When is the furlough scheme extended to in the UK?

THE furlough scheme has been extended until the end of April 2021.

The scheme, which sees workers paid 80% of wages for hours not worked, was due to end in March 2021 – so it’s been extended by one extra month.

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Chancellor Rishi Sunak first announced the furlough scheme on March 20Credit: Getty – Pool

When does the new furlough scheme extension end?

The furlough scheme will now continue until the end of April 2021, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced today.

The furlough scheme was due to come to an end in March, and before that, in October 31.

When the Chancellor first announced government support for jobs on March 20 at the height of the pandemic, he said it would only last until May 31.

The latest extension means the scheme will have run for a year.

In his statement today, Mr Sunak said: “Our package of support for businesses and workers continues to be one of the most generous and effective in the world.

“We know the premium businesses place on certainty, so it is right that we enable them to plan ahead regardless of the path the virus takes.

“We’re providing certainty and clarity by extending this support, as well as implementing our Plan for Jobs.”

How has the furlough scheme changed and what happens next?

Under current furlough rules, employees get up to 80% of wages paid for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500.

We’ve asked the government if the £2,500 cap will remain in place going into April and we’ll update this story when we know more.

At the moment, employers are still able to choose to top up employee wages above the scheme grant at their own expense – but they don’t have to.

Workers also get their usual full salary for any hours they do work.

For hours not worked, employers will have to cover National Insurance and pension contributions.

The government was initially supposed to review furlough in January, but Mr Sunak brought his decision forward to give businesses certainty going into New Year.

The furlough scheme is being extended once againCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Who is eligible for the furlough extension?

In its update today, the government said the eligibility criteria for the furlough scheme will remain the same.

The rules for the March extension meant any UK organisation with employees can apply to furlough their workers.

This includes businesses, charities, recruitment agencies and public authorities, providing they have a UK bank accounts and UK PAYE schemes.

Workers can be on any type of contract, meaning you could still be furloughed if you are part-time or a contract worker.

And like last time, it is down to the organisation to arrange the help, rather than the employees.

The previous rules meant businesses are allowed to bring back furloughed employees on a part-time basis, although the government hasn’t confirmed if this is the case for the April 2021 deadline.

Workers must have been on payroll before October 30 to get furlough, under current roles.

The Sun is checking if the date for staff being a payroll is changing.

Can I be made redundant if I’m on furlough?

EVEN though furlough is designed to keep workers employed, unfortunately it doesn’t protect you from being made redundant.

But it doesn’t affect your redundancy pay rights if you are let go from your job amid the coronavirus crisis.

Your employer should still carry out a fair redundancy process.

You will be entitled to be consulted on the redundancy lay-off first and to receive a statutory redundancy payment, as long as you’ve been working somewhere for at least two years.

How much you’re entitled to depends on your age and length of service, although this is capped at 20 years. You’ll get:

Half a week’s pay for each full year you were under 22,
One week’s pay for each full year you were 22 or older, but under 41,
One and half week’s pay for each full year you were 41 or older.

Sadly, you won’t be entitled to a payout if you’ve been working for your employer for fewer than two years.

There should be a period of collective consultation as well as time for individual ones if your employer wants to make 20 or more employees redundant within 90 days or each other.

You are also entitled to appeal the decision by claiming unfair dismissal within three months of being let go.

If you’re made redundant after your company has gone into administration you can claim redundancy pay via Gov.uk.

Large companies (with more than 250 employees) have to meet a financial impact test, as part of current rules.

It means the scheme is only available to those whose turnover has stayed the same or is lower than before Covid-19.

There is no financial impact test for SMEs or charities.

If you’re self-employed, the Government has announced that help through the self-employed income support scheme (SEISS) will increase too.

What is happening to the Job Support Scheme?

The Job Support Scheme (JSS) was set to replace furlough and run for six months from the start of November to the end of April next year.

It’s not clear yet what will happen with JSS and if it will be available after the furlough scheme ends next year, or if it will depend on the tier of lockdown in particular regions.

The scheme aims to continue to support businesses and their employees facing coronavirus-related woes, and was expected to come into effect when lockdown finishes in December.

The Job Support Scheme was announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak earlier in October.

The Chancellor hoped the JSS extension would reduce the millions of job losses expected when furlough ends.

But the rising case of coronavirus, a second lockdown and a troubling economic outloook have lead Mr Sunak to continue the furlough scheme.

Under the JSS, employees could work one day a week and earn up to 73% of their wages.

It was designed to help employees working for businesses that have shut down in areas put under Tier 2 and Tier 3 lockdown restrictions.

Employees on the scheme would have needed to have worked a minimum of 33% of their hours to be eligible, and businesses must contribute a third of wages.

It’s not clear yet when the JSS will be introduced with the extension of furlough.