The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) comes to an end at  the end of October and will be replaced by the Job Support Scheme (JSS) which starts on 1^st November. The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) has been extended, also from 1^st November.

Job Support Scheme

The scheme offers different support dependant on how a business is affect by Coronavirus restrictions. Businesses that are operating but facing decreased demand can get support for wages through JSS Open. Those businesses that are legally required to close their premises as a direct result of coronavirus restrictions set by one or more of the four governments of the UK can get the support they need through JSS Closed.

JSS Open:

• For businesses that can operate safely but continues to face reduced demand.

• The employee will need to work a minimum of 20% of their usual hours and the employer will continue to pay them as normal for the hours worked.

• Employee will receive 66.67% of their normal pay for the hours not worked.

• Of this the employer will pay 5.00% up to a maximum of £125 per month.

• The government will pay the remaining 61.67% up to a maximum of £1,541.75 per month.

JSS Closed:

• For employers that have been legally required to close due to government Coronavirus restrictions.

• Each employee will receive two thirds of their normal pay to a maximum of £2,083.33.

• Employer will be able claim 100% back from the government.

The employer will pay National Insurance or pension contributions; this is not covered by the JSS.

Employers cannot claim for an employee who has been made redundant or is serving a contractual or statutory notice period during the claim period.

The JSS will run from 1st November to 31^st April 2021. Employers will be able to claim in arrears from 8^th November.

Further details can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-job-support-scheme/the-job-support-scheme

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Extension

The extension provides support for those whom are self-employed. There will be two grants, each available for three month periods covering November 2020 to January 2021 and February 2021 to April 2021.

• To claim you must have previously been eligible for the SEISS first and second grants, although you do not have had to have claimed them.

• You must intend to continue to trade either currently active but impacted by reduced demand due to Coronavirus or were temporarily unable to trade due to Coronavirus.

• The first grant covers 01/11/20 -31/01/21. This will be a taxable grant covering 40% of average monthly trading profits, capped at £3,750.

• The second grant covers 01/21/21 -30/04/21. The level of support has not been released.

• The grants are subject to tax and NI contributions.

Further details can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-employment-income-support-scheme-grant-extension/self-employment-income-support-scheme-grant-extension

The final details are not in place yet but should be forthcoming. These extensions are welcome and both are a significant improvement compared to the original announcements in September.