Expansion of the Job Support Scheme

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has today announced an expansion to the Job Support Scheme (JSS) that will see additional funding become available for some struggling businesses. The new measures come in response to widespread criticism that the JSS will not do enough to help businesses that are forced to shut due to covid-19 restrictions.

When the JSS starts on 1^st November, the government will pay two thirds of the wages for employees of UK businesses that have been legally shut down by coronavirus restrictions. The scheme will be available for six months, with a review after an initial three-month period. The grant will work in a similar way to the later stages of the Job Retention Scheme with employers still being expected to make National Insurance and pension contributions.

Shut businesses will also have increased access to grant funding for costs such as rent, up to a maximum £3,000 a month. These changes have the potential to benefit hundreds of thousands of businesses around the UK, and whilst they will be gratefully received there will no doubt be questions about the delay in announcing them.

Many will question why these measures were not included in the original draft of the Winter Economy Plan, which suggests there are probably tighter lockdown restrictions around the corner.

Get in touch

For any help and advice on the Job Support Scheme, or any other previous announcements, please get in touch by calling the office on 01392 241228 or emailing misty@griffinaccountancy.co.uk