Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice

Help if you have lost your job or are at risk of losing it

Are you:

furloughed
redundant
self-employed
unemployed
at risk of redundancy?

We are committed to supporting you if you are facing any of these and need help to secure employment as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

There is a variety of help and support for South Lanarkshire residents including:

help to find other suitable employment
up-skilling and re-skilling support
money advice
health and wellbeing advice

Employment support

If you are employed and your employer has closed their business your employer can claim the following:

Government Job Retention Scheme - this provides 80% of an employee’s salary up to a maximum of £2,500 per month. The scheme is for those who are employed where COVID-19 has severely affected the employer’s business operations. Employers can opt to keep employees on their payroll and recover 80% of their wages from HMRC.using the links below.
Your employer can claim for you as a 'furloughed' employee if you were on their payroll on 19 March 2020. Employees hired after 19 March 2020 cannot be furloughed under the rules of the scheme.
You should confirm your furlough status directly with your employer in the first instance. If you have been furloughed, your employer must write to you and you must keep copies of this. Your employer can claim from the Job Retention Scheme for a minimum of three weeks. Updated guidance, issued on 29 May 2020, confirmed the scheme will run until 31 October 2020, with new flexibility now being built in. From 1 July, employers can agree work arrangements with furloughed staff and bring back employees, to meet the needs of the business, while still claiming the Job Retention Scheme for the hours not worked. From 1 August 2020, a slow tapering of Government support will begin, to allow employees to get back to work part-time and employers to begin to pay staff again. Furloughed employees should talk to their employer about this. For more information see the UK government website.
The Job Retention Scheme is now accepting applications but will close on 30 June 2020 to new applicants - your employer should read this guidance. The final date for furloughing an employee for the first time is 10 June 2020.
If you are on sick leave or self-isolating you will continue to receive Statutory Sick Pay where applicable, but your employer can furlough you when the sickness period ends. Other statutory leave continues as normal. Employers can, from 26 May 2020, reclaim Statutory Sick Pay via the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme.
Self-employed - the Self Employed Income Support Scheme is the package of support for the self-employed, unable to work as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. Self-employed workers with an average income of up to £50,000 will be able to apply for taxable grants to combat loss of income. The grants will be worth up to 80% of profits, capped at £2,500 per month. This will be calculated based on tax returns for 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19. If you became self-employed since April 2018, the 2018/19 tax return will be used instead. However, where there is only a few months' self-employment on the 2018/19 tax return, this will be counted as total profit for the year - the Government won't pro-rata it based on monthly profits. The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme opened for applications on 13 May 2020.The self-employed have until 13 July 2020 to make their first claim for the initial three month period of the grant. In August 2020, the second claim can be made for a further 3 months.
The scheme doesn't provide blanket support for everyone who is self-employed - some won't be able to apply for a grant. Other supports may also be available in the form of grants and loans.
For more information see the UK government website.
Support for the newly self-employed - for full information see the Self-employed Hardship Fund page

Coming soon - more information on Governments Job Creation Scheme, looking to bring jobs to the economy and upgrade infrastructure, broadband and green energy projects

Our staff can provide advice, support and sign post you to agencies who may be able to help. This can be done remotely and online.

If you are unemployed, self-employed, at risk of losing your job or are an employee seeking advice or support please email employability@southlanarkshire.gov.uk or phone 03031231015. You can also email Routes to Work South at info@rtws.org or phone 08007310444.

Financial support and money advice

Are you confused about what benefits you can claim or are you experiencing debt-related issues during the current situation with coronavirus (COVID-19)?

Our Money Matters team may be able to help. For more information see our Benefits and money advice page.

If you are a council tenant and we struggling to pay your rent contact phone 0303 123 1012 and select your Housing Office from the selection. You can also email:

If you need advice and support on Council Tax see the Council Tax coronavirus page.

Other sources of help:

Credit Unions
Scottish Welfare Fund
Citizens Advice
South Lanarkshire Council's Wellbeing Helpline
NHS Lanarkshire's wellbeing helpline if you are experiencing anxiety, low mood or distress in relation to COVID-19. Call 01698 687567 10am-6pm, Monday to Friday.
VASLan
Information for young people
South Lanarkshire College
New College Lanarkshire
Fairstart in South Lanarkshire
Skills Development Scotland