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Original poster

Furloughed but not entitled to payment

11 replies

Ajahd · 04/04/2020 18:45

Hi

My husband and I are in a really worrying position and I'm really looking for some advice.

I'm self employed in my first year of business, started April 2019 so didn't submit a tax return that month. As a result, I'm not entitled to the self employed payment.

We thought that's fine, my husband was expecting to be furloughed and a few days later he was. We've since realised that you're only entitled to a furlough payment if you joined a company on or before the 28th of March. My husband started on the 9th of March.

I'm absolutely devastated and I have no idea what to do. We could've survived on his wage but now with nothing I have no idea what to do. We have some savings so I don't believe I'm entitled to UC. But we had saved that money for our baby who we're expecting in September.

Honestly I don't know what to do. I don't think his company have realised that he isn't entitled to furlough payments. He signed a piece of paper to say he would get payments but I'm sure as soon as they hear back from HMRC that will get retracted. I'm half tempted to get him to phone his manager and ask them to put through that he started sooner, but then I'm also worried that bringing it to their attention would be worse.

Any advice on what to do would be greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
Winterjoy · 04/04/2020 18:50

If he started on 9th March he did join the company before 28th March?

Original poster
Ajahd · 04/04/2020 18:51

Sorry, that should say 28th of February :(

OP posts:
DianaT1969 · 04/04/2020 18:56

Why not try universal credit anyway? You may be entitled to something. If you have £16K+ in savings then won't you cope for a few months on some of that? Will you both be able to work and earn again once it is lifted? Possibly the end of May. As you are self-employed, are you sure you can't continue to earn in some way?

DianaT1969 · 04/04/2020 18:58

If your DH isn't entitled to the government's furlough, he'll need to clarify with his company about his status. On unpaid leave or a lower wage? Best that he finds out in case he needs to get a different job now.

WoollySheep462 · 04/04/2020 18:59

Op you really need to speak to his current employer now. The scheme is new to many so they won't know and probably have not tallied up checking eligibility dates with start dates of employees. You need to tell them he is not eligible. I would in his case ask whether there is any option of continuing? E.g different duties. Or reduced hours, half pay if that works out better than universal credit.

The employer has to make him redundant if not which then takes time and money to rerecruit later on.

Otherwise was he employed by anyone on 28 Feb? If he was on someone elses payroll on 28 Feb he can go back to them and ask if they would rehire and furlough him.

I know there are many others in his position. The government has to step in and help.

WoollySheep462 · 04/04/2020 19:02

Ps I was in between jobs on 28 Feb.

I am not eligible, there is no flexibility on the scheme date. Sad

WoollySheep462 · 04/04/2020 19:05

I told them and said I wanted to stay so I am still there for now. You can but appeal.

To be eligible you have to have been on their payroll on 28 Feb.

Stet · 04/04/2020 19:14

Yes, his only options are either for his company to unfurlough him or for his old company to take him back, presuming he was on the payroll there on the allotted date and furlough him. If he left on good terms and has good connections then it's worth a shot but they'd be doing him a favour and sadly I suspect many won't want the extra paperwork.

Stet · 04/04/2020 19:17

Relevant section: '
Well, now it's official – the rules do allow it, and it would be wonderful if they deliver. Employees who left after 28 February, having resigned for a new role that fell through due to coronavirus, can be rehired. This includes both those who didn't start the new job, and those who did but now face redundancy because as new starters after 28 February they can't be furloughed.
"Though to be clear, where the unemployment isn't caused by coronavirus – for example, someone who voluntarily left a job to take a few months off to travel the world – the rules don't allow them to be rehired in order to be furloughed."'

Original poster
Ajahd · 04/04/2020 19:19

Thank you for your helpful replies during my panic!

I'm a dog walker, so unable to carry on at the moment, nothing that can really be done from home sadly. I had excepted the fact that I wouldn't be able to return to work before baby gets here. I've applied for a work from home job which I'm hoping that I get, at least that would pay something!

I didn't realise it was up to 16k! I'll have to redo the calculator, I must've put something in incorrectly.

We've thought it out and are going to see what his company says. They were planning on continuing payments until the government scheme kicks in so he's going to ask if they can continue his payments until things are up and running, and then he pays them back straight from his wages. He's a Hgv driver for a factory which has been shut down, so no other jobs he can do in the meantime :( we're in an area that doesn't have very many distribution centres within a commutable area so he would be stuck for working elsewhere. He's really concerned as well about being out at work and brining something home to me, so was quite happy to be furloughed.

Just when we thought everything would be alright!

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