Taxi And Private Hire Driver And Operator Support Fund 2022 - Update

5th March 2022

The eligibility criteria for the Taxi and Private Hire Driver and Operator Support Fund 2022 was updated on Thursday 3 March 2022.

What does this involve?
The Taxi and Private Hire Driver and Operator Support Fund 2022 will provide a one-off payment to eligible drivers and operators who have been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions in December 2021 and January 2022.

From 7 March 2022, the fund will open to all drivers and operators (including those who did not originally receive funding through the Taxi and Private Hire Driver and Operator Support Fund launched on 7 June 2021). From this date, local authorities will begin inviting drivers and operators (particularly those who were not eligible in the previous funding rounds) to complete a declaration. This does not affect drivers or operators who have already submitted a declaration or received payment in 2022.

Eligible drivers will receive a payment of £750.

For eligible operators, the amount you receive will depend on the number of vehicles you have:

owner/operators with one vehicle - a single award of £750
owner/operators with 2 to 9 vehicles - a single award of £3,000
owner/operators with 10 to 49 vehicles - a single award of £7,000
owner/operators with 50 or more vehicles - a single award of £15,000

The fund will close at 5pm on Friday 25 March. Declarations submitted after that deadline will not be valid.

Am I eligible?
From 7 March 2022, the fund will open to all drivers and operators (including those who did not originally receive funding through the Taxi and Private Hire Driver and Operator Support Fund launched on 7 June 2021).

Drivers may now be eligible if:

you have been working or available for work as a taxi or private hire vehicle driver since 9 December 2021
you held a valid licence continuously during the period from 9 October 2020 to at least 31 January 2022, which remains current and valid as at 31 January 2022
you experienced a loss of income in December 2021 of at least 50%, compared to December 2019, and incurred overhead costs and expenses
Operators may now be eligible if:

you are a company, partnership, sole trader or trust holding a valid taxi or private hire vehicle licence as at 31 January 2022
you experienced a loss of income in December 2021 of at least 50%, compared to December 2019, and incurred overhead costs and expenses
since March 2020, you have temporarily reduced the fee payable by any self-employed drivers that rent licenced vehicles due to the reduced demand for taxis/private hire vehicles and their reduced ability to generate income as a result
Operators can submit one claim per licenced vehicle which was active in December 2021.

What does this cost?
This is a free service.

Who is this for?
This fund is for taxi and private hire drivers and operators in Scotland.

How long does this take?
Payments are being administered by local authorities on behalf of the Scottish Government. Your local authority will be in touch with you from the week commencing 31 January 2022 to verify your entitlement. They will then arrange payment within 14 days of receiving any relevant supporting information required to verify eligibility for financial support through this fund.

The fund will close at 5pm on Friday 25 March. Declarations submitted after that deadline will not be valid.

Please ensure you submit your declaration and all relevant supporting documentation as early as possible.

Important information
If you have read all the information and guidance provided and are experiencing technical difficulties with the application process, please contact your local authority. If you have recently applied for a COVID-19 business support grant, your application will be processed as soon as possible.

Next steps
Visit the Scottish Government website for more information. You do not need to apply - your local authority will get in touch with you directly.

See more at
https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-business-funding/taxis-and-private-hire/taxi-and-private-hire-driver-and-operator-support-fund-2022/