CJRS extended and changed for new lockdown

In his announcement on 31 October of a new national lockdown for England from 5 November until 1 December, the Prime Minister confirmed that the CJRS has been extended for a further month.

The CJRS was due to have ended after being scaled back to cover 60% of salaries during October.
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Details confirmed by the Chancellor reveal that the scheme will retain the flexible element, but the level of government support will return to the levels given in August. In this iteration, furloughed employees will receive 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500.

Employers will be able to furlough employees full time or part time, but to be eligible for the grant an employee must have been on an RTI submission made to HMRC before 23.59 on 30 October 2020.

Employers will only be asked to cover employer national insurance and pension contributions for hours not worked. They will continue to pay for hours worked as normal. Employers can top up furloughed staff’s salary to the previously contracted amount if that is what has been agreed with the employee.