I'm lost: how do you actually claim up to 80% loss of earnings as an employee?

[Blurpblorp]

Just as it says really... I still have my job but can feel a change coming. I'm nervous as I'm a single parent. Have I missed something or is it just intentionally vague?

you dont, your employer will do it and pay to you

You have to be furloughed by your employer so they will arrange it.

You can’t do it yourself if you’re an employee. Your employer has to claim it as a grant on your behalf and can only do that if you’re on furlough.
Guidance here: www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

What about the workers laid off before Sunak's announcement? Do those workers have any rights at all if their (former) employr chooses to shut up shop and not to claim the grant, and these workers can't get through to log on to claim UC?

This seems to be widespread for gig economy workers, sadly. They're penniless.

limescale yes they'd be entitled to redundancy, and if the employer has gone bust you can get redundancy pay from the govt.

Only really any good if you have long service though, as less than 2 years you don't get a bean

@LimescaleCowboy it applies to anyone on payroll up to the 28th Feb, they can retrospectively furlough you.

OP - it’s up to your employer. If you meet the criteria for furlough - essentially that you’d be made redundant because you cannot do your job right now, they can put you on furlough and claim 80% of your salary up to £2500 a month (£35,000 gross) from the government.
We’ve just done this in my organisation, we’re now furloughed on 80% of salary until at least the end of May. Another organisation I know of is topping up the payment so people get 100% of salary.

You can’t claim this yourself

@LimescaleCowboy but it is still up to the employer to do a furlough scheme. No one is required to, this just helps

Thanks, all, for the answers. My sis worked there for a year and a half - restaurant that'll probably not reopen.

@LimescaleCowboy if it won’t reopen they probably couldn’t furlough, it’s only if there’s a job to go back to that can’t be done now

OK thanks all. I love Mumsnet 😘

Good luck @Blurpblorp. I think we're all going to need it.

Thanks, all.

You can’t opt in, your employer needs to do it for you, but unfortunately it’s not mandatory and it’s up to them if they choose to furlough staff or not. The government haven’t set up on the online system yet so employers will have to try and pay staff for March and April and then claim the money back if/when the system is set up.

You too @limescalecowboy