The Localised Restrictions Support Scheme provides financial support to businesses which have been required to close or severely limit operations at their premises under the Health Protection Regulations that have been put in place by the NI Executive, subject to some exclusions.
Eligibility for the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme is directly linked to the Health Protection Regulations, published by the Department of Health. The Regulations are available in full – see the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020.
You can find further information on what the restrictions mean for you.
Businesses must refer to the Health Protection Regulations to understand what restrictions currently apply to them.
The Localised Restrictions Support Scheme has been updated on the 11/12/20 for pubs and other licensed premises not serving food.
There are three levels of support available to businesses who fall into the eligible categories listed above and whose application is successful. The level of support that successful applicants will receive is based on the Total Net Annual Value (NAV) of the property from which the business operates:
- Lower rate: £800 for each week that the restrictions apply for:
- a business that is the sole occupant operating from a property with an NAV of £15,000 or less,
- a guesthouse or bed & breakfast with a capital value (which means it is valued as a domestic property for rates); or
- a business that is the occupier of a part of a property which is restricted with any NAV.
- Standard rate: £1,200 for each week that the restrictions apply for:
- a business that is the sole occupant of a property with an NAV between £15,001 and £51,000.
- Higher rate: £1,600 for each week that restrictions apply for:
- A business that is the sole occupant of a property with an NAV of £51,001 or more.
You can apply here:
The Newly Self-Employed Support Scheme, designed to provide support to newly self-employed individuals
The Minister for the Economy has launched the Newly Self-Employed Support Scheme, designed to provide support to newly self-employed individuals (sole traders and those in partnerships) who have been adversely impacted by COVID-19.
The scheme is administered by Invest Northern Ireland on behalf of the Department for the Economy.
What is available?
The Newly Self-Employed Support Scheme (NSESS) will offer an initial one-off taxable grant of £3,500 to newly self-employed individuals (sole traders and those in partnerships) that meet the criteria outlined below.
NOTE: This scheme will close to applications at 6pm on Thursday 7 January 2021.
Who is eligible?
NSESS is open to sole traders or individual members of a partnership business operating in Northern Ireland.
You must be able to demonstrate that you (as the individual) meet the following criteria:
- You have commenced trading as self-employed between 6 April 2019 and 5 April 2020.
- You have been trading at 1 March 2020 (prior to the COVID-19 pandemic).
- You have either been temporarily unable to trade or are currently trading but impacted by reduced demand, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 50% of your income in 2019/20 was from self-employment.
- Your 2019/20 trading profits were less than £50,000. In the case of a partnership business, this refers to your share of the trading profits as outlined on your individual tax return.
- You have experienced at least a 40% decline in trading profits between 1 March and 30 November 2020, i.e. your trading profits over this period are at least 40% lower than they would have been in the absence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- You are able to provide the following:
- 10-digit HMRC Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) linked to Schedule D earnings from any trade or profession.
- HMRC VAT Registration Number, if you are VAT registered.
- You intend to continue to trade as a sole trader or individual member of the partnership.
Apply here https://www.investni.com/newly-self-employed-support-scheme
The Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme
The Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme is a new support scheme from the Department for the Economy. It is designed to provide support to those businesses directly impacted by the Northern Ireland Health Protection Regulations.
The Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme (CRBSS) will operate in two parts, you can find more information below on part B – This was published on 10/12/20 and is the equivalent of the Additional Restriction Grants in England.
What is available?
CRBSS Part B is open to businesses not been named in the regulations but either:
- in the direct supply chain of a business named in the regulations and as a result, has been severely impacted; or
- reliant upon a business named in the regulations being open and fully operational and as a result, has been severely impacted.
A one-off grant is available to eligible businesses, subdivided between those paying business rates and those that do not.
Eligible business paying business rates
For business paying business rates directly to Land and Property Services (LPS), the grant payable will be based on the Net Annual Value of the property. Businesses will be entitled to receive a grant for each property they occupy.
For those businesses subject to five-week restrictions:
- If the NAV is less than £15,000, the grant will be £2,000.
- If NAV is greater than £15,000 but less than £51,000, the grant will be £3,000.
- If the NAV is greater than £51,000 the grant will be £4,000.
For those businesses subject to six-week restrictions:
- If the NAV is less than £15,000, the grant will be £2,400.
- If NAV is greater than £15,000 but less than £51,000, the grant will be £3,600.
- If the NAV is greater than £51,000 the grant will be £4,800.
Eligible businesses not paying business rates
Business not paying business rates will receive a one-off grant payment of either £1,500 for those restricted for five weeks and £1,800 for those restricted for six weeks
Part B is for you if you supply services to a sector that has closed as a result of Covid-19, e.g: event and festivals.
- A business that supplies goods to a business named in the Health Protection Regulations. This includes businesses that supply the goods directly or via a wholesaler or intermediary. Please note if you are a food business or drink producer, you must be registered with your local council in order to be eligible for support.
- A business that provides services to a business named in the Health Protection Regulations. This includes businesses that provide the services directly or via a subcontractor.
- A business dependent on a business named in the Health Protection Regulations being open and fully operational in order for it to operate. For example, businesses that supply services for weddings or events that have been cancelled or postponed due to the restrictions being in place.
You can apply here https://www.investni.com/covid-restrictions-business-support-scheme-part-b?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=nibi&utm_campaign=crbss-partb
Applications close on the 16th of December
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