The UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme goes live today, with businesses able to claim up to £2,500 a month per employee towards staff wages.
The scheme is live 10 days ahead of schedule and will help hundreds of businesses across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
The job retention scheme, announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak as part of a package of support to protect jobs and businesses, allows employers to claim for a cash grant of up to 80% of a furloughed employees wages, capped at £2,500 a month.
Employers can apply for direct cash grants through HMRC’s new online portal – with the money expected to land in their bank accounts within six working days. 5000 HMRC staff have been allocated to operate the scheme.
Last week the Chancellor announced the scheme will be extended for a further month until the end of June, to reflect continuing Covid-19 lockdown measures.
Employers can access the scheme here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wages-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Lothians MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “This is welcome news for employees and employers who have had to shut shop during the Coronavirus lockdown.
“Without this much needed support many businesses across the region would have struggled to continue operating.
“The UK government and HMRC civil servants have done exceptionally well to get this scheme up and running so fast.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, said: “Our unprecedented job retention scheme will protect millions of jobs across the country and is now up and running.
“It’s vital that our economy gets up and running again as soon as it’s safe – and this scheme will allow that to happen.”
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