CENTRAL DEVON MP Mel Stride, Chair of the Treasury Select Committee, has welcomed the move from the Chancellor to extend the eligibility cut-off date for Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to 19th March 2020. The change will that mean thousands more workers can be furloughed, with employers able to claim a grant covering 80% of the wages for a furloughed employee, capped at £2,500 a month.
To qualify and to protect against fraudulent claims, individuals originally had to be employed on February 28th. But following a review of the delivery system and to ensure the scheme helps as many people as possible, new guidance has confirmed the eligibility date has been extended to March 19th, the day before the scheme was announced. In a letter to the Chancellor earlier this month Mr Stride had pressed HM Treasury to take action to provide greater support for workers who had missed out.
Mr Stride said:
“The Government is providing unpreceded levels of support for both employers and employees and this welcome extension will benefit around 200,000 more employees.”
