PAY DAY
First furlough payments start hitting bank accounts of businesses
THE first furlough payments have started hitting the accounts of 500,000 grateful employers to pass onto millions of staff.
Under the government's coronavirus job retention scheme, cash-strapped employers can claim grants to pay staff who can't currently work due to the coronavirus lockdown.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
They're able to get 80 per cent of workers' wages - up to a maximum of £2,500 a month.
Employers can furlough anyone they employ, provided that on or before March 19 they were on PAYE payroll and HMRC had been notified of payment via the RTI system.
The for employers to claim opened on Monday April 20, although payments can be backdated to March 1.
At the time, HMRC said the first payments would be made to businesses within six working days, which takes you until tomorrow - April 28.
But chancellor Rishi Sunak has revealed the first payments have been made today.
He said 500,000 businesses have already applied for the scheme on behalf of 4million employees.
HMRC couldn't, however, tell us how many payments have gone through and how much these are worth.
One person tweeted: "Furlough money has been paid into my business account this morning. Hope everyone else is starting to get theirs filtering through."
Someone else added: "I got paid on Friday my furlough money. Thank God!"
Give now to The Sun's NHS appeal
BRITAIN’s four million NHS staff are on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus.
But while they are helping save lives, who is there to help them?
The Sun has launched an appeal to raise £1MILLION for NHS workers. The Who Cares Wins Appeal aims to get vital support to staff in their hour of need.
We have teamed up with NHS Charities Together in their urgent Covid-19 Appeal to ensure the money gets to exactly who needs it.
The Sun is donating £50,000 and we would like YOU to help us raise a million pounds, to help THEM. No matter how little you can spare, please donate today here: .
Another wrote: "Furlough money has now been paid into our business account. This should see us continue to support our staff and our business. Thank you. #newnormal"
While someone else said: "Furlough claim was paid in today."
Millions of people across the UK are expected to benefit from the scheme, according to HMRC, with businesses including Brewdog, Pret a Manger and Timpson using it to ensure staff keep their jobs and are paid while many high street and other non-essential businesses remain closed.
More on coronavirus
However, some business owners, including Victoria Beckham, Richard Branson and Sir Philip Green, have come under fire for using taxpayers' money to pay wages instead of dipping into their own vast pockets.
Plus, while employers have started to get the cash, it doesn't mean they'll pass it onto employees instantly - you need to contact your boss or HR department to find out when your salary is due.
See our furlough Q&A for more on how the scheme works, and our guide on what to do if your employer refuses to furlough you.
Topics