Proud to work at HMRC (1 Viewer)

[Sky Blue Pete]

As of last night

job retention scheme

435000 employees made a claim
3,203,000 furloughed through the scheme
Total claimed £3.75bn

Because of excellent communication and clear website calls and web chats much lower than anticipated

feeling so proud right now

 

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[Grendel]

Yes it’s incredible how it’s been set up on time and seems to be working efficiently - it couldn’t have anticipated the demand levels yet seems to be coping

 

[xcraigx]

Fair play, I made a claim on Monday and looking at my online banking this morning I have a pending payment from HMRC due in my account on Monday. Fantastic service and so simple to use. It must have been some effort to get it all set up and processed as quickly as this.

 

[fernandopartridge]

As of last night

job retention scheme

435000 employees made a claim
3,203,000 furloughed through the scheme
Total claimed £3.75bn

Because of excellent communication and clear website calls and web chats much lower than anticipated

feeling so proud right now

Good, and well done HMRC. Our civil service gets criticised a lot rather unfairly, we've got some of the most advanced online systems in the world for all sorts of public services.

 

[shmmeee]

Good, and well done HMRC. Our civil service gets criticised a lot rather unfairly, we've got some of the most advanced online systems in the world for all sorts of public services.

GDS are brilliant.

I’ve got a lot of complaints about the Cameron/Osbourne era, but one thing they did really well was push forward digital government.

 

[CCFCSteve]

Fair play Pete and well done HMRC for getting everything operational so quickly

The furlough scheme will hopefully keep hundreds of thousands (if not more) in work that would ordinarily have been made redundant. It will also hopefully provide us with the ability to get the economy moving post lockdown far quicker.

Whilst not without its minor faults (wealthy football clubs potentially abusing the system being one) it was the best mechanism under the circumstances and HMRC have delivered

 

[CCFCSteve]

Good, and well done HMRC. Our civil service gets criticised a lot rather unfairly, we've got some of the most advanced online systems in the world for all sorts of public services.

Like with everything (inc the private sector) there’s good and bad elements of the civil service.

For all the stick Hancock has got/is getting (a majority of it fair/correct), there will be senior civil servants that will no doubt be just as much to blame for the PPE and testing situations we found ourselves in.

I did a bit of digging the other day....I think PHE has got around 250 people on six figure salaries. In addition there is an annual budget of £87m for a infectious disease surveillance and control (managing outbreaks) which employs around 2100 staff. That’s a lot of people on an average salary of £41k per annum

My view in life is if people are found to have been not performing they should go, Hancock might have to after all this, however, if a review indicates poor performance elsewhere I’d hope that others go as well.

The frontline workers in the public sector nearly always deliver (whether that be nurses, doctors, binmen, Hmrc call centre workers etc etc), I do however think there can be question marks over many middle/senior management who just aren’t up to it, hence the external consultants who end up being brought in, costing a fortune (which is crazy !)

Ps sorry to interrupt the thread Pete, as I say, great news and well done !

 

[Sbarcher]

As of last night

job retention scheme

435000 employees made a claim
3,203,000 furloughed through the scheme
Total claimed £3.75bn

Because of excellent communication and clear website calls and web chats much lower than anticipated

feeling so proud right now

Well done. Above and beyond belief this has been successfully carried out in such a short time.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Like with everything (inc the private sector) there’s good and bad elements of the civil service.

For all the stick Hancock has got/is getting (a majority of it fair/correct), there will be senior civil servants that will no doubt be just as much to blame for the PPE and testing situations we found ourselves in.

I did a bit of digging the other day....I think PHE has got around 250 people on six figure salaries. In addition there is an annual budget of £87m for a infectious disease surveillance and control (managing outbreaks) which employs around 2100 staff. That’s a lot of people on an average salary of £41k per annum

My view in life is if people are found to have been not performing they should go, Hancock might have to after all this, however, if a review indicates poor performance elsewhere I’d hope that others go as well.

The frontline workers in the public sector nearly always deliver (whether that be nurses, doctors, binmen, Hmrc call centre workers etc etc), I do however think there can be question marks over many middle/senior management who just aren’t up to it, hence the external consultants who end up being brought in, costing a fortune (which is crazy !)

Ps sorry to interrupt the thread Pete, as I say, great news and well done !

Again though Steve, this is by design of the Tory government, the SoS is responsible for the way PHE operates:

2ASecretary of State’s duty as to protection of public health
(1)The Secretary of State must take such steps as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for the purpose of protecting the public in England from disease or other dangers to health.

(2)The steps that may be taken under subsection (1) include—

(a)the conduct of research or such other steps as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for advancing knowledge and understanding;

(b)providing microbiological or other technical services (whether in laboratories or otherwise);

(c)providing vaccination, immunisation or screening services;

(d)providing other services or facilities for the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of illness;

(e)providing training;

(f)providing information and advice;

(g)making available the services of any person or any facilities.

