Businesses can now apply for the Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF).
The scheme has been launched to support businesses affected by the pandemic who are not eligible for existing support linked to Business Rates (such as previous Covid-19 related reliefs).

The deadline for making an application for the Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund is 28 February 2022.
Please note: Applications will be assessed and businesses notified after this closing date. This is to ensure the council can support as many Oldham businesses as possible with the funding available.

Eligible businesses
The fund is limited and only available to businesses that have been adversely affected by the pandemic and have been unable to adequately adapt to that impact.   
You must be able to provide evidence of how your business has been adversely impacted by Covid-19 and unable to adequately adapt to that impact, for example:

• Accounts showing your turnover before the pandemic and now
• Bank statements showing your business activity before the pandemic and now

We can award Business Rates Relief towards your 2021/22 rates bill, but you must be able to evidence that your business has been impacted by Covid-19. This could include lost orders and contracts, lost revenue, significant additional costs and cashflow problems. 

Due to potentially high numbers of applications and the short timescales, there is a very limited timeframe to seek further evidence or information after you apply. Please provide us with sufficient evidence or information at the time of your application to make a decision. 

Ineligible Businesses

• Those who for the same period of the relief either are or would have been eligible for the Expanded Retail Discount (which covers the retail, leisure and hospitality sector), the Nursery Discount or the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS).
• Unoccupied properties
• Businesses who have exceeded maximum subsidy allowances
• Business in administration, insolvent or in the process of making a proposal to strike off

Awards
We can award relief up to 100% of your 2021/22 bill.  
If the award of a relief puts your 2021/22 account into credit, we may move that credit to offset any other outstanding Business Rates liability, or your 2022/23 Business Rates bill unless you specifically request a refund. 
If your circumstances change and your business becomes ineligible for the relief or reduces the value of the award, we will adjust your rate bill in the year to reflect the loss of relief. Any relief awarded under this scheme will be subject to the property’s continuing eligibility. 
We do not accept applications from third parties. 

Before you apply, please read the eligibility criteria and have:
Your Business Rates reference number (you can find this on your Business Rates bill), information about how your business has been adversely impacted by Covid-19 and any evidence which can document this for example:

• Accounts showing your turnover both before the pandemic and now
• Bank statements showing your business activity both before the pandemic and now

For more information and to apply, please visit www.oldham.gov.uk/carf