Further to the Chancellor’s recent Summer Statement on 8th July, we would also like to make you aware of some key dates on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) that might affect you:
The Job Retention Bonus: This is a one-off payment of £1,000 to employers that have used the CJRS for each furloughed employee who remains continuously employed until 31 January 2021. The bonus will provide additional support to retain employees. To be eligible, employees will need to:
- earn at least £520 per month (above the Lower Earnings Limit) on average for November, December and January
- have been furloughed by you at any point and legitimately claimed for under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
- have been continuously employed by you up until at least 31 January 2021.
Employers will be able to claim the bonus from February 2021 once accurate RTI data to 31 January has been received. More information about this scheme will be available by 31 July and full guidance will be published in the Autumn.
Claiming for employees furloughed on or before 30 June: You need to claim by 31 July for employees furloughed through the CJRS for periods ending on or before 30 June.
Get ready for changes from 1 August: You will no longer be able to use a CJRS grant to cover National Insurance (NI) and pension contributions for furloughed employees from 1 August. You can submit your August claim in advance, from 20 July.
Working out your claims: You can use the HMRC online examples and calculator to help you work out what you can claim for claims ending on or before 31 July. You can now (from 10th July) also use these to help you work out claims ending on or before 31 August. Search for ‘calculate how much you can claim using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme’ on the GOV.UK website.
Made a mistake on your claim? You can now delete a claim online within 72 hours of submitting it. Search ‘claim for wages through Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme’ on GOV.UK.
Calls to customers: HMRC are now contacting selected employers to discuss their claims. These calls will be to check they haven’t made any mistakes and to help make sure they’re claiming the correct amount. Presumably this will also entail an element of fraud checking!
Further support: Live webinars on changes to the scheme and how they impact you are available to book online – search ‘help and support if your business is affected by coronavirus’ on GOV.UK.