Lancashire business owners can now apply for the Government's coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

The Government scheme to support businesses and help safeguard jobs in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic has opened for applications.
By Tim Gavell
Published 20th Apr 2020, 11:45 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme went live on Monday with businesses able to claim towards staff wages.

The launch of the scheme comes as the Government was warned of the economic cost for many companies of any delay in its implementation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In a statement, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: "Our unprecedented job retention scheme will protect millions of jobs across the country and is now up and running.

Two Steller's sea eagle chicks, which have been named Rishi and Boris after the North Yorkshire National Centre for Birds of Prey was "saved" by the Government's job retention scheme.Two Steller's sea eagle chicks, which have been named Rishi and Boris after the North Yorkshire National Centre for Birds of Prey was "saved" by the Government's job retention scheme.
Two Steller's sea eagle chicks, which have been named Rishi and Boris after the North Yorkshire National Centre for Birds of Prey was "saved" by the Government's job retention scheme.

"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."

Under the furlough scheme, employers can go online to claim cash grants worth up to 80 per cent of wages, capped at £2,500 a month per worker.

Approximately 5,000 HMRC staff will operate the scheme, intended to assist thousands of UK firms, with the money due to reach bank accounts within six working days, a statement from the Treasury said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Phone lines and web-chat services will be available to help answer applicants' questions, with the scheme launching 10 days ahead of schedule, it added.

The Chancellor earlier announced the scheme will be extended for a further month until the end of June, in light of the ongoing countrywide Covid-19 lockdown.

Adam Marshall, director general at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: "Our research indicates that two-thirds of firms have furloughed some portion of their workforce.

"With April's payday approaching, it is essential that the application process is smooth and that payments are made as soon as possible. Any delay would exacerbate the cash crisis many companies are facing and could threaten jobs and businesses."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

If Busiesses have an agent that has authorisation to act for them on PAYE matters online, they can make a claim for CJRS on the business' behalf. But if doing it themselves they need to gather basic information first. This includes:

1. The number of employees being furloughed.

2. The dates employees have been furloughed to

and from.

3. Details of employees – the name and

National Insurance Number of each furloughed

employee.

4. Your employer PAYE scheme reference number.

5. Your Corporation Tax Unique Taxpayer Reference, Self-Assessment Unique Taxpayer

Reference or Company Registration Number

as appropriate for your entity.

6. Your UK bank account details.

7. Your organisation’s registered name.

8. Your organisation’s address.

Further information can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/880099/Coronavirus_Job_Retention_Scheme_step_by_step_guide_for_employers.pdf

Related topics:GovernmentLancashireRishi Sunak