COVID-19 Update – 22 October – Plan for Jobs: Additional support to protect jobs and businesses.

The government have announced additional support to protect jobs and businesses over the coming months including, new cash grants, updates to the job support scheme and doubling the value of the self-employed grants.

New cash grants for business impacted by tier 2 restrictions. 

The government are introducing a new grant scheme for businesses that have been impacted by Tier 2 restrictions, even if they are not legally forced to close. Rishi Sunak stated that there will be enough funding to give every business in the hospitality, leisure, and accommodations a grant worth up to £2,100 every month Tier 2 restrictions apply.

This scheme is an addition to the grants of up to £3,000 that are available for businesses who have been legally required to close. Businesses will also be able to backdate the grant to August if they have been operating in an area with enhanced restrictions since then.

Update to Job Support Scheme

Where businesses are legally required to close, as already announced, employers will pay two-thirds of their employees’ normal salary where they cannot work for a week or more and the government will cover 100% of these costs.

Today’s announcement reduced the employer contribution to those unworked hours to just 5%, and reduced the minimum hour’s requirements to 20%, so those working just one day a week will be eligible.

Doubling the value of the self-employed grants.

The final announcement came for the self-employed, where the government stated they will be doubling the grants they receive from 20% to 40%, meaning they will now be able to receive a maximum of up to £3,750.

These grants are available for all self-employed workers (in all tiers) who have stopped trading or have seen a significant fall in trade, with two further payments to come.

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