2020年11月2日
Over the weekend the Government announced that England would be entering a second period of lockdown due to begin on 5 November and end on 2 December. In order to support businesses and their staff across the UK during this time, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) would be extended from 1 November through to December.
The CJRS had been due to come to an end on 31 October, with the Job Support Scheme (JSS) starting on 1 November. The JSS has therefore been delayed until after the end of the extended CJRS.
In essence the CJRS scheme will operate as it did during August, with the Government paying 80% of furloughed employees wages up to a cap of £2,500. Both flexible and full-time furloughing will be permitted.
The Government has said it will issue further details and guidance shortly including when claims can first be made in respect of employee wage costs during November. It has stated that there will be no gap in eligibility for support between the previously announced end-date of CJRS and this extension.
Business premises forced to close in England are to receive grants worth up to £3,000 per month under the Local Restrictions Support Grant. Also, £1.1bn is being given to Local Authorities, distributed on the basis of £20 per head, for one-off payments to enable them to support businesses more broadly.