Update 30/06/2021:
Changes to furlough are due to take place from 1 July 2021. The level of the grant will be reduced from 80% down to 70% as of July 1st. Employers will still have to pay Employer national insurance contributions and pension contributions however they will now also be asked to pay a contribution for wages of hours not worked.
From July employers will have to pay 10% up to a cap of £312.50 for hours not worked.
These figures will then change again in August; see below
| Government contribution for hours not worked | Employer contribution for hours not worked | Total employee receives for hours not worked | |
| June | 80% capped at £2,500 | 0% | 80% capped at £2,500 |
| July | 70% capped at £2,187.50 | 10% capped at £312.50 | 80% capped at £2,500 |
| August | 60% capped at £1,875 | 20% capped at £625 | 80% capped at £2,500 |
| September | 60% capped at £1,875 | 20% capped at £625 | 80% capped at £2,500 |
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Update 12/11/2020: The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended until 31st March 2021. From 1st November 2020, employers are able to claim 80% of the employee’s usual salary for any hours they have not worked, capped at a maximum of £2,500 per month. To qualify for this, the employer should have completed a Real-Time Information (RTI) submission between 20th March 2020 and 30th October 2020, which notifies HMRC of payment of the employee’s earnings. However, employers do not need to have used the scheme before to claim for periods from 1st November.
Monthly deadlines have been introduced for claims, meaning that claims must be submitted within 14 calendar days after the month they relate to. The only exception is if this falls on a weekend, then the deadline is the next following weekday. Claims for any periods up to 31st October must be submitted on or before 30th November.
The government will review the scheme again in January 2021. In the meantime, the Job Support scheme has been postponed and the Job Retention Bonus will no longer be paid on February 2021.
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On the 29th May 2020, the Chancellor announced more details about the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (also referred to as the furlough scheme). This post outlines the changes that will be put into place starting from the 1st July 2020, as well as further changes that are planned for the coming months.
Increased flexibility for furloughed workers
From the 1st July, the scheme will become more flexible, allowing furloughed employees to work part-time and still receive a grant for the time spent not working. The government will continue to pay up to 80% of wages for any hours unworked. This move is designed to allow businesses to bring employees back to work gradually whilst without paying full wages.
Employers will decide the hours and shifts that employees work and will be responsible for paying those wages in full before claiming back the funds. As before, there is no minimum time that employers can furlough staff for, so there is no need to re-introduce furloughed staff on a part-time basis if your business is not yet ready to do so.
Employers’ contributions to the furlough scheme
From 1st August, employers will be asked to contribute towards the wages of their furloughed employees, this will gradually increase in September and October. The changes to employers’ contributions over the coming months are outlined in the table below:
| Month | Contributions |
| June-July | The government will pay 80% of wages up to £2,500 as well as National Insurance (NI) and Pension contributions for the hours employees do not work. |
| August | The government will pay 80% of wages up to £2,500 but employers will be asked to pay NI and pension contributions. |
| September | The government will pay 70% of wages up to £2,187.50 but employers will pay NI and pension contributions, as well as 10% of wages to make the total up to a cap of £2,500. |
| October | The government will pay 60% of wages up to £1,875 but employers will pay NI, pension contributions, and 20% of wages (making up the total to 80% of the full salary). |
Throughout these months, the cap on the furlough grant will always be proportional to the hours not worked.
Can I still apply for the furlough scheme?
Yes, you are still able to apply for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme up until the 30th June 2020. To check if you’re eligible and apply, visit the government site. After the 30th June, employers will only be able to furlough employees that they have furloughed for a full 3 weeks prior to this date.
Self-Employment Income Support Scheme extended
In addition to the update about the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, Rishi Sunak also announced that the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) is being extended. Those eligible will be able to claim a second and final grant in August, with more information about this second grant to be announced by the government on the 12th June.
Payments will be made in the form of a taxable grant worth 70% of their average monthly trading profits for 3 months. This is paid in one instalment and capped at £6,570. The eligibility criteria for the second grant will be the same as the first, you can still claim the second grant if you didn’t claim the first. You must make the claim yourself – it can not be done on your behalf by an agent.
Hopefully, this post had provided you with a clear idea of the updates to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. If you need help with bookkeeping, payroll, cloud accounting, or accounts preparation, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
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