Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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.

Restrictions Support grants are available for businesses that must close from 5 November to 2 December 2020 – if your business is not eligible for this grant but has closed or been severely affected, you may be eligible for a Resitrictions Support discretionary grant.

GOV.UK: financial support for businesses during coronavirus (COVID-19) lists the types of financial support you can get for your business.

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: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – check which employees you can put on furlough
• GOV.UK: check if you're eligible for the coronavirus Local Restrictions Support Grant
• GOV.UK: check if you can claim back Statutory Sick Pay paid due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
• GOV.UK: check if you can claim the Job Retention Bonus from 15 February 2021
• GOV.UK: check if you can apply for a grant through the Kickstart Scheme
• GOV.UK: business support grant funds
• GOV.UK: apply for a Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan
• GOV.UK: apply for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
• GOV.UK: apply for the Coronavirus Large 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

Go to our coronavirus (COVID-19) assistance page for information on further assistance with business rates provided by Thurrock Council

Financial support for the self-employed

The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Grant Extension provides critical support to the self-employed in the form of 2 grants, each available for 3 month periods covering November 2020 to January 2021 and February 2021 to April 2021.

For full details, go to GOV.UK: Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Extension.

Financial support for care providers

A summary of our financial support for care providers can be downloaded below.

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.