Dad dot info
Free online course for separated parents
Forum - Ask questions. Get answers.
Free online course for separated parents
DAD.info | Family | Money | Your money | How to financially survive the end of furlough

How to financially survive the end of furlough

Maya Griffiths

Maya Griffiths

The UK furlough scheme will come to an end this week on 30th September. Since March 2020, 11.6 million UK workers have been furloughed by their employers as a result of the Covid pandemic. The UK government has been paying up to 80% of their wages in order to keep jobs open.

At the scheme’s peak in May 2020, almost a third of the UK workforce were being paid to stay at home; by the end of July this year, that number had dropped to 1.6 million.

For those still on furlough until Thursday, the future after the deadline may be uncertain. There is the possibility of redundancy, or reduced work hours on offer. To complicate matters further, for dads who find themselves without a job at the end of this week there would be a five week gap between the end of the furlough scheme and receiving Universal Credit. Although if you are struggling you may be able to claim a Universal Credit advance.

If you are one of those who will find themselves out of work, juggling finances during the gap can be extremely stressful.

There are, however, some possible routes to temporary relief of the financial burdens caused by the end of furlough, including:

Payment holidays

It’s worth contacting your mortgage lender and requesting a payment holiday. You can also contact the lenders for your other financial products such as your credit cards and car finance and find out if they can help too.

Online price comparison sites

Could your bills be lower? It’s worth a check. Pop your details into a site such as USwitch to see if you could save on your insurance and utility bills each month.

Employment support allowance

If you’re unwell, isolating from Covid or disabled you can apply for ESA on the gov.co.uk website.

Free school meals

If you’re not currently earning you can enquire about free school meals for your kids here.

Temporary shift work

There may be opportunities in your area to temporarily become a delivery driver, or find other temporary work to fill the gap with some income. Try the Reed or Indeed websites or check local listings.

Talk to energy companies if struggling financially

Contact your utilities providers and find out if they can spread the cost of your bills further, or help in some other way temporarily.

Check out what benefits you are entitled to

You may be eligible for more assistance financially than you might think. Go on to the benefit calculator and enter your details to find out what you could claim.

Related entries

How to Create a Household Budget

How to Create a Household Budget

Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pound ought and six, result misery. --Charles Dickens Money. It's not a fun subject, but a necessary one. Sorting your finances gives...

Money Worries? Help is at Hand

Money Worries? Help is at Hand

2020 has been the toughest year ever for a lot of people; bringing difficulty and even tragedy to many. Major retailers have gone to the wall and more are likely to follow, causing further grief and heartache to many who will lose their job. The low paid are the most...

Latest entries

Should mediation after family breakdown be compulsory?

Should mediation after family breakdown be compulsory?

Here is the big question? Does anyone win in family court?   In our experience, not parents, and certainly not children. Here at Dad Info,  we support thousands of parents at every stage of separation. Listening to them, we are incredibly sympathetic to the bruising...

Have you visited the Dad Info forum?

Have you visited the Dad Info forum?

Did you know that Dad Info has it's own forum? It's not just a place for people to share and vent, but it's also a space to get advice from those in the know. Being a parent can be unbelievably hard. The minute a child is born, parents find themselves exhausted and...

Teens are vaping. Is it safe?

Teens are vaping. Is it safe?

Teens have always found ways to flex their independence and rebel- it was normal, years ago, for youths to share cigarettes behind the bike sheds. These days, however, many teenagers have taken to vaping. It may seem like a harmless vice, with the variety of fruity...

Pin It on Pinterest