Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Extended For New Lockdown

The Government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) has been extended to cover the November 2020 lockdown. Employees will continue to receive 80% of their current salary ...

Every business that has employees was expecting to move those on their payroll to the less generous Job Support Scheme as of the 1st November 2020. However, as a new lockdown has been imposed for November, the Government has extended CJRS for another month.

"This was announced at the Prime Minister's Coronavirus briefing last Saturday!"

The Government has been very generous to businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and schemes like the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme have protected employees throughout the summer with schemes like SEISS and Bounce Back Loans supporting the businesses.

So, now CJRS will remain open until December, with employees receiving 80% of their salary, up to a maximum of £2,500, for hours not worked. Businesses will only need to pay pension and National Insurance contributions.

Additionally, business forced to close their premises in England will receive a grant up to £3,000 each month thanks to the Local Restrictions Support Grant and £1.1billion is available via Local Authorities to more broadly support businesses in their areas directly.

Businesses required to close in England due to local or national restrictions will be eligible for the following:

- For properties with a rateable value of £15k or under, grants to be £1,334 per month, or £667 per two weeks
- For properties with a rateable value of between £15k-£51k grants to be £2,000 per month, or £1,000 per two weeks
- For properties with a rateable value of £51k or over grants to be £3,000 per month, or £1,500 per two weeks

We are facing a tough winter ahead, and it was mentioned by a Senior Cabinet Minister over the weekend that the lockdown could extend into December if the R rate doesn't come down sufficiently in November. This could mean that CJRS would be extended until the end of the year, maybe even beyond.

Any employees paid on or before the 30th October 2020 with their details submitted by RTI are eligible to be included on the extended Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and I will blog about extended SEISS, VAT and Tax deferrals as and when this information is available.

If you feel inspired to find out more about anything I've said here, do call me on 01908 774320 or leave a comment below and I'll be in touch as soon as I can.