If you lost your job after 28 February 2020, your previous employer could have agreed to re-hire you and then place you on furlough. However, there is no compulsion on the part of your ex-employer to do this and many firms have been reluctant to make such a move.

You may also have been disadvantaged if you lost your job before the 28 February 2020 deadline or started a new job or were not on the PAYE payroll of a new employer on or before 19 March 2020.

The jobs market is obviously limited at the moment with large numbers of people looking for work. However, there are still opportunities in industries that have extra work available due to Coronavirus.

If you have lost your job, you may be able to access Universal Credit. You can also ask for an advance payment if you do not have enough money to live on whilst waiting for benefit payments.

Guidance from the Department for Work and Pensions says that you might also be able to:

• apply for 'new style' Employment and Support Allowance, if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work
• apply online for 'new style' Jobseeker’s Allowance

You do not need to go into a Jobcentre Plus office to apply or get a payment.