Who can go back onto furlough?

The government announced the furlough scheme will be extended until December, as it brings in a further lockdown in England.

Under the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme,  employees placed on leave will receive 80% of their pay, up to a maximum of £2,500 a month.

Since July, employers have been able to bring back employees part-time, and furlough them for the rest. This will continue.

To be eligible for this extension, employees must have been on the payroll by 30 October 2020, but they don't need to have been furloughed before.

The Government will put in the full 80%, with the employer only covering pension and National Insurance contributions.

What else can businesses get?

The government will also give firms:

• Up to £3,000 per month under the Local Restrictions Support Grant if their premises is forced to close
• £1,000 for every furloughed employee kept on until at least the end of January

A grant available to the self-employed affected by coronavirus has also been doubled to 40% of profits, with a maximum grant of £3,750 over a three-month period.

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