Furlough Scheme Cut-Off Date Extended to 19th March 2020

Thousands more employees will be able to receive support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme after the Chancellor extended the eligibility date to 19^th March 2020. Individuals originally had to be employed on 28^th February 2020.

Under the scheme, employers can claim a grant covering 80% of the wages for a furloughed employee. Subject to a cap of £2,500 a month.

But following a review of the delivery system and to ensure the scheme helps as many people as possible, new guidance published on 15^th April has confirmed the eligibility date has been extended to 19^th March 2020 – 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^th March 2020. This means that the employee must have been notified to HMRC through the RTI system on or before 19^th March 2020.

The change is expected to benefit over 200,000 people.

HMRC has been working at pace to be ready to deliver the scheme, which is due to be fully operational next week.

Updated guidance for employers is available here

Updated guidance for employees is also available here

If you would like to speak to someone within our Employment and HR team, please contact our offices on 01228 552222 or email hello@burnetts.co.uk . Please note that both telephone and video appointments can be arranged during this period of self-isolation.