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.
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
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 care providers
A summary of our financial support for care providers can be downloaded below.
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 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 closing date 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.
The government's complete ban on evictions, which was first announced on 18 March, has been extended until 23 August 2020. During this period, your rent will still be charged as usual. Council tenants should read our coronavirus (COVID-19) rent advice.