This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Extend the Furlough Support Scheme to include new hires after 30th October.
The government have extended the furlough worker support scheme, but it disadvantages and discriminates against those who have just changed jobs, started a new job or are due to start a new job in the very near future. This needs to be changed to be inclusive.
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The UK government have condemned those who have taken upon themselves to find financial security, by securing new employment to financial ruin, by excluding them from the furlough scheme. This will result in huge numbers of unemployment, universal credit claims, poverty and homelessness. We implore the UK government to reassess the cut off date of 30 October 2020 for the furlough scheme, to include those who have recently gained new employment.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Related activity
Budget 2021 - extension to furlough
On Wednesday 3 March, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP presented the 2021 Budget, setting out the Government's plans for tax and spending over the next year.
The Budget included a further extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), or furlough, to September.
This means employees placed on furlough will continue to receive 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, until the end of September. From July, employers will have to contribute 10% of the employee’s salary towards this cost, rising to 20% in August and September.
Find out more about the changes to the scheme, including the new cut-off dates for employees to be eligible for the scheme from May, here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
You can read a summary of the key measures announced in the Budget here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/budget-2021-what-you-need-to-know
You can read the Chancellor's full Budget Speech to the House of Commons here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/budget-speech-2021
Who is the Chancellor?
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the Government Minister in charge of the Government's tax and spending decisions. They are appointed by the Prime Minister and are one of the most senior Government Ministers.
Find out more about the role and the current Chancellor, Rishi Sunak MP:
https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/chancellor-of-the-exchequer
What is the Budget?
The Budget is a statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, updating MPs on how much the Government is spending, borrowing, and receiving from taxation. The Budget usually happens once per year.
The Budget is also when the Chancellor announces changes to tax and Government spending. This means the Budget is often used to announce new Government policies or changes to existing policies.
Find out more about Parliament's role in scrutinising the Budget:
https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/role/check-and-approve-government-spending-and-taxation/the-budget-and-parliament/