Financial support
Support is available for individuals, businesses and other organisations that have suffered financially due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
Financial support for businesses
A range of business support measures have been made available to UK businesses and employees. You will receive some automatically and will have to apply for others.
GOV.UK: financial support for businesses during coronavirus (COVID-19) lists the types of financial support you can get for your business. Advice is also available at HM Government: Business Support.
The government has created a support-finder to help you find the financial support available for your business – go to GOV.UK: find coronavirus financial support for your business.
We have provided direct links to some of this support below:
- GOV.UK: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – step-by-step guide for employers
- GOV.UK: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – check if you can claim for your employees' wages
- GOV.UK: claim back Statutory Sick Pay paid due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
- GOV.UK: business support grant funding – retail, hospitality, leisure and small businesses
- GOV.UK: apply for a Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan
- GOV.UK: apply for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
- GOV.UK: apply for the COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility
- GOV.UK: apply for the Coronavirus Future Fund
- GOV.UK: deferral of VAT payments due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
- GOV.UK: if you cannot pay your tax bill on time
- GOV.UK: business rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses
- GOV.UK: business rates relief for nurseries
Our business rates pages have information on:
- further assistance with business rates provided by Thurrock Council
- sending contact and payment details for access to government cash grants
- eligibility and applying for support from the Discretionary Business Grant Scheme
Financial support for the self-employed
The Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will support self-employed individuals – including members of partnerships – whose income has been negatively impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19). It will provide a grant to self-employed individuals or partnerships, worth 80% of their profits up to a cap of £2,500 per month.
For full details, go to GOV.UK: Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.
Additionally, we are providing financial assistance for the self-employed in the form of deferred council tax payments.
Financial support for charities
The government has announced a £5 million grant to help mental health charities that support people struggling with their mental health. The fund will be administered by Mind – the mental health charity. Go to Mind: government announces support for mental health during coronavirus outbreak.
The organisations below offer grants to help charities deal with the effects of coronavirus (COVID-19).
| Organisation and fund | Description |
|---|---|
| Essex Community Foundation Essex Coronavirus Response and Recovery Programme |
Getting emergency funding to voluntary and community organisations in Thurrock, Essex and Southend. Grants of up to £15,000 are available. |
| Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) CAF coronavirus emergency fund |
Helping smaller charitable organisations in the UK affected by coronavirus (COVID-19). Grants of up to £10,000 are available. |
| Neighbourly COVID-19 Community Fund |
Grants for Neighbourly causes that support members of the community suffering economically, socially or from ill-health as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19). |
| HM Government GOV.UK: Food Charities Grant Fund |
Food charities helping people affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) can apply for a grant of up to £100,000. Closing date is Monday 6 July. |
Financial support for arts
Arts Council England is making £160 million of emergency funding available for organisations and individuals who will need it during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
For full details, go to Arts Council England: COVID-19 support.
Financial support for heritage
The Heritage Fund is making £50 million available for a Heritage Emergency Fund to support the heritage sector as an immediate response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Grants of between £3,000 and £50,000 are available. The closing date for applications is 30 June 2020.
For full details, go to Heritage Fund: response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
Financial support for sports clubs
Sports clubs and organisations can apply to Sport England for grants between £300 and £10,000 if they are experiencing short-term financial hardship or an end of operations due to coronavirus (COVID-19). The dealine for applications is 31 July 2020.
For full details, go to Sport England: Community Emergency Fund.
Financial support for individuals
For full government advice on sick pay and benefits for individuals, go to GOV.UK: Universal Credit – coronavirus and claiming benefits.
Further support is available via:
- Local Council Tax Support
- GOV.UK: Universal Credit
- GOV.UK: Employment Support Allowance
- GOV.UK: Statutory Sick Pay
We will send new council tax bills automatically to anyone claiming council tax support. These will show a £150 reduction in the bill due to money paid from the government’s Coronavirus Hardship Relief fund.
If you are waiting for a Council Tax Support Assessment, you are able to defer making payments towards your current council tax bill until your application has been assessed.
Universal Credit claimants can apply for a discount of up to 75% on their council tax bill.
On 18 March 2020, the government announced a complete ban on evictions for at least 3 months. During this period, your rent will still be charged as usual. Council tenants should read our coronavirus (COVID-19) rent advice.