Expanded support measures announced

In response to localised restrictions the Chancellor today announced new measures…

The Chancellor today announced additional support measures for businesses affected by the Government’s latest measures to combat the pandemic.

Job Support Scheme (JSS)
The JSS is due to come into effect on 1 November. The scheme will now see employers paying five percent of the employees’ wage for hours not worked. The hours that employees will have to work will be reduced to 20% of their normal working hours.

Example: a typical full-time employee in the hospitality industry is paid an average of £1,100 per month. Under the Jobs Support Scheme for open businesses, they will still take home at least £807 a month. All the employer needs to pay is a total of £283 a month or just £70 a week; the government will pay the rest.

Self-employed grants
These grants will now cover forty percent of the persons’ eligible income, meaning the maximum grant will increase from £1,875 to £3,750. The next grants will cover periods November 2020 to January 2021 and February 2021 to April 2021.

Grants for hospitality and leisure businesses
Cash grants of up to £2,100 per month will be made available to hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses which have been adversely affected by restrictions in high-alert level areas. These grants are being made available retrospectively for relevant businesses in high-alert level areas which have already been subject to restrictions. Grants will be administered by local authorities.