Not eligible for furlough or Universal Credit

Mildred1705

My son who has recently graduated started employment on 9th March 2020. His employer is now placing the staff into furlough. My son does not qualify as he was not on the payroll on 28 February. They plan to place him on unpaid leave initially for 4 weeks. As technically he is still employed and does not have his P45 he is not eligible to claim for Universal Credit or to seek temporary employment. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Zeldazog

You can claim Universal Credit whilst employed - it's an in-work benefit (as well as covering many other things), many people claim it who are working and on low income.

sliphi

Mildred1705 said:

My son who has recently graduated started employment on 9th March 2020. His employer is now placing the staff into furlough. My son does not qualify as he was not on the payroll on 28 February. They plan to place him on unpaid leave initially for 4 weeks. As technically he is still employed and does not have his P45 he is not eligible to claim for Universal Credit or to seek temporary employment. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

If your son's employement contract allows his employer to put him on 4 weeks unpaid leave without notice, then your son presumably knew that when he accepted his contract of employment.

He can certainly claim UC if he does not have sufficient money to live on. As mentioned above, UC covers both in work as well as unemployment benefits.

It is very unlikely that your son is prevented from seeking work elsewhere.
Your son's contract of employment may restrict him working for certain other employers whilst in his current employment, for example, for a direct competitor to his employer, but again that is unlikely (and very unfortunate) in light of the implication the employer can put him on 4 weeks unpaid leave without notice.

If your son finds he really is that unfortunate in regards to the contract of employment he has accepted that he finds it unfair, he should seek independant legal advice, as the contract may indeed be deemed unfair and hence unenforcible in law.