AT long last the UK Government’s job retention scheme went live yesterday for employers with furloughed workers.

This is a financial lifeline for more than nine million people who’d otherwise have been laid off or made redundant. It’s estimated to ultimately cost the taxpayer between £30-40billion over three months. Shifting the qualifying date for the scheme from February 28 to March 19, this year, is very welcome, but it comes with an unfortunate catch.

In order to qualify an employee must have been on their employers PAYE payroll on or before 19 March and a “real time information submission” must have been made to HMRC about the employee on or before that date. This additional hurdle is unfortunate as it will make it less likely these changes will help another quarter of a million people. There is no question that we have to help many more people to stave off bad credit deals or impecuniosity for those who just can’t borrow.

We already have a reluctance from some employers to furlough staff, so streamlining and simplifying has to be the way forward. If you work in the gig economy on a zero-hours contract you can still be put on the job retention scheme so long as you’re on the PAYE system. You should be paid 80% of your average take home pay. To be enrolled for PAYE you have to earn at least £118 per week, £512 a month or £6136 per annum. Likewise, there is no good reason why workers on fixed term contracts shouldn’t be furloughed.

At Govan Law Centre, we were asked to help an employee on a fixed term contract.

The client’s employer said his contract couldn’t be extended or renewed due to the coronavirus crisis, which had impacted on its business. We advised that his employer could renew or extend his fixed term contract during the furlough period without breaking the terms of the scheme. We await to hear if the employer will exercise its discretion favourably. It should do as there is no cost to the business.

As we move into week five of lockdown with no immediate end in sight, the UK Government has to be more flexible with arbitrary cut-off dates for support. Last week one of my colleagues at GLC was contacted by a woman whose disability benefits (PIP) came to an end on March 23.

Had her award ended the following day it would have been continued under the new Covid-19 rules. She now has to wait for a full reassessment and meantime has lost £500 per month of her limited income as a vulnerable single parent.

There is no quick legal fix, so we’ve asked her MP to see if the DWP can be flexible.

There is no doubt there’s a growing need for good quality advice and legal support as the Covid-19 crisis ensues. As life goes on – as it always does – people have problems they need to resolve and fix. I’m seeing this more and more in Glasgow from an increasing range of inquiries for urgent help.

To try and support more people in Glasgow, GLC is launching a new free helpline today. If you live or work in Glasgow you can call a new freephone number 0800 043 0306 and gain access to a solicitor, money advisor, welfare rights worker or housing caseworker, who will provide confidential advice and representation for free.

The public continues to need help with applications for guardianship, powers of attorney, medical evidence for benefits appeals, employment cases and evictions, to mention but a few issues. The civil courts will soon extend their accessibility and services remotely as the lockdown continues. There are also unexpected disasters. Following the recent fire on Albert Drive in Pollokshields we were contacted by residents for help around insurance, liability for repairs, the council’s duties and role, appointing a factor and a number of other things.

Despite the fact no-one is getting evicted anytime soon in the city – with temporary legal changes – that doesn’t stop private and social landlords threatening to do so. Tenants need support. One of my colleagues at GLC was contacted by a single parent, who had £1600 of rent arrears last month caused by fluctuations in housing benefit.

She used her savings to get the balance down to £670. During lock down she has had numerous phone calls from Glasgow’s Wheatley Group requesting that she pay half of the remaining balance or they would commence court action for eviction. That’s simply silly and unreasonable in law.

In my view, Scotland is going to need some new laws when we come out of lockdown.

We will need to protect our most vulnerable citizens and for me that means fair rent control legislation and a new form of debt relief for those who are at greatest risk.

Remember, free legal advice is also available online at govanlawcentre.org. If you need help, please get in touch.