Expected to live off thin air HELP

[Pyjamas1001]

Context: I work in a restaurant and started my job on the 30th of October 2020. In the lockdown before Christmas when my workplace closed I found out I was ineligible for the Job Retention Scheme because I had to have been paid on or before the 30th of October. Our pay day is on the 1st anyway. So I missed out on a month of pay living off of thin air.

Then between the 3rd of December when the restaurant was allowed to reopen until Boxing Day when Tier 4 lockdown began I worked 99 hours, working 12 hour shifts with no breaks.

I was surprised to not hear anything from my employer about whether I’d be furloughed this time around and so I emailed earlier on, just got a message back to say the government still haven’t changed their eligibility criteria so in order to be furloughed you had to have been paid on or before OCTOBER the 30th! This can’t be right?

I am in tears and utter shock how I am supposed to survive.

You can apply for universal credit. It takes a while to kick in but you can get an advance. You apply online.

Anyone who has no income applies for Universal credit. The only reason you would be ruled out of applying is if you have savings over 16k. If you have rent to pay or children to support then you will get extra help with those all rolled into one payment.

Thanks @WouldstrokeTomHardy and @Babyroobs I hope I can get something through Universal Credit. I just can’t believe the eligibility criteria thing it makes no sense!

If you have Facebook then join a group called Universal Credit Essentials and ask any questions on there. They are very good.

It sounds like you will qualify for something. I would join the group and ask for a calculation. Give a brief outline of your circs and they will tell you and the amount. Good luck