Job Support Scheme – reduced costs and more flexibility

The next stage of the Job Support Scheme will see more flexibility and a decrease in costs to employers.

The Job Support Scheme Open (JSS) is one of the government’s initiatives aimed at supporting individuals and businesses who are trading during the pandemic over the 2020/21 winter period. This next phase will start on 1 November in line with the furlough scheme coming to an end.

What are the main changes?

Previously, the JSS was designed to support the wages of employees who worked at least 33% of their usual hours with the government paying 33% of their wages and the employer contributing another 33%. Under the revised terms, an employee needs to only work 20% of their usual hours to benefit from the JSS. 

In addition, the level of contribution by the employer has been reduced from 33% to 5%. The government will therefore pay 62% of a worker’s wages for the time they are away from their job up to a maximum of £1,541.75 per month. 

Job Support Scheme Closed

For businesses that have been legally required to cease trading the terms of the Job support Scheme Closed remain unchanged.

About the Author

Paul Newbold

Partner

After qualifying with KPMG where he gained significant audit experience, Paul joined Torgersens in 1991 and became the firm’s audit partner in 2000. Paul employs his broad range of financial skills to provide commercial and accounting advice to a range of owner-managed businesses in the independent retail, education and professional services sectors. He also has extensive experience dealing with charities, Registered Social Landlords and not-for-profit organisations and co-operatives.   Outside of work, Paul likes to visit Eastern France and South-West German and read novels by David Morrell, Michael Blake and Harper Lee. He also likes watching films, his favourite is The Shawshank Redemption.

To get in touch please e-mail paul.newbold@torgersens.com.