Liz Truss's Cabinet hokey-cokey will hand tens of thousands in payoffs to ministers who spent just 49 days in or out of government.
Five Cabinet ministers are set to trouser golden