Furlough salary

[Gin96]

Does anyone know if you have to be employed before 28th February to qualify for this? My husband started his job on the 2nd March, i’m now panicking he won’t qualify for the payment.

I'm in the same position. My husband started a new job on 10th March. He was working for someone else before that job. His boss says he will apply for him but doesn't think he will qualify. We are holding out hope you just have to be on a payroll in general!

No, employers can furlough people who hadn't yet started on 28th Feb, provided they keep them on the payroll for now. Tell him to speak to his boss/payroll.

@FunnyInjury could you please share where you have read this? This gives me some hope!

@FunnyInjury thank you for that, I live in hope, his boss hasn’t got a clue, he’s forwarded to HR who are taking forever to answer as they are understandably very busy as it’s a big company, we will have to wait and see and hope he’s covered

I just read this on the gov website 😔. Is your husband able to contact some recruitment agencies? Mine is applying for jobs frantically! 😔

He has a heart murmur, high blood pressure, he’s had a stroke 10 years ago and he has asthma so in the high risk category so not sure he should work at the moment, we will just have to manage somehow 😔

So hard. I'm not anywhere near as high risk as your husband but I'm pregnant so really want mine to wfh! Maybe he could ask recruitment agencies if there are any wfh jobs available? Also have you applied to universal credit?

P.s. I've just contacted my mp on twitter asking if there's any help for people employed after 28th! Maybe you could do the same? It needs to be given some attention!

Thanks Chatterbox I will try all the options you have suggested, we have set up UC as my husband was made redundant in June and just gone back to work. How does SSP work, does he have to be employed to claim it? He will be paid this month, just waiting to see what HR say, whether they will keep him on unpaid or make him redundant.

I'm not 100% but I think he needs to be employed to claim it. Its so frustrating isn't it. Being penalised for starting late! I would understand if you started after the lockdown was announced but not before. Hopefully universal credit will see you through for now. I would ask his employer to apply anyway, just in case.

Also, he can only qualify for it if actually furloughed in writing or made redundant. Not if on unpaid leave.

Oh sorry please ignore my last comment. I read something wrong on the gov page!

Ignore my earlier post. My friend has been told shes furloughed (due to start last week) but it seems her new employers are simply going to pay her 80% themselves to retain her.
Sorry for wrong info OP.