For employees not currently working but retained by their employer, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme means employers will be able to apply for a grant from HMRC to cover 80% of wages up to a limit of £2500 per month (payments backdated to 01/03/20) and will be available for three months initially.

Any employer with a UK payroll and a UK bank account will be able to claim, but you must have been employed on 19 March 2020 and on your employer’s PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020. This means your employer must have made an RTI submission notifying payment in respect of you to HMRC on or before 19 March 2020.

Some residents have contacted Luke asking what happens if they moved jobs or were made redundant after 19 March. The best thing you can do is go back to your previous employer (as of 19 March) and ask them to re-hire you in order to be furloughed and benefit from the Job Retention Scheme. To help you do that, Luke has made a template letter that you can print out the document below, or send it as an email attachment to your employer.

Job Retention Scheme Template Letter

Luke has encouraged all employers to take advantage of the scheme and look favourably on past employees asking to be re-hired. This is in the local and national interest to support hard-working residents and keep the economy moving.

For up to date advice, look on the government website.