02-07-2021

The June released Employer Bulletin has been updated with two new areas both related to the Brexit process. Unsurprisingly with the deadline looming and enforcement following close behind the main weight of the update is linked to the Settlement Scheme along with details around further funding for small and medium organisations to support the transition.

Deadline for EU Settlement Scheme – 30 June 2021

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members, who were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020, need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021 to make sure they can continue to live, work, study, access healthcare, benefits and pensions. It’s free to apply.

This is required now that the UK has left the EU and EU free movement has ended.

It is not your responsibility as an employer to make sure any eligible employees have applied, but you can play a role by reminding them of the approaching deadline and cascading the information in the employer toolkit which can be found here:

For more information and to make an application before the deadline of 30 June 2021 your eligible employees should visit the application area which can be found here:

It is important to remember current right to work checks will not change until after 30 June 2021. You must not discriminate against EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who wish to use their passport or national identity card as evidence of their right to work. There is also no requirement to do retrospective checks for existing employees.

Working temporarily in the UK or EU

If you are sending an employee to work temporarily in the EU, you or your employee can apply for a certificate or document from HMRC, so that for up to 24 months, you and your employee continue to only pay National Insurance contributions in the UK.

If you are bringing an EU-based employee to work in the UK temporarily, they can also apply for a certificate from the EU member state in which they are based. This will make sure you and your employee will only pay social security contributions in their home country for up to 24 months.

Apply to the Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) Brexit Support Fund

Smaller businesses are being encouraged to apply for grants of up to £2,000 to help them adapt to new customs and tax rules when trading with the EU while they still can.

The £20 million SME Brexit Support Fund enables traders to access practical support, including training for new customs, rules of origin and VAT processes.

Small and medium sized businesses that trade solely with the EU, and are therefore new to importing and exporting processes, are encouraged to apply for the grants before the scheme ends on 30 June 2021.

More information is available about how to Apply for a grant to help small and medium-sized businesses new to importing or exporting here:


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