Left my job in December, can I ask to be furloughed?

BarbaRuiva

Hi everyone,

During my 2019/20 fiscal year, I worked two part-time jobs concurrently. both on a 20 hours contract. Back in December, I left one of them in order to be self-employed and I did not increase my hours in the job I kept. I am furloughed in my current job.
I worked for 4 years in my previous job (initially full time and then part-time when I found the other one), so HMRC has records of what I made in the previous years while working for both and the drop in my current estimate for 2020/21. Due to me not being eligible to self-employment help, is there any change that I can be furloughed in the job I left in December? I have emailed them but I haven't received any answer (they are closed due to the virus).

If not, what other options do I have? My currently salary, at 80%, is not enough for my living expenses and I had already maxed 5k in credit card debt (3 different cards, interest free) in setting up my own business. I have no savings as well. This was a calculated risk, as I could repay the cards in under a year and I already had some clients for my business, but then a global pandemic came along and dried up that well.
I'm probably not eligible for Universal Credit as well due to my partner. She hasn't been furloughed and her salary is three times my current one.

Off-topic: I've been trying to find remote jobs that I could do from home but no luck so far. If anyone has any suggestions of where to look, let me know.

Thank you in advance.

gary83

When you say you left your job in December last year, I assume you left if properly I.e. handed in your notice, said your goodbyes & walked away, received your p45, were removed from the payroll and had no intention of working there again? If that’s the case they can’t rehire you 5 months later solely to furlough you. 

They could only do that if you were on the payroll on February 28th/March 19th/whatever date the government decide next - but it’s unlikely to be December last year!

sharpe106

That would open a complete can of worms if they let people who left their jobs 4 months ago apply. Although on a side note surely on 80% of your current salary and your partner earning 3 times what you are, you should be able to live. Must be some expenditure you can cut out.  

Fire_Fox

BarbaRuiva said:

If not, what other options do I have? My currently salary, at 80%, is not enough for my living expenses and I had already maxed 5k in credit card debt (3 different cards, interest free) in setting up my own business. I have no savings as well. This was a calculated risk, as I could repay the cards in under a year and I already had some clients for my business, but then a global pandemic came along and dried up that well.
I'm probably not eligible for Universal Credit as well due to my partner. She hasn't been furloughed and her salary is three times my current one..
Thank you in advance.

Your partner would be expected to help support you by most entities. 

John_

No, you can’t be furloughed from a job that you do not have.

As above, you and your partner will need to tighten your belts for a while. If you post a statement of affairs on the Debt Free Wannabe area of the forum you will get a lot of help to work out where changes can be made.

Mrsn

You may struggle for remote jobs but supermarkets right now need people still, this is going to go on in some form for a while longer.

You may or may not qualify for benefits try looking at one of the benefit entitlement calculators such as entitled to or turn2us. Whilst you might not not be able to get universal credit you might be able to get new style JSA if you have paid enough contributions on the previous 2 tax years.

[Deleted User]

Off-topic: I've been trying to find remote jobs that I could do from home but no luck so far. If anyone has any suggestions of where to look, let me know.
https://ocean-comms.co.uk/coffee-client/

[Deleted User]

Here is another wfh opportunity - doesn't state any restriction on location
https://www.indeed.co.uk/viewjob?jk=24d0f91bae60e3d9&from=myjobs&tk=1e69nb10j17hn000