Parents returning to work following a period of parental leave will be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme 11 June 2020 HM Treasury has confirmed that any parents on statutory maternity and paternity leave returning to work over the course of the next few months will be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), despite the 10 June cut-off date. When changes to the CJRS were announced on 29 May 2020, it was confirmed that any individuals who had not previously been placed on furlough would need to be furloughed by 10 June 2020, in order to observe the three-week minimum period. Any individuals not previously furloughed or placed on furlough by 10 June 2020 would not be eligible for the furlough scheme from 1 July 2020, when the operation of the scheme changes, to encourage the restart of the economy.
The government has made it clear, however, that any individuals returning to work after a long period of parental leave will be eligible for the scheme if they work for an employer who has previously furloughed other employees.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said:
“When I announced these changes to the furlough scheme last month, I was clear that we wanted to do this in a fair way, that supports people back to work as the country begins to re-open following coronavirus.
But for parents returning from leave, their circumstances has meant that they are still in need of support, and I’m pleased that they will be able to receive the financial assistance they and their family will need.”
This will also be applicable to individuals on adoption leave, shared parental leave, and parental bereavement leave.
Further guidance relating to this change will be included in the guidance that is due to be published on 12 June 2020.
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Reporting Furlough Fraud 12 June 2020
CIPP recently highlighted the rise in furlough fraud reports from employees in relation to concerns they had over claims made by their employers in relation to the CJRS. Furlough fraud has increased significantly in recent weeks, wand the government has now received close to 1,900 reports of fraudulent use of the CJR Scheme, established back in April by the Treasury.
HMRC is encouraging employees to report claims that they feel are unlawful, and to aid this has updated online forms to enable employees to do so.
HMRC advises that you should not let anyone know that you are making a report and that, when completing the report, you do not need to provide any personal details. The report is treated in complete confidence.
At this time, telephone lines and postal contacts have been temporarily suspended, in line with guidance to stop the spread of COVID-19.
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The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for individuals receiving direct payments 15 June 2020
The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals
Payroll: need to know
cipp.org.uk
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