Speaking at yesterday’s (20 April) daily Government briefing, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, said the figure equated to more than one million people being enrolled in the furlough scheme.
The JRS portal, which went live yesterday morning, allows employers to claim for a cash grant of up to 80% of a furloughed employee's wages, capped at £2,500 a month.
According to the Government, the money for validated claims should be received by businesses within six working days.
“Exactly a month ago today I stood at this lectern and said we would step in and help pay to people’s wages,” said Sunak during the briefing.
“We promised this support would be available by the end of April – today, we deliver our promise.
“As of 4 o’clock this afternoon, over 140,000 firms have applied [for the JRS], and the grants they’ll receive will help pay the wages of more than a million people who, if they hadn’t been furloughed, would have been at risk of losing their job.
“Firms applying today should receive their cash in six working days. HMRC will continue to provide updates on the number of people furloughed.”
The Chancellor also thanked the staff at the Treasury and HMRC who helped set up the system.
“People have come out of retirement, put aside their normal duties, and worked around the clock, from their kitchen tables and spare rooms, to get this new system up and running.
“This remarkable story of public service reminds us how many different people are playing a role in this crisis, and I’m very grateful to all of them, for everything they’ve done.”
Initially the scheme was scheduled to be open for three months; backdated from the 1 March, and lasting until the end of May. However, it has since been extended until the end of June.
Last week the Chancellor said that future decisions on whether the JRS will be extended again will take into account further developments on the wider measures to reduce the spread of Coronavirus, as well as the responsible management of the public finances.
