Enhanced Local Lockdown Grants

Local lockdown grants, which were announced in early September, have been boosted as part of the Chancellor’s recent announcement of changes to the Job Support Scheme.

The grants enabled businesses forced to close to claim up to £1,500 every three weeks. The revised local lockdown grants now allow businesses to claim up to £3,000 per month, payable every two weeks.

For small businesses with a rateable value of or below £15,000, claims can now be made of £1,334 per month, and medium sized businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000 can claim £2,000 per month. Properties with a rateable value beyond the £51,000 will receive the £3,000.

This is an increase on the £1,000 local lockdown grants that were restricted to small business properties rateable values less than £51,000.

Previously the local lockdown grant was not designed to support businesses closed by national policies, such as nightclubs. The new grants will extend to businesses closed on a national level including nightclubs, restaurants, pubs and bowling alleys.

Unlike Furlough 3.0, the amendments to the Job Support Scheme for local lockdown affecting businesses, which covers the four governments in the UK, the local lockdown grant is only available in England. However, the devolved administrations will receive a minimum of £12.7bn to support businesses in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Given the ongoing, seemingly constant developments around the health implications of Coronavirus, it’s not surprising that the support measures are evolving too. That said, it is hard to keep up with them all!

We’ll continue to get as much information out through our website and our regular client updates, but if you’re unsure about what you may be eligible for, or how to claim please do get in touch.