 April 2021.

You will be asked to provide details about your business such as proof of bank account details and your property costs. We will contact you if we need further information. There could be a delay in processing your application may arise if your information and evidence isn’t provided.

The funding for this grant is limited. Once all funding has been allocated, no further applications will be considered, any outstanding applications will be rejected. 

The decisions to award or reject a grant payment is at the discretion of Selby District Council.