Furlough portal - now open

In news that will surprise precisely no-one, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme received claims from 140,000 companies on its first day. 

The portal seems to be operating well despite the huge demand and can be accessed here.

The guidance for calculating the reference salary and the 80% has been updated with an online calculator to assist claimants and a step-by-step guide. 

Of particular note when you seek to operate it:

• You can only make one claim within a 'pay period'.
• The application must be made in one session (which times out after 30 minutes) and there is no option to amend it later.

In addition to the issue of the Treasury Direction (which has legal force) last week, both the Employers and Employees guidance were updated again on 17 April 2020. 

These extend the Scheme to 30 June; and include new information such as on fixed-term contracts, holiday pay, employees returning from family-related statutory leave, sick pay, retaining records and fraud, with new information for employees on how to report fraud or abuse of the Scheme.

 There is some greater clarity but uncertainty remains in a number of areas. This includes questions about what form of 'furlough' agreement is required between the employer and employee and the form and date of that agreement, and the ability to backdate claims.