Billions of pounds of extra help has been announced for firms and workers hit by coronavirus restrictions.
The package, announced by British Chancellor Rishi Sunak, includes making the Job Support Scheme, which replaces the current furlough system from November 1, more generous.
Instead of only being open to people in "viable" jobs working a third of their normal hours, it will now cover employees doing just 20% of their usual work.
The amount that employers are required to pay to top up their wages has also been reduced to just 5% of unworked hours, down from 33%.
Extra help for the self-employed will see the amount covered by grants increase from 20% of profits to 40%, meaning the maximum payout will increase from £1,875 to £3,750.
This will amount to a potential further £3.1 billion of support to the self-employed through November to January, with a further grant to follow covering February to April.
The Job Support Scheme has been revised again, upping govt contribution, and lowering the required hours employee must work and the level of employer contribution. No change it seems to the 67% govt contribution where firms are legally required to close. https://t.co/DtTCtcD3S9
— Ryan McAleer (@RyanMcAleerbiz) October 22, 2020
Mr Sunak said: "I've always said that we must be ready to adapt our financial support as the situation evolves, and that is what we are doing today.
"These changes mean that our support will reach many more people and protect many more jobs.
"I know that the introduction of further restrictions has left many people worried for themselves, their families and communities.
"I hope the government's stepped-up support can be part of the country pulling together in the coming months."
In businesses legally required to close, as I’ve already announced, employers will pay people two thirds of their normal salary where they can’t work for a week or more; and the government will cover 100% of those costs. pic.twitter.com/gk1b7f9Muu
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 22, 2020
There will also be grants of £2,100 available for firms in Tier 2 areas of England, primarily aimed at helping hospitality and leisure venues which have seen takings plummet due to a restrictions on households mixing.
In a move which could be worth more than £1 billion, these grants will also be available retrospectively for areas which have already been subject to restrictions, and come on top of higher levels of additional business support for areas moving into Tier 3.
Around 150,000 business in England could be eligible, the Treasury said.
The move to make the payments retrospective is aimed at heading off criticism from areas of northern England which have been under restrictions for months.
Explaining why he has been forced to introduce extra measures just weeks after setting out his Winter Economy Plan, Mr Sunak told MPs that even businesses which can stay open are facing "profound economic uncertainty".
The Chancellor said hospitality industry chiefs have given a clear message that "the impact of the health restrictions on their businesses is worse than they hoped".
Mr Sunak's decision to make the business grants retrospective came after criticism from northern leaders about why extra support was only being announced after London moved into Tier 2.
