Furlough scheme set to be extended to September (at reduced 60 percent rate)

[DreamChaser23]

www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2020/05/10/job-retention-scheme-set-extended-september/

An announcement is likely today or tomorrow.

Thoughts?

I think 60 percent is an impossible amount to live on. Not to mention not everyone can go back to work (i.e. no social distancing measures), (the business is still shut) A lot more people will still struggle month to month.

Knowing the Tories I wouldn't be surprised if month by month they reduce furlough from 60 to 40 then eventually getting rid of the scheme...

@Piper1879 yes but didn't you realise that unless you earn £100k, it's irresponsible to have a child? With savings on top. Just in case of alien invasion. Anything else is just entitled. Or something 😉

@EmmaOvary damn didn't think of alien invasion. Next time I get pregnant outside of a pandemic I'll be sure to remember and save 🤣

Boom do explain how families and individuals on the minimum wage should have saved a years salary?

Honestly, I'm sure that it will be an enlightening read to us all.

@Piper1879 good, see that you do, and while you're at it, save enough for the zombie apocalypse. It's definitely coming.

Spot on, stretchedmarks. I totally get that a few may still need protecting for months to come, but I simply can't get my head around encouraging a return to work wherever possible on one hand, while trailing this on the other

What UC claimant is getting £2500 pcm? 🤔

Single claimant aged under 25: £342.72 per month

Single claimant aged 25 or over: £409.89 per month

Joint claimants both aged under 25: £488.59 per month

Joint claimants either aged 25 or over: £594.04 per month

Mortgage holders would have had a mortgage holiday, those with private landlords would have had the housing allowance rates for their area.

what about people who can't go back to work because their workplaces aren't allowed to be open, or they're SE and work in places that aren't allowed to be open?

If they're not open by September there's every likelihood they'll never open again, so the point's moot - though I do accept places could be open but need fewer staff because of a reduction in trade

What I simply don't get, though, is why there's talk about places still being closed in September, when even the dreaded Prof Ferguson's projections had cases and deaths fizzling out by the end of June?

Plus child elements and housing elements, and LCWRA /LCW elements, disabled child element, carers element. Can easily be above £2500 .

So then Aldi, perhaps all the furloughed people refusing to go back to work because of the fear could just pack their jobs in, go on UC and stay in their houses. I mean works out the same doesn't it apparently. Problem solved.

Their jobs would then be one open for the willing and working! Solving a tighter job market in the future.

Perfect solution.

But it's not because everyone know they aren't going to get that type of cash in hand on UC. 🙄

Puzzled so are you envisaging every single pub, restaurant, music venue, theatre, cinema, holiday resort, indoor play facility and sporting arena in the country never opening again?

Because it's looking highly unlikely that those places will be 'back to normal' by September.

The general concensus seems to be that the virus will be with us in sufficient degrees to need social adaptions for at least 18 months.

The end of June is laughable.

Fantastic post at 19.38 @Bflatmajorsharp

There are about 3 million hospitality workers in the UK. Some chefs and managers can go back if premises change to allow delivery and click and collect but nowhere near the levels that are normally enployed. Same with theatre/cinema workers etc. If the spread doesn't stop then they will have to be furloughed until September or there will be millions unemployed. If the industry collapses then it has a knock on effect on food suppliers, manufacturers, delivery drivers etc.

InsanityRocks I think it was Raab that said it, I can't remember, it was when news was flying thick and fast.

I wish I'd made a note of it, as it was truly breathtaking in its audacity.

Yeh, and only a bellend couldn't manage to live on less money, being up to the hilt in debt and luxury lifestyle choices
That was my point earlier
Why should we not live within our means?
All of my 'luxury' lifestyle choices and debts and cost of mortgage was based on what I earn each month. I was in a position to comfortably pay for it all before corona struck. I didn't budget at any point for potentially losing 40% of my wage.

And plenty of people are up to the hilt in debt, while being paid the minimum wage and using food banks etc.

The Hospitality, Leisure,Travel & Tourism Industry will take 10 years to recover from this.
They'll be able to trade but not as before, Theatres will have to be bob on, with distancing, if they can afford to open. Like all other venues of entertainment.
Mine and my dh work is absolutely fucked for the time being, we may get some last min bookings for Christmas, wonder what NYE will look like.
I don't expect sympathy, so many more worse off than us.
But it's not easy being furloughed, with nothing to go back to.
Waiting for the inevitable UC or miracle.

are you envisaging every single pub, restaurant, music venue, theatre, cinema, holiday resort, indoor play facility and sporting arena in the country never opening again?

Quite the reverse, actually - with sensible measures I'd expect a significant number to be open much sooner, especially if the stats about reductions in cases/deaths are anything like correct

In many ways they'll have to be open sooner rather than later because we simply can't afford the alternative

Puzzled what stats are you referring to?

And what 'sensible measures' are you suggesting?

Quite the reverse, actually - with sensible measures I'd expect a significant number to be open much sooner, especially if the stats about reductions in cases/deaths are anything like correct

You couldnt be more wrong. Anyone who has spent any kind of time in the pub trade will tell you that any social distancing rules/limits on length of visit etc will be virtually impossible to enforce without police presence in every bar all the time. When people have had a drink their inhibitions and risk aversion drops rapidly to the point where within a couple of hours of opening, they will be like they were before closedown.

Thats the reality, and thats why pubs should be the last to open. We have been told to prepared to be the last back.

Man, people really can't stand the thought of others getting something for doing nothing. Whether it's been forced on them or not. You can almost hear the nashing of teeth

Be a different story if it was you in that boat though.

@stretchedmarks
Don’t comment on situations you don’t fully know about
I 100% want to go back to work but my work place is closed
I have worked since I was 17 and am now 39
I have paid tax and NI contributions and never claimed anything from the government
Never once have I laid into key workers or acted like a feral animal

What I do know is it’s not my choice not to work if this government acted quicker in controlling this virus instead of telling us to wash our hand singing happy birthday we might not be in such a mess

I'm so worried about this just cover the bills at 80% don't know how I will survive on 60%

Hercwasonaroll, thank you.

@maria860

Have you looked into all benefits? UC, child benefit (you may qualify now if you didnt before), housing benefit, council tax benefit. They are based on income, not what you should be earning, so if you drop below a certain amount (obviously depends on your age and circumstances) then you may well qualify for something. Even if its only a bit, every little helps.

I was shocked to see that the £2500 cap is gross, so if DH had been furoughed, at 80% he would be £1400 a month worse off so actually he would be on just over half pay - 60% doesn’t even bear thinking about!