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| Brecon Beacons Tourism Industry Update |
| 13th May 2020 |
| Includes: Furlough Scheme Extended until OctoberSelf Employment Income Support Scheme goes live todayGoing back to work / Getting ready to re-open advice |
| FURLOUGH SCHEME EXTENDED UNTIL OCTOBER. Furloughed workers across UK will continue to receive 80% of their current salary, up to £2,500new flexibility will be introduced from August to get employees back to work and boost economyScheme to remain as is until July: The current scheme is extended a further month until July, and will work exactly the same as now. In other words, if furloughed you can’t work for your employer (though with permission you can work for others). Awaiting more details what will happen from August to October: Employees will stay on 80% of income, but be able to come back to work part-time for their employer, though then employers will have to contribute to the furlough cost. has said he’ll provide full details of how this works towards the end of this month. Read more here SELF-EMPLOYMENT INCOME SUPPORT SCHEME GOES LIVE TODAY From today, those eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) can apply to get 80% of average profits up to £2,500 a month to cover March to May’s income. Use the Government eligibility checker to check eligibility and to get your date to apply. Eligible people with dates can apply to the scheme between 13 and 18 May. If the checker says you’re ineligible, do double check your details and try again. If you tried the eligibility checker early last week, some people’s files weren’t uploaded and so they were incorrectly told ‘no’. The two main reasons for not being eligible are: 1) self-employment isn’t 50%+ of earnings, as you’ve not counted all other earnings from pensions, savings, employment and property 2) you stopped self-employment or changed for a period. You can review if you are rejected: If you’re still convinced you’re eligible, you can ask for the decision to be reviewed online or by phone. HMRC have acknowledged that some people will not be able to access their online service. In such circumstances they have provided the following telephone number: 0800 024 1222. WILL THE SELF-EMPLOYMENT SCHEME BE EXTENDED TOO? Nothing has been announced as yet, the Chancellor is meant to be giving an update at the Government briefings this week, so perhaps an update will be given this week. I have written to the Brecon and Radnorshire MP to get further clarification on this as well as finding out if any new funding schemes are to be announced to help support the businesses who have fallen through the gaps. I await a response – so will keep you posted. RETURNING TO WORK/ GETTING READY TO RE-OPENSome employees in England will be returning to work today, please note – Wales remains in lockdown until the 28th May. Welsh Government are announcing the updated Welsh Roadmap to Recovery this week – which may give us some indication on re-opening in Wales. Our Insurance providers Thomas Carroll have produced a useful guide on matters relating to returning to work. It include Employment issues, Employers and Public Liability, Social Distancing, Health and Safety, and Personal Protective Equipment. Which can be read here BBT are putting together some industry best practice guides for getting ready for re-opening for each sector of our membership, which will we share will you all shortly. Please do share any updates you get from other organisations which you think might be of interest to others. Send to info@breconbeaconstourism.co.uk Laura |
