COVID-19 Update from the Department for Work and Pensions - 16 April

This update has been provided to by the Department for Work and Pensions

Coronavirus (COVID-19): what to do if you were employed and have lost your job (link is external)

Updated 16 April to reflect Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme cut off date changed to 19 March 2020

Guidance for people who were employed and have lost their job due to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Universal Credit claimants to verify identity through Government Gateway (link is external)

People applying for Universal Credit will now be able to use their existing Government Gateway account to confirm their identity, helping to speed up their claim.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse (link is external)

The government supports and funds several charities who can provide advice and guidance and we are in regular contact to ensure that these support services remain open during this challenging time

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

The Government has updated its guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme including:

• Extending the eligibility cut‐off date so that employers can now claim for furloughed employees that were on their PAYE payroll and notified to HMRC on an RTI submission on or before 19 March 2020 (rather than 28 February 2020)
• If an employee went on unpaid leave on or before 28 February 2020, a company cannot furlough them until the date on which it was agreed they would return from unpaid leave
• Companies will need to submit the following information for each furloughed employee:
  • Name
  • National Insurance number
  • Claim period and amount
  • Payroll/employee number (optional)
• Claims should be submitted via the online portal which is expected to be available next Monday 20 April 2020 as follows:
  • Fewer than 100 furloughed employees ‐ enter details of each employee individually
  • 100 or more furloughed employees ‐ upload a file (.xls .xlsx .csv .ods) with the details for all employees
• Companies should retain all records and calculations in respect of their claims.

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has confirmed that the three‐week minimum period for furloughing an employee will remain in place. Furloughed employees can not undertake any work for the company which includes providing services or generating revenue.