HMRC has published a step by step guide to making a claim for furloughed employees’ wages under the Coronavirus Job Rentention Scheme.
On Friday 17 April, having confirmed that the social distancing measures would remain in place for at least a further three weeks, Rishi Sunak said the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) would now be open until the end of June – providing businesses with the certainty they need. However, the Chancellor said he would keep the scheme under review and extend it if necessary.
The scheme, which allows firms to furlough employees with the government paying cash grants of 80% of their wages up to a maximum of £2,500, was originally open for three months and backdated from the 1 March to the end of May. The scheme opened to claims this morning, the 20 April. The Treasury says it can process up to 450,000 applications an hour and that employers should get the money within six working days.
The step by step guide is intended to explain the information employers will need to make a claim and the process involved. If you need help in understanding how to make your claim, please do get in touch.