×

Resources

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is changing

Resources

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is changing

This page was last updated on October 1, 2021

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme closed on 30 September. Here's what you need to know if you need to make a final claim.

Updated 1 October 2021

Background

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme helped employers retain staff during the pandemic via a Government grant which covered a percentage of the wages for employees not working (and up to a capped limit). The Scheme closed on 30 September 2021.

Under the Scheme’s arrangements before it closed:

The winding down of the Scheme

In the Chancellor’s Budget on 3 March 2021, it was announced that up to the end of June, the 80% government payment level was to be maintained (capped at £2,500 a month), with employers responsible for NICs and pension payments.

The government payment then dropped to 70% in July (up to a cap of £2,187.50). It dropped to 60% in August and September for employees’ usual wages up to a cap of £1,875.  The Scheme then closed on 30 September.

Employers had to continue to pay their furloughed employees at least 80% of their usual wages for the hours they did not work during this time, up to a cap of £2,500 per month. This means, for periods between July and September, employers needed to fund the difference between this and the CJRS grants themselves. Employers could also top up wages above the 80% if they wished, but they were not required to do so.

Employers had to also continue to pay the associated Employer National Insurance contributions and pension contributions on subsidised furlough pay from their own funds.

Eligibility

The Job Retention Scheme was open to all employers with a UK bank account and UK PAYE schemes. Neither the employer nor the employee needed to have previously used the Scheme.

The Scheme was open to:

Where a company was being taken under the management of an administrator, the administrator was able to access the Job Retention Scheme. 

The Scheme was applicable to company directors.  They too could be furloughed and still continue to perform their obligations as a statutory director (provided they didn’t provide any executive services to their employer).  Salaried individuals who were directors of their own personal service company (PSC) could also benefit from the Scheme. This is expected to help freelancers, contractors etc who have a limited company. See more information here.

For periods from 1‌‌ ‌May 2021 onwards, employers were able to claim for eligible employees who were on employers’ PAYE payrolls on 2 March 2021. This meant they must have made a PAYE Real Time Information (RTI) submission to HMRC between 20 March 2020 and 2 March 2021, notifying HMRC of the earnings for that employee.

Making a claim

Since 1 November 2020 claims had to be submitted by 11.59pm 14 calendar days after the month you’re claiming for. If this time falls on the weekend then claims should be submitted on the next working day.  See this timetable published by the Government:

Claim for furlough days inClaim must have been submitted by:
November 202014 December 2020
December 202014 January 2021
January 202115 February 2021
February 202115 March 2021
March 202114 April 2021
April 202114 May 2021
May 202114 June 2021
June 202114 July 2021
July 202116 August 2021
August 202114 September 2021
September 202114 October 2021

For the latest information on the Scheme see here . 

For information on how to claim, see here

Can we help?

Our specialist team have been helping employers successfully apply for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme grant.  For help and guidance, please do get in touch with your usual Shipleys’ contact one of the team shown on this page.

Specific advice should be obtained before taking action, or refraining from taking action, in relation to this summary. If you would like advice or further information, please speak to your usual Shipleys contact.

Copyright © Shipleys LLP 2021

Current Issues

Allocation of Tips - A new regime. Waiter holding tray of food

A new regime and reporting for the allocation of tips

The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act and a Statutory Code of Practice came into force on 1 October 2024. They will impact businesses, their employment policies and payroll systems across the leisure and hospitality sectors.

Tax-efficient charitable giving

How to be tax savvy with your charitable giving and help charities gain more from your donations.

Financial Services Update – September 2024

In this issue we cover the latest FCA developments and guidance notes for the sector.