We recently shared some new information about the Scottish government support fund announced this week for licenced taxi and private hire taxi drivers. Here we explain more about the scheme, who is eligible and most importantly how you can apply for the grant.
For many drivers who have experienced a huge drop in finances due to the Coronavirus pandemic, a one-off grant of £1,500 might be within reach. The new grant is separate from any other funding you might have previously received from the government for example the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) or the COVID-19 Public Transport Mitigation Fund.
Eligibility
You may qualify for the new grant if your taxi has been licenced for the period 9 October 2020 up to January 2021. You won’t, however, be eligible if your licence was suspended before the 31 December 2020. You also need to be able to confirm the following claims:-
- You have been available to work as a taxi driver up until 31 December 2020.
- You have experienced a loss of income (50% or more of your turnover compared to 2019) up to the 31 December 2020 and you have incurred overhead costs and expenses.
The local authority that you work for might ask for evidence to support these claims. They will also need your bank details to process the grant once it’s approved.
To be eligible you must ensure you have followed all the COVID 19 regulations that have been introduced, for example, wearing face masks and cleaning your vehicle. You must not have any connections to any tax havens held offshore. Those drivers who are receiving state benefits including universal credit, sick pay or job seekers allowance are now eligible as well, however, you must declare any previous support when making your claim. You might like to contact the Department for Work and Pensions to check how this grant might affect your benefits.
No Need to Apply
The good news is there is no application process instead you will be contacted individually by your local authority. You should be contacted this week by letter, email or another method – please allow time for any letter to be received. We expect that an appeals process will be in place for those who are unhappy with any decision. Find out more at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-taxi-and-private-hire-driver-support-fund/pages/overview/
We understand now might not be the time for you to purchase a new vehicle but please keep up to date with our latest news and offers on our website and Facebook page. We are available to advise you on our vehicles so that you are fully informed for when the time comes for you to buy a taxi.