The Member of Parliament for Mid Sussex, Mims Davies, has welcomed the extension of the Government’s Job Retention Scheme’s cut off date to the 19th March.
This vital change will mean thousands more workers who started their jobs after 28th February date will now be eligible for the scheme. Under the scheme announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak last month, employers can claim a grant covering 80% of the wages for a furloughed employee, subject to a cap of £2,500 a month.
Following a review of the delivery system, important updated new guidance published today has confirmed the eligibility date has been extended to March 19 2020–the day before the scheme was announced. This is to importantly strike a balance between ensuring individuals are protected and protecting the taxpayer from any fraud risk.
Employers can claim for furloughed employees that were previously 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.
Commenting, the Member of Parliament for Mid Sussex, Mims Davies said:
“I have been contacted by significant number of my constituents regarding this issue and I’m really pleased to see the Government updating the scheme to support businesses and workers across the UK who have called for this change. It’s absolutely right firms should keep workers on if they can and this scheme supports them in doing that.
“The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is part of an unprecedented vital package of measures by the Government to protect individuals and businesses during this pandemic. This announcement will really mean so much to people who have recently started new jobs and will be a real comfort for many Mid Sussex families and their finances as we get through this unprecedented public health challenge .”
Ends.
Notes to Editors:
- If any employer now thinks they are eligible for support, they can find out more here.