Redundancy help from 28th feb -31st mar

itsMrANonymous

I was made redundant suddenly on Friday the 28th Feb 2020 with my last pay day on 31st of Mar.  The reasons for redundancy we’re not for coronavirus covid-19 just cutting overheads etc.  Can I be put on Furlough or a job retention scheme.  I have already asked the company and they said: 
Unfortunately we are unable to accept your appeal for you to be placed on furlough, as your redundancy was not connected to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Job Retention Scheme only applies to this.  I’m hoping Martin Lewis can cover what seems to be a gap at this time for people like myself. Any help would be appreciated.

Undervalued

itsMrANonymous said:

I was made redundant suddenly on Friday the 28th Feb 2020 with my last pay day on 31st of Mar.  The reasons for redundancy we’re not for coronavirus covid-19 just cutting overheads etc.  Can I be put on Furlough or a job retention scheme.  I have already asked the company and they said: 
Unfortunately we are unable to accept your appeal for you to be placed on furlough, as your redundancy was not connected to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Job Retention Scheme only applies to this.  I’m hoping Martin Lewis can cover what seems to be a gap at this time for people like myself. Any help would be appreciated.

Even if you qualify for the furlough scheme (which you possibly do) the employer is not in any way obliged to agree.

I am not sure I agree with their reasoning but, as I say, they are not obliged to agree nor offer any reason.

Where there is any grey area, the employer runs the risk of being out of pocket if they find out months down the line that the person wasn't eligible. So, why would they take the risk? Even assuming they get it right, they will have to find the money to pay you for several months before they get it back. If the reason for redundancy was "cutting overheads" why would they choose to increase them again short term?

Sorry this doesn't help you but it gives some context.