The Government has issued updated guidelines for the furlough scheme by clarifying deadlines and explaining 
what happens if these deadlines fall on a weekend or bank holiday.
Employers have until 30 November to make changes to or add to furlough claims for periods ending on or before 31 October 2020.
Claims from 1 November 2020 onwards must be submitted by 11.59pm 14 calendar days after the month you’re claiming for. If this falls on a weekend or a bank holiday then claims should be submitted on the next working day.
Overview of claim dates:
| Date claim must be submitted by | To claim for furlough days in |
|---|---|
| 14 December 2020 | November 2020 |
| 14 January 2021 | December 2020 |
| 15 February 2021 | January 2021 |
| 15 March 2021 | February 2021 |
| 14 April 2021 | March 2021 |
What if I miss the deadline?
If you miss a deadline, HMRC are only likely to accept a claim if you have a reasonable excuse for missing the deadline, despite taking reasonable care to claim on time and you must have claimed without delay after the excuse no longer applied. HMRC will not consider excuses in advance of the deadline.
The guidelines have been updated to provide clarification about what HMRC may deem to be a reasonable excuse for missing a claim deadline.
You may have a reasonable excuse if for example:
- your partner or another close relative died shortly before the claim deadline
- you had an unexpected stay in hospital that prevented you from dealing with your claim
- you had a serious or life-threatening illness, including Coronavirus related illnesses, which prevented you from making your claim (and no one else could claim for you)
- a period of self-isolation prevented you from making your claim (and no one else could make the claim for you)
- your computer or software failed just before or while you were preparing your online claim
- service issues with HMRC online services prevented you from making your claim
- a fire, flood or theft prevented you them from making your claim
- postal delays that you could not have predicted prevented you from making your claim
- delays related to a disability you have prevented you from making your claim
- a HMRC error prevented you from making your claim
For advice regarding any aspect of employment law please contact Katie Bowen Nicholas on 01733 295 672 or email katie.bowennicholas@hegarty.co.uk.