(3)Subsection (4) applies in relation to any function under this section which relates to—

(a)the protection of the public from ionising or non-ionising radiation, and

(b)a matter in respect of which the Health and Safety Executive has a function.

(4)In exercising the function, the Secretary of State must—

(a)consult the Health and Safety Executive, and

(b)have regard to its policies.”

 

[CCFCSteve]

Again though Steve, this is by design of the Tory government, the SoS is responsible for the way PHE operates:

Not saying it’s not their problem (and ultimately it will be the minister taking the flack) just that there’s a lot of highly paid people and from the initial problems it suggests some probably weren’t probably doing a very good job...Hancock included !

Ps also read yesterday that there’s a private company involved in the PPE supply chain management. My point is that following any inquiry it shouldn’t just be ministers that lose their jobs, they should weed out poor performance across the board (terminate contracts, sack people etc etc)

 

[clint van damme]

As of last night

job retention scheme

435000 employees made a claim
3,203,000 furloughed through the scheme
Total claimed £3.75bn

Because of excellent communication and clear website calls and web chats much lower than anticipated

feeling so proud right now

bringing a lot of financial peace of mind to people who aren't working during the lock down. There would have been a lot of mental health issues as a knock on effect if this scheme hadn't been introduced I'm sure.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Look at hancocks half hour department. Broken down this morning. He is such a knob. Family can’t get tests and are put off from having them. Don’t know why and can’t guess!! Suppression ??

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Well done to HMRC

It is amazing that such as system can be set up and implemented at such short notice with high demand and run smoothly, yet we spent years and billions setting up a govt computer system that didn't work. Maybe we should get them on that now and state it's an emergency measure. Necessity is the mother of invention.

 

[Nick]

Pete is a tax man so is like a hidden away traffic warden

It is amazing how a system was put in place so quickly though, infrastructure, staff etc. Fair play

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Pete is a tax man so is like a hidden away traffic warden

It is amazing how a system was put in place so quickly though, infrastructure, staff etc. Fair play

Lots of close colleagues working on the back end of it and taking calls and web chats and checking identities etc. Thanks guys. As a department we also invested in surface pros for every employee meaning this move has been seamless for many of us. Whoever made that call needs promoting

 

[Nick]

Lots of close colleagues working on the back end of it and taking calls and web chats and checking identities etc. Thanks guys. As a department we also invested in surface pros for every employee meaning this move has been seem less for many of us. Whoever made that call needs promoting

Ohhhh do you get a Surface Pro as well? Fancy

 

[chiefdave]

Again though Steve, this is by design of the Tory government, the SoS is responsible for the way PHE operates:

If people want to put blame on PHE then they need to consider that they flagged a pandemic as likely to occur and a severe risk to the UK years ago. They planned an exercise, code named Cygnus, to test the countries readiness for such an outbreak which was supposed to take place in 2014 but was delayed for 2 years by Whitehall.

When it did eventually take place in 2016 it highlighted, among other things, lack of ICU capacity, lack of ventilators and other vital equipment and lack of mortuary space. All the findings of the exercise were ignored by the government with no action being taken to remedy any of the issues found.

 

[RegTheDonk]

Quick enough to take it off us, but in the hour of need they've stepped up. Fair play to you and your colleagues Pete, no doubt it's been stressful.

Fingers crossed the help for the self-employed goes smoothly, some family members doing the right thing, not phoning up as instructed...but getting twitchy the system fails and they won't be contacted when the time comes to make a claim.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Quick enough to take it off us, but in the hour of need they've stepped up. Fair play to you and your colleagues Pete, no doubt it's been stressful.

Fingers crossed the help for the self-employed goes smoothly, some family members doing the right thing, not phoning up as instructed...but getting twitchy the system fails and they won't be contacted when the time comes to make a claim.

Tell them to check gov.uk site I am very confident that the self employed aspect is much clearer and easier to work out

 

[clint van damme]

Quick enough to take it off us, but in the hour of need they've stepped up. Fair play to you and your colleagues Pete, no doubt it's been stressful.

Fingers crossed the help for the self-employed goes smoothly, some family members doing the right thing, not phoning up as instructed...but getting twitchy the system fails and they won't be contacted when the time comes to make a claim.

they said that they will be continuing to contact self employed people throughout May.
I'd give it at least 2 or 3 weeks before contacting them.

 

[RegTheDonk]

Thanks both will keep an eye out for updates - yeah they're having to use the extra free overdrafts the bank have said they are OK to run up. Fortunately, they haven't fiddled their expenses and most transactions are bank transfer rather then cash!

 

[Ian1779]

Fair play, I made a claim on Monday and looking at my online banking this morning I have a pending payment from HMRC due in my account on Monday. Fantastic service and so simple to use. It must have been some effort to get it all set up and processed as quickly as this.

