Update- 13th March

Following the Prime Minister's statement on Sunday, the government has now released guidance documents for employers and employees working in:

- Construction and outdoor work
- Factories and warehouses
- Offices and contact centres
- Other people's homes
- Takeaway or delivery
- Shops or branches
- Vehicles

To see the guidance, please visit here. Please see below the 50 page document for guidance on the lock down. For any FAQS, please visit here.

Education

I want to all children across Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke to be back in education as soon as the scientific advice allows because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we know it is good for children’s mental wellbeing to have social interactions with other children, carers and teachers.

The government anticipate with further progress that they may be able, from the week commencing 1 June, to welcome back more children to early years, school and further education settings.

This will only be done provided that the 5 key tests set by government justify the changes at the time, including that the rate of infection is decreasing and the enabling programmes set out in the recovery strategy are operating effectively.

Please see here for guidance for parents and carers to assist you with any questions you may have

The Furlough Scheme has also been extended.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be extended, for four months, until the end of October.

By that point, the government will have provided eight months of support to British people and businesses.

Until the end of July, there will be no changes to the scheme whatsoever.

From August to October the scheme will continue, for all sectors and regions of the UK, but with greater flexibility to support the transition back to work.

Employers currently using the scheme will be able to bring employees back part-time. To change their incentives, we will ask employers to start sharing, with the government, the costs of paying people’s salaries.

Further detail will follow by the end of May but the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, wants to assure people one thing won’t change:

Workers will, through the combined efforts of government and employers, continue to receive the same level of support as they do now, at 80% of their salary, up to £2,500.

 

The Self-Employed Scheme Opens Today

Starting today applications will be open for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme - weeks earlier than planned.

The scheme will allow you to claim a taxable grant of 80% of your average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months, and capped at £7,500 altogether. This is a temporary scheme, but it may be extended.

You can claim if you’re a self-employed individual or a member of a partnership and:

▪️ you traded in the tax year 2018 to 2019 and submitted your Self Assessment tax return on or before 23 April 2020 for that year
▪️ you traded in the tax year 2019 to 2020
▪️ you intend to continue to trade in the tax year 2020 to 2021
▪️ you carry on a trade which has been adversely affected by coronavirus

Use the online checker to see if you're eligible and have the money in your account by 25th May

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