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| Coronavirus: Millions to claim as UK furlough scheme goes live | Coronavirus: Millions to claim as UK furlough scheme goes live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A government pay scheme to keep staff on the payroll despite not working due to coronavirus has gone live. | A government pay scheme to keep staff on the payroll despite not working due to coronavirus has gone live. |
| HMRC chief executive Jim Harra told the BBC's Today programme that employers had made 67,000 claims for workers in the first 30 minutes. | |
| Under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the government will cover 80% of workers' wages, up to £2,500 a month, if they are put on leave. | Under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the government will cover 80% of workers' wages, up to £2,500 a month, if they are put on leave. |
| Millions of workers are expected to be "furloughed" because of the lockdown. | Millions of workers are expected to be "furloughed" because of the lockdown. |
| Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: "We promised support would be available by the end of April - today, we deliver our promise." | Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: "We promised support would be available by the end of April - today, we deliver our promise." |
| The Treasury says the system can process up to 450,000 applications an hour. Employers should receive the money within six working days of making an application, it says. | The Treasury says the system can process up to 450,000 applications an hour. Employers should receive the money within six working days of making an application, it says. |
| Mr Harra told Today: "The big payroll date this month is on the 30th, so employers can claim anytime today, tomorrow or on Wednesday, and there's time to get that money into their account for the 30th of April." | Mr Harra told Today: "The big payroll date this month is on the 30th, so employers can claim anytime today, tomorrow or on Wednesday, and there's time to get that money into their account for the 30th of April." |
| Rising cost | Rising cost |
| On Friday, Mr Sunak announced that the wage subsidy scheme would be extended by a further month, until the end of June. | On Friday, Mr Sunak announced that the wage subsidy scheme would be extended by a further month, until the end of June. |
| The move came after the government confirmed that lockdown restrictions in the UK would continue for "at least" another three weeks. | The move came after the government confirmed that lockdown restrictions in the UK would continue for "at least" another three weeks. |
| Mr Harra declined to predict how much the scheme would cost. Last week, the Office for Budget Responsibility estimated a price tag of £42bn, but that was before the government extended the scheme by a month. | Mr Harra declined to predict how much the scheme would cost. Last week, the Office for Budget Responsibility estimated a price tag of £42bn, but that was before the government extended the scheme by a month. |
| He said he was confident that HMRC could cope with the demand for the scheme. | He said he was confident that HMRC could cope with the demand for the scheme. |
| "We have scaled our IT system to cope with the maximum number of claims that we could receive - there are well over two million Pay-As-You-Earn schemes and our system is big enough to handle a claim from every one of those." | "We have scaled our IT system to cope with the maximum number of claims that we could receive - there are well over two million Pay-As-You-Earn schemes and our system is big enough to handle a claim from every one of those." |
| Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "With April's payday approaching, it is essential that the application process is smooth and that payments are made as soon as possible. | Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "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," he added. | "Any delay would exacerbate the cash crisis many companies are facing and could threaten jobs and businesses," he added. |
| How does the scheme work? | How does the scheme work? |
| Under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the government will cover 80% of workers' wages, up to a maximum of £2,500 per worker, per month before tax. | Under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the government will cover 80% of workers' wages, up to a maximum of £2,500 per worker, per month before tax. |
| Bosses will pay workers and reclaim the money from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) online after the service goes live on 20 April. | Bosses will pay workers and reclaim the money from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) online after the service goes live on 20 April. |
| The minimum amount of time that an employee can be furloughed is three weeks, and firms are not expected to start receiving money until at least the end of April. | The minimum amount of time that an employee can be furloughed is three weeks, and firms are not expected to start receiving money until at least the end of April. |
| What does it mean if I have been furloughed by work? | What does it mean if I have been furloughed by work? |
| According to new research by the Resolution Foundation, the take-up of the scheme has been higher than initially anticipated. | According to new research by the Resolution Foundation, the take-up of the scheme has been higher than initially anticipated. |
| It estimates that eight million workers could be furloughed over the coming weeks. | It estimates that eight million workers could be furloughed over the coming weeks. |
| It found that those working in low-paid sectors - such as hospitality or retail - are worst-affected, with almost half of the workforce expected to be put on paid leave. | It found that those working in low-paid sectors - such as hospitality or retail - are worst-affected, with almost half of the workforce expected to be put on paid leave. |
| Daniel Tomlinson, economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: "The government's welcome Job Retention Scheme is what stands between Britain experiencing high unemployment over the coming months, and catastrophic depression-era levels of long-term joblessness. | Daniel Tomlinson, economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: "The government's welcome Job Retention Scheme is what stands between Britain experiencing high unemployment over the coming months, and catastrophic depression-era levels of long-term joblessness. |
| "It is proving particularly essential in big, low-paying sectors like hospitality and retail, where around half the workforce are no longer working." | "It is proving particularly essential in big, low-paying sectors like hospitality and retail, where around half the workforce are no longer working." |
| High Street chains such as Oasis and Warehouse, as well as fast food firms KFC and McDonald's, have all furloughed staff as their work has come to a standstill under lockdown. | High Street chains such as Oasis and Warehouse, as well as fast food firms KFC and McDonald's, have all furloughed staff as their work has come to a standstill under lockdown. |
| Rain Newton-Smith, chief economist at the CBI business lobby group, welcomed the launch of the online application service for firms. | Rain Newton-Smith, chief economist at the CBI business lobby group, welcomed the launch of the online application service for firms. |
| "Rolling out the job retention scheme will make a huge difference to tens of thousands of firms and millions of people, protecting jobs and living standards throughout the UK," she said. | "Rolling out the job retention scheme will make a huge difference to tens of thousands of firms and millions of people, protecting jobs and living standards throughout the UK," she said. |
| "Ensuring support gets to where it's needed most - fast - is of the utmost importance." | "Ensuring support gets to where it's needed most - fast - is of the utmost importance." |
| Is your company applying for the furlough scheme? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Is your company applying for the furlough scheme? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or please use the form below: | Or please use the form below: |