Thats really good to hear. It makes you wonder why Universal Credit can’t be as simple... (maybe that’s for another day but the point stands)

 

[CCFCSteve]

If people want to put blame on PHE then they need to consider that they flagged a pandemic as likely to occur and a severe risk to the UK years ago. They planned an exercise, code named Cygnus, to test the countries readiness for such an outbreak which was supposed to take place in 2014 but was delayed for 2 years by Whitehall.

When it did eventually take place in 2016 it highlighted, among other things, lack of ICU capacity, lack of ventilators and other vital equipment and lack of mortuary space. All the findings of the exercise were ignored by the government with no action being taken to remedy any of the issues found.

No doubt the pandemic planning was poor (I’ve asked before, how on earth do you have supply chain reliance on foreign countries in a pandemic ?!! Where’s the back up local planning ?) and ministers should rightly take a large chunk of the blame.

I’m just saying there are also a lot of well paid civil servants and senior management within NHS and PHE who should also be under the microscope in any inquiry (otherwise, how do you improve public services ?).....I’m sure youve seen the comments from the army regarding the PPE distribution logistics (‘appalling’).

Having said that we are operating in unprecedented times so everyone deserves a bit of slack but that doesn’t mean when all this is done, either ministers or senior civil servants get a free pass.

 

[CCFCSteve]

Thats really good to hear. It makes you wonder why Universal Credit can’t be as simple... (maybe that’s for another day but the point stands)

Good point about Universal credit Ian. Never understood the reasons/justifications for any lag in payment, hopefully following the fantastic work in relation to the furlough scheme set up there will be improvements

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

Like with everything (inc the private sector) there’s good and bad elements of the civil service.

For all the stick Hancock has got/is getting (a majority of it fair/correct), there will be senior civil servants that will no doubt be just as much to blame for the PPE and testing situations we found ourselves in.

I did a bit of digging the other day....I think PHE has got around 250 people on six figure salaries. In addition there is an annual budget of £87m for a infectious disease surveillance and control (managing outbreaks) which employs around 2100 staff. That’s a lot of people on an average salary of £41k per annum

My view in life is if people are found to have been not performing they should go, Hancock might have to after all this, however, if a review indicates poor performance elsewhere I’d hope that others go as well.

The frontline workers in the public sector nearly always deliver (whether that be nurses, doctors, binmen, Hmrc call centre workers etc etc), I do however think there can be question marks over many middle/senior management who just aren’t up to it, hence the external consultants who end up being brought in, costing a fortune (which is crazy !)

Ps sorry to interrupt the thread Pete, as I say, great news and well done !

Interesting when the government asked for volunteers many average people stood up, but the consultants waited until the cash was on offer.

One thing that could come of this is that anyone under the age of 70 who has a government backed final salary pension they are drawing should be auto enrolled as a volunteer in times of need.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Updates

Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS)

• Service due to go live on 13th May with a 4 day invitation staggered to customers.
• Estimated 3.5million eligible, 2.5million not eligible.

Job Retention Scheme (JRS)

• Latest figures:

• 718k claims submitted
• 5.5 million employees processed
• £6.3b payments made

 

[chiefdave]

Estimated 3.5million eligible, 2.5million not eligible.

That seems high, what's the background there? People giving incorrect information or is there genuinely 2.5 million people who aren't going to get anything?

 

[wingy]

That seems high, what's the background there? People giving incorrect information or is there genuinely 2.5 million people who aren't going to get anything?

Might be gig workers, sole traders as LTD companies?

 

[clint van damme]

That seems high, what's the background there? People giving incorrect information or is there genuinely 2.5 million people who aren't going to get anything?

People who haven't filed a tax return not eligible but how many people have only gone self employed in the last 12 months? Can't be that many surely?

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

That seems high, what's the background there? People giving incorrect information or is there genuinely 2.5 million people who aren't going to get anything?

Sounds like an estimate to me. Will include those that haven’t submitted a return before of course, those whose profits are too high or too low and then I’m struggling if I’m honest. We are anticipating some confusion and frustration around eligibility

 

[bezzer]

People who haven't filed a tax return not eligible but how many people have only gone self employed in the last 12 months? Can't be that many surely?

My wife started her business in April 2019 and is not eligible for any help.

 

[jimmyhillsfanclub]

sole traders as LTD companies

Nope. They're corporations by definition.
Best they can do is furlough themselves and claim 80% of their directors salary back, but not divs.
Not practical for most though, as furlough means you can't officially do any work.

 

[clint van damme]

My wife started her business in April 2019 and is not eligible for any help.

That's harsh. Unfortunately there will be people who miss out.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

That's harsh. Unfortunately there will be people who miss out.

It is unfortunate and I think there should be help for your wife and friends of mine who’ve only just started

 

[clint van damme]

It is unfortunate and I think there should be help for your wife and friends of mine who’ve only just started

My wife is actually ok Pete it was Bezzers wife who had only just started.
My wife has found an alternative income source any waywhile waiting for her application form - me.