From today, online applications can be made for the JRS for periods from 1 November. Claims for November must be made by 14 December.
What’s new in the support available
- CJRS has been extended to 31 March 2021 for all parts of the UK. From 1 November, the UK Government will pay 80% of employees’ usual wages for the hours not worked, up to a cap of £2,500 per month. This will be reviewed in January.
- You and your employees do not need to have benefited from the scheme before to claim for periods from 1 November. Go to GOV.UK for the full eligibility criteria.
- HMRC intends to publish details of employers who use the scheme for claim periods from December, and employees will be able to find out if their employer has claimed for them under the scheme.
- There are now monthly deadlines for claims. Claims for periods starting on/after 1 November must be submitted within 14 calendar days after the month they relate to, unless this falls on a weekend in which case the deadline is the next weekday. For further details go to GOV.UK and search 'Claim for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme'.
- The Job Retention Bonus will no longer be paid in February 2021 and an alternative retention incentive will be put in place at the appropriate time.
- The launch of the Job Support Scheme has also been postponed.
- Read the new guidance – go to GOV.UK and search 'Extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme' – to check if you and your employees are eligible.
- Agree working hours with any employees you wish to furlough for November and agree any changes to their employment contract.
- Work out how much you can claim for your employees using the CJRS calculator and examples. Search for 'Calculate how much you can claim using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme' on GOV.UK.
- Submit any claims for periods from 1 November no later than 14 December.