Furlough: Does furlough end in Scotland today?

According to the ONS, around 1 million people across Britain were expected to be on the scheme by the end of September.

The end of furlough could leave this group who are yet to return to work in limbo, with the figures unclear regarding how many people still rely on the initative for their income. 

But does furlough apply to Scotland, and will Scottish workers be impacted by the changes? 

Here's what you need to know...

Will furlough end today in Scotland?

Furlough is a UK wide initiative across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and is therefore controlled by the UK government.

Scotland does not have the borrowing powers necessary to fund a scheme as vast as furlough, and so it is left in the hands of Westminster.

It means that the scheme is aligned across the UK and that furlough will end in Scotland after September 30. 

Is Universal Credit controlled by the Scottish Government? 

Benefits and social security are not devolved powers, meaning that the UK government is in charge of Universal Credit for the entire country. 

This means that when the £20 increase to Universal Credit ends in October, it will apply to all four nations across the UK. 

What happens if I am made redundant?

Some forecasters are expecting a small rise in unemployment following the end of the scheme, due to some companies being unable to keep staff on without continued support. 

If you are made redundant following the end of furlough, you have legal rights: the redundancy selection process must be fair, you must be given notice, and you are entitled to tax-free redundancy pay.

Jobseekers allowance may also apply to you, which is a payment to support people looking for work.