Covid-19 update 15.04.2020
DAILY BUSINESS BRIEFING FROM GOVERNMENT’S COVID-19 PRESS CONFERENCE
The government has today extended the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) eligibility date to 19 March 2020, ensuring thousands more employees can receive financial support.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the scheme last month, which allows employers to claim a grant covering 80% of wages for furloughed employees at a cap of £2,500 a month. Individuals originally had to have been employed on 28 February 2020 to qualify – to protect against fraudulent claims.
But following a review of the delivery system and to ensure the scheme helps as many people as possible, new guidance published today has confirmed the eligibility date has been extended to the day before the scheme was announced.
Employers can claim for furloughed employees that were employed and on their PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020. This means that the employee must have been notified to HMRC through an RTI submission notifying payment in respect of that employee on or before 19 March 2020.
This change is expected to benefit more than 200,000 employees.
A government spokesman said HMRC had been “working at pace” to deliver the scheme, which is due to be fully operational next week.
If any employer now thinks they are eligible for support, they can find out more here.
Businesses urged to support care workers
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced at today’s Downing Street press conference that the UK will be introducing a “single brand” for social care, to replicate the “famous” blue and white logo for the NHS.
Businesses, including supermarkets, will be asked to give care staff the same priority as NHS workers, and the UK will undertake a recruitment drive, with the government paying for “induction training”.
“I know that many will answer our call,” he said.
ADDITIONAL NEW GUIDANCE RELEASED TODAY
Jim Harra, First Permanent Secretary and CEO at HMRC explains what employees need to know about getting government support if they have been furloughed.
A message from Environment Minister Rebecca Pow to thank those working in the waste business.
