On 29 May 2020, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced further details about the extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, providing support to businesses starting to bring employees back into the workforce following the coronavirus lockdown.
The Chancellor has also announced the extension of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, which has so far seen 2.3 million claimes worth £6.8 billion.
A summary of the measures are outlined below.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), which has enabled employers to claim support for furloughed employees’ wages from 1 March, is due to end on 31 October 2020.
Under the scheme, employers can contact HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to apply for a grant to cover up to 80% of furloughed employees’ wages, capped at £2,500 per month. Currently, employees should not undertake work whilst they are furloughed.
From 1 July 2020, CJRS will be made more flexible to enable employers to bring previously furloughed employees back part time and still receive a grant for the time when they are not working. The government will continue to pay 80% of the wages, up to £2,500 per month, along with the employer’s National Insurance and pension contributions, for the hours the employee does not work.
Employers will be responsible for the employee wages for the hours they work.
From 1 August 2020, employers will then be required to start contributing to the wage costs of paying their furloughed staff. The government will continue to pay 80% of the wages, up to £2,500 per month, however, the grant for the employer’s National Insurance and pension contributions will no longer be available.
The employer contribution towards the wage element will gradually increase in September and October as follows:
From 1 September 2020, the government will pay 70% of wages, up to £2,187.50 per month, for the hours the employee does not work. The employer will be required to pay 10% towards the wages, along with the employer’s National Insurance and pension contributions.
From 1 October 2020, the government will pay 60% of wages, up to £1,875 per month, for the hours the employee does not work. The employer will be required to pay 20% towards the wages, along with the employer’s National Insurance and pension contributions.
The scheme will close to new entrants from 30 June 2020. From this point onwards, employers will only be able to claim a grant for furlough employees that have been furloughed for a full three week period prior to 30 June 2020.
This means that the final date by which an employer can furlough an employee for the first time will be 10 June 2020, for the current three week furlough period to be completed by 30 June 2020.
Employers will have until 31 July 2020 to make any claims in respect of the period to 30 June 2020.
Details on how to calculate the claims with these extra flexibilities will be issued by the government on 12 June 2020.
Self-Employment Income Support Scheme
The first tranche of grants for the self-employed, including members of partnerships, under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) have already been paid, ahead of schedule. An initial grant was available for traders whose business had been adversely affected by COVID-19, which covered trading profits for the three month period 1 March 2020 to 31 May 2020.
Eligible recipients are able to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their trading profits, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month.
Following the Chancellor’s announcement, eligible self-employed individuals, including members of partnerships, will be able to claim a second and final taxable grant. The grant will be calculated based on 70% of the average monthly trading profits for a period of three months, up to a maximum of £6,570, and paid out in a single instalment in August 2020.
The eligibility criteria for the second grant will be the same as for the first grant, however, applicants are not required to have claimed the first grant in order to claim the second grant (eg if the trade has only recently been affected by COVID-19).
Claims for the initial SEISS grant will close on 13 July 2020, so it’s important for eligible individuals that have not yet made an application to ensure they make a claim before this date.
More guidance about the second SEISS grant will be issued by the government on 12 June 2020.
We will continue to keep you updated on scheme developments over the coming weeks.
If you would like more guidance, please get in touch.
