Furlough scheme update 2021: End date, Budget changes and how to calculate your claim

2 March 2021, 11:59 | Updated: 4 March 2021, 13:42

Furlough scheme UK: Questions rise over when it will end as lockdown restrictions ease
Furlough scheme UK: Questions rise over when it will end as lockdown restrictions ease. Picture: PA

By Zoe Adams

Can I claim furlough? When does the scheme end? And how do you calculate furlough pay? Your questions answered following Rishi Sunak's budget.

A roadmap out of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions has been confirmed and the Budget 2021 has outlined it's official plans to overcome the financial crisis that coronavirus has brought - so what does that mean for the furlough scheme? And when does it end?

Rishi Sunak confirmed in his Spring Budget speech that furlough will still be available for businesses and employees until autumn as he gives companies extra time to recover from the financial impact of the pandemic.

Related article: How long will England work from home for following lockdown restrictions?

Here’s everything you need to know about the current furlough scheme in the UK, including the end date and how to calculate furlough pay:

People in the UK were furloughed when they were unable to work due to coronavirus restrictions
People in the UK were furloughed when they were unable to work due to coronavirus restrictions. Picture: PA

What is the furlough scheme?

The government introduced the furlough scheme during the first lockdown in 2020 which allowed companies to continue paying employees, even though they were unable to work.

The government will pay up to 80% of an employee's salary.

The furlough scheme also applied to parents who needed to look after children while schools were closed, those with caring responsibilities and those who were not able to work due to being clinically extremely vulnerable.

The government would pay up to 80% of wages in the furlough scheme
The government would pay up to 80% of wages in the furlough scheme. Picture: PA

Covid-19 Fraud Watch chair fears furlough scheme abuse is 'biggest fraud in British history'

What is the furlough end date and has it been extended?

Following on from the budget, the furlough scheme’s end date is now September 2021.

Lockdown restrictions are due to fully end by 21st June, if the the vaccination scheme continues to be a success and the infection rates fall, allowing companies and employees time to recover.

How to calculate furlough pay?

You are able to claim the furlough scheme whether you are full-time, part-time agency or on a flexible or zero-hour contract, but you have to have been on your company’s payroll system before the extension was announced. This was November 2020.

It doesn’t matter if you have been furloughed before.

To claim furlough for your employees, or to find out how much you are entitled to, you can use the government’s furlough calculator on their official website.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

More than 2 million drivers are set to hit the road on Good Friday.

Easter Carmageddon: Over two million drivers to hit the road on Good Friday after Storm Nelson travel chaos

Michael Gove has slammed the water firm as a 'disgrace'.

Thames Water bosses branded a ‘disgrace’ as Michael Gove tells firm ‘not to punish consumers’ for its failings

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

A council has had to apologise following the incident.

Fury as parents offered version of school class photo without complex needs pupils

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus plunges from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy

Border Force staff will walk out from April 11

Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport to stage four-day strike

Stephen Bear was ordered to pay Ms Harrison £5,000.

Disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear ordered to pay £27,000 over revenge porn conviction or face nine months in jail

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud

Exclusive
Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says