Rochdale taxi drivers have until 26 February to claim £500 financial support grant
Rochdale licensed taxi and private hire drivers have until 26 February to apply for a £500 financial support grant made available to help those struggling since the coronavirus pandemic began.
The grant aims to help cover business costs for taxi and hackney carriage drivers who have seen the trade hit hard since the very first lockdown was put into place.
The grant is a payment for self-employed cabbies who have a Rochdale Borough Council badge.
The council have stressed that the Government is clear that this grant is not intended to act as a wage support measure, and have advised that If you're getting less work or no work because of COVID-19, you might be able to claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.
To be eligible for the grant, drivers need to meet all the following criteria:
They must have a valid Private Hire or Hackney Carriage badge issued by Rochdale Borough Council.
They must have been trading on or before 4 November 2020.
They must demonstrate a financial need or strong justification for the grant.
They must have suffered a fall in income of at least 30% since COVID-19.
Their vehicle must be compliant with COVID-19 working regulations.
All successful applicants will receive a single fixed payment of £500.
To claim the grant, drivers need to:
Complete an application form.
Email their completed application form to external.funding@rochdale.gov.uk. (Please put 'TAXI' in the email subject line to ensure your application is prioritised).
Attach to their email a copy of their latest bank statement showing the sort code and account number for the account receiving your grant payment.
Attach to their email photos of the front and back of their Private Hire or Hackney Carriage badge and a photo of their Private Hire or Hackney Carriage driver's licence.
