Action required – submit your July claims and prepare for changes to the Job Retention Scheme

Published: August 9th, 2021

HMRC is urging businesses in the Marches to submit their July Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) claims by the August 16 deadline to avoid missing out.

It is also highlighting the changes to the scheme from this month and providing information on claiming Statutory Sick Pay for employees who are self-isolating.

1. Submit your CJRS claims for July

If you haven’t submitted them yet, you must do so by the deadline of Monday‌‌ ‌16‌‌ ‌August.

For July, you can claim 70% of your furloughed employees’ usual wages for the hours not worked, up to a cap of £2,187.50 per month. You’ll need to pay the difference, so that you continue to pay your furloughed employees at least 80% of their usual wages in total for the hours they do not work, up to a cap of £2,500 a month including your contribution.

What you need to do now

• work out how much you can claim from the CJRS, and what you’ll need to pay to top up to 80%, using our CJRS calculator and examples by searching ‘Job Retention Scheme’ on GOV‌‌.UK
• submit any claims for July, no later than Monday‌‌ ‌16‌‌ ‌August
• keep records supporting grants you claim, in case HMRC need to check them
• make sure you’re paying CJRS-related employee tax and National Insurance contributions to HMRC, and contact them if you’re struggling to pay

2. Changes to the CJRS from this month

From 1‌‌ ‌August to 30‌‌ ‌September (when the scheme closes), the UK Government will pay 60% of employees’ usual wages for hours not worked, up to a cap of £1,875. You’ll need to continue to pay the difference, so that you pay your furloughed employees at least 80% of their usual wages in total for the hours they do not work, up to a cap of £2,500 a month including your contribution.

3. Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme

The UK Government’s Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme continues to provide financial support to small and medium-sized employers.

If you’re an employer with fewer than 250 employees, and if you’ve paid Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to employees for coronavirus-related sickness absence or self-isolation, you could be eligible for support. You can also speak to your tax agent about making claims on your behalf.

The repayment can cover up to two weeks of the applicable rate of SSP. For more information on eligibility and how to make a claim search ‘check if you can claim back Statutory Sick Pay’ on GOV‌‌.UK.