Told I dont qualify for furlough due to start date

andyrep909

Hi all , please help if possible 
 I started a new job on the 23rd March . 3 days later the business announced that it was going through the furlough process . I was told I was safe and would receive full pay 80% gov and 20% insurance . At 16.00 I was told that the guidlines state that I had to be on payroll on 29th Feb 2020 to qualify .
I have an offer letter dates the 26th Feb stating the start date pay etc.... I've been told I wont qualify but hoping there is  a solution to this as I'm left with a household to pay for
I've seen the criteria and it does state the 29th feb the person must be on payroll .

Jeremy535897

The 29 February date is an assumption at present. We don't know the full details, but it may well be the case. I assume the assurance you received about being safe was verbal only?

calcotti

See https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6119611/furloughed-workers-please-read#latest and follow the link.

andyrep909

Yes , this morning I was told verbally that I was safe and would be fine as I was included in the payroll from Monday 23rd . At 16.00 i was called in to say I wouldn't qualify or be paid for the 3 months as I wasnt on the payroll on the 29th Feb .
Thanks

Jeremy535897

Read Calcotti's link above. 

Rose_Hill12345

Hi
We've been talking a lot about this issue on other threads. 
Calcotti and Jeremy have referred you to a link which confirms that the terms of the furlough are currently unclear.  They are right and we are awaiting further guidance on this.
I will say that I really don't know where this date of 29 February (for being on payroll) has even come from because it is not specifically  stated in the gov.uk website or any other official guidance. To me, it all seems to be merely an opinion/ interpretation of what was said by the chancellor on Friday and something that no one actually knows for certain. Someone correct me if I am wrong. 
In the meantime, I have been referring people to the website for law firm Thomson Snell and Passmore (for some reason I can't seem to post a link here). They have a section on their website called "Coronavirus and Employment Law" which has a subheading called "Entering Employment". They seem to think that new employees with a binding contract of employment CAN be immediately furloughed and receive the 80% grant.
As Calcotti and Jeremy have already said, no one knows for certain. If I were you, I would raise this with your employer ASAP so that they can investigate further.
I have seen this issue again and again over the last few days and have today written to my local MP for clarification of the new rules and to highlight the predicament that those of us starting new jobs are now facing here (my employment start date has been deferred due to coronavirus and so I am also in limbo). I hope this helps you. Good luck.

adamp87

I think people are getting this date from the SSP/Sick pay that’s below it on the gov website. That’s the only place I’ve seen that exact date. 

calcotti

Rose_Hill12345 said:

In the meantime, I have been referring people to the website for law firm Thomson Snell and Passmore (for some reason I can't seem to post a link here). They have a section on their website called "Coronavirus and Employment Law" which has a subheading called "Entering Employment". They seem to think that new employees with a binding contract of employment CAN be immediately furloughed and receive the 80% grant.

https://www.ts-p.co.uk/news/coronavirus-and-employment-law

calcotti

adamp87 said:

I think people are getting this date from the SSP/Sick pay that’s below it on the gov website. That’s the only place I’ve seen that exact date. 

Can’t find that specific page.

Jeremy535897

Don't bother about it. It is from an old moneybox programme and was speculation.

Rose_Hill12345

That's interesting. Funny how misinformation can spread so easily! I know of someone else whose request for furlough has been refused today purely because of the confusion surrounding this date, 29 February. I will be mentioning this to them tomorrow!