Job Retention Bonus Scheme
The Job Retention Bonus offers a £1,000 one-off payment to employers for every employee claimed for under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) who remains continuously employed through to 31 January 2021. Employers will be able to claim the Job Retention Bonus after they have filed PAYE for January and payments will be made to employers from February 2021.
The key information and criteria are as follows:
- All employers are eligible for the scheme including recruitment agencies and umbrella companies
- Employers must keep their payroll up to date and accurate and address all requests from HMRC to provide missing employee data in respect of historic CJRS claims
- A new employer may be eligible to claim for employees of a previous business transferred to the new employer, where TUPE or PAYE succession rules apply
- Eligible employees under the scheme are those who;
- Were furloughed and had an eligible CJRS claim submitted for them
- Have been continuously employed from the most recent CJRS claim until at least 31 January 2021
- Have been paid an average of at least £520 a month between 1 November 2020 and 31 January 2021 (at least £1,560 across the three months)
- Have up-to-date RTI records for the period to the end of January
- Are not serving a notice period that started before 1 February 2021, for the employer making a claim
Employers can claim the Job Retention Bonus for all employees who meet the above criteria, including office holders, company directors and agency workers, including those employed by umbrella companies.
Further details on the specifics of eligibility can be found on GOV.UK, and we expect detailed guidance and information on how employers can claim to be published in September 2020.