Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Goes Live

By Kimberley Wallace

Senior HR Consultant

The system for employers to make a claim for the wages of the employees they have furloughed is now live.

Claims are to be made through the Government Gateway user ID and therefore, employers will need the password they got when they registered for PAYE online. 

Employers will also need: 

  • Their UK bank account number and sort code
  • Their employer PAYE scheme reference number
  • The number of employees being furloughed
  • Each employee’s National Insurance number
  • Each employee’s payroll or employee number
  • The start date and end date of the claim
  • The full amount they are claiming for including employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum pension contributions
  • Their phone number


In addition, employers need to provide either:

  • Their Corporation Tax unique taxpayer reference
  • Their Self Assessment unique taxpayer reference
  • Their company registration number


If employers are claiming for more than 100 furloughed employees, they will need to upload a file containing each employee’s:

  • Full name
  • National Insurance number
  • Payroll number (optional)
  • Furlough start date
  • Furlough end date (if known)
  • Full amount claimed

The government has produced a step by step guide which can be accessed by clicking this link https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-step-by-step-guide-for-employers