New policy for Job Support Scheme

Following the Chancellor’s announcement regarding the Job Support Scheme, a Policy paper has been published by the government to provide additional information about the scheme.

The scheme is designed to help protect jobs in businesses where demand is expected to fall during the coming winter months due to the coronavirus. There are two different types of support on offer, Job Support Scheme Open and Job Support Scheme Closed. The scheme will open on 1st November 2020 and run for 6 months until 30th April 2021. Employers will be able to claim from 8th December 2020.

Employers can claim if they meet the following criteria. They must have enrolled for PAYE online and they must have a UK, Channel Island or Isle of Man bank account. Employers can claim for their employees if they were on the PAYE payroll system between 6th April 2019 – 23rd September 2020 11.59pm.

As an employer claiming under the Job Support Scheme Open, the employee will be required to work at least 20% of their usual hours, which is to be paid by employers. Employees will receive 66.67% of their usual pay for the hours they have not worked. The employer is to pay 5% for the hours not worked with the government paying 61.67%.

Under the Job Support Scheme Closed, employees unable to work due to restrictions will receive two thirds of their normal wage up to a maximum of £2,083.33 per month, which will be funded by the government. The aim is to limit unemployment and enable those businesses to reopen as soon as possible when circumstances permit.

An employer can make a claim for both the open and closed grant at the same time for different employees however, they cannot claim for one employee under both schemes at the same time.

For more information, the Policy paper can be found at the government website.