Businesses urged to claim tier and lockdown grants

Released On 20th Jan 2021

Businesses in South Somerset are now able to apply for grant funding to support them through the current restrictions.

Due to existing data that the Council holds we have already been able to pay over £2.5m in business grants covering the national lockdown period. Emails have been sent to 750 other businesses who will need to reply confirming their details are correct and anyone who hasn’t applied for a grant since spring 2020 will need to apply online.

SSDC has processed a range of mandatory and discretionary grants throughout the various tier restrictions and lockdowns each with differing criteria and application windows. Businesses grants are being administered by local councils on behalf of the Government.

The simplified claims process is split between Business Rate Payer and Non Business Rate Payer applications.

Business Rate Payers that have been mandated to close

If you’re a business rate payer and you’ve previously been paid a grant for Tier 2, we have automatically made a grant payment for the December restrictions and January lockdown periods.

If you are a business rate payer and you’ve previously been paid a grant for the November lockdown period we will contact you with further instructions to apply. You will need to reply to an email to confirm that the details we hold for your business are correct and confirm your continued eligibility. We will then make the appropriate payment based on your rateable value.

If you have not received a grant covering the November lockdown and further tiered restrictions you will need to apply online. You can apply online at www.southsomerset.gov.uk/covidbusinesssupport by selecting the ‘Business Rate Payer’ application dropdown. The application is now live.

Non Business Rate Payers (Discretionary Scheme) and severely affected Business Rate Payers

If you do not have a business rates account or your business has not been mandated to close (but you have been severely affected) you may still be eligible for grant funding through our discretionary business grant fund. You will be able to apply online at www.southsomerset.gov.uk/covidbusinesssupport by selecting the ‘Non Business Rate Payer’ application dropdown. This application process is now live and we would encourage businesses to apply as quickly as possible.

If your business was unsuccessful in our previous discretionary scheme we would encourage you to apply again. We have been able to broaden the criteria as a result of additional funding from Government.

Councillor Val Keitch, Leader of South Somerset District Council, said: “Our staff have been working tirelessly to implement systems for business grant applications and through their hard work many businesses have already been awarded these vital grants. I would encourage businesses to check their emails and visit our website to apply for further support.”

SSDC has delivered funding of over £39m to eligible local businesses so far including payments totalling £1.6m for the second National Lockdown period, £500,000 for Tiered restrictions and over £2.5m for the third National Lockdown.

Visit www.southsomerset.gov.uk/coronavirus for information on a range of different matters that could help and support your business and employees.