The UK chancellor has been urged to find urgent solutions for families across the north-east struggling without financial support during the coronavirus pandemic.
It has been claimed that many people are still falling through “major gaps” in the government’s coronavirus job retention scheme.
Lauren Mackinlay, from Blackburn, handed in her notice two weeks prior to the lockdown being enforced and has found herself stranded without employment and without financial aid.
Her then-employer furloughed her in her position as food and beverage manager, but only until the date she had submitted her notice for.
She said: “I feel a lot of people have slipped through the cracks in the system and it seems pretty unfair.
“Both the government and my employer have let me down. Stay home and save lives is the motto, but I have no option.
“What I can’t understand is how my resignation is acceptable if everything is shut down. How can it be effective? It has been so stressful and upsetting.”
Gordon MP Richard Thomson said he has heard of a number of similar incidents affecting his constituents; such as those who worked abroad and now can’t claim support.
Mr Thomson said: “The furlough scheme is welcome but it is still missing the mark for far too many people who need help right now
“It is overly complex and still suffering from major gaps, such as excluding people who were in employment as of March 19 but not yet registered by their new employers with HMRC.
“A universal basic income would have avoided this complexity precisely because it would have been paid to everyone who needed it.
“Instead, too far many people are still being denied support through no fault of their own because they fall through the many cracks in the scheme.
“There are solutions to these problems which could make the system fully comprehensive by eradicating these gaps.
“I implore the chancellor to heed to requests to solve these issues so everyone has access to fair support.”
