The Chancellor announced on Thursday 22 October that the Government contribution to employers’ wage costs under the Job Support Scheme (JSS) will be increased. Employers will be expected to pay 5% of the cost of unworked hours instead of the 33% originally announced.

Oct 2020


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The Chancellor announced onThursday 22 October that the Government contribution to employers’ wage costs under the Job Support Scheme (JSS) will be increased. Employers will be expected to pay 5% of the cost of unworked hours instead of the 33% originally announced.

Summary of the changes

  • An employee will only need to work for 20% of their normal hours instead of 33%.
  • Instead of a minimum requirement of paying wages for a third of the hours not worked employers will only have to pay for 5% of hours not worked.
  • The government will now fund 62% of the wages for hours not worked. This more than doubles the maximum payment to £1,541.75 a month. In the most generous case, the taxpayer will now go from funding 22% of wages to just under half.
  • Additional support for the hospitality and leisure businesses in tier two areas. English councils will be funded to give monthly grants of up to £2,100 to 150,000 hotels, restaurants and B&Bs.
  • Self-employment scheme has also been doubled from 20% to 40% of profits, with a maximum grant now of £3,750 over a three-month period.
  • Employers will continue to receive the £1,000 Job Retention Bonus.

 

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