The furlough scheme that has supported millions of British workers through lockdown and beyond will end on Sunday, 1 November.
Replacing it is the Jobs Support Scheme - but there are key differences in how it works.
The good news for people either on furlough or worried they might be forced to down tools under Tier 3 restrictions, is that financial expert Martin Lewis has just explained how it all works.
Since the crisis began, Martin has used his website alongside his regular TV and radio appearances to break down what help is available to people in Britain - and the ending of furlough is no exception.
"If you're paid via the Government's Covid-19 income support schemes, they're about to change significantly," Martin wrote in the weekly MoneySavingExpert.com newsletter.
"The Job Retention Scheme - often called furlough - officially ends on Saturday, to be succeeded on Sun by the less generous Job Support Scheme."
One of the biggest changes is in who qualifies for help.
"This [new scheme] runs for 6 months for employees on the payroll on 23 September, and is split into 2 parts depending on whether or not a business must close due to lockdown," Martin explained.
"To complicate matters, the Government last week rewrote how they will work."
This is what's changing:
Employed by a business still open?
You need to work at least 20% of your hours to be eligible for anything under 'Job Support Scheme Open'.
"This is different from the original furlough scheme, under which you weren't allowed to work at all," Martin wrote.
"Now you must work at least 20% of normal hours (originally 33% before last week's change). If you hit that minimum you'll get 73% of your normal wage, up to a cap (see below) - but the more you work, the more you get."
The split in the cash works like this:
- Your employer pays you as normal for hours you work.
- Your employer pays 5% and the state 62% of your remaining wage, with the state's part capped at £1,542 a month
You lose the rest
Employed by a business forced to close due to lockdown?
If local restrictions force your business to close, things are a little simpler - if less generous than the original furlough scheme.
"Most should get 67% of their wage from the state under 'Job Support Scheme Closed'," Martin wrote.
The scheme won't cover businesses that choose to close, only ones that have been told to.
The 67% of waged on offer is also capped at £2,083 a month, and your employer still needs to fork out to cover pension and national insurance.
Self-employed? New Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant begins
The new grant covers lost earnings from November to January - but less of them than the old one.
Under the new scheme you can claim for 40% of profits, up to £3,750.
"This is less generous than grants 1 and 2, which covered 80% and 70% of profits respectively, although it's double the 20% originally announced for the 3rd grant," Martin said.
"Strangely, there's no date yet for when you'll actually be able to apply."
There are also stricter eligibility criteria and nothing has been done to help people who missed out on the first two grants.
"Crucially you'll need to declare you have been affected by reduced demand to claim the 3rd grant," Martin said.
"This is a significant change - with previous grants there were broader criteria and you could claim for any 'adverse impact'."
He added that there was more information, including eligibility and who is excluded, in MoneySavingExpert's Self-Employed Income Support guide.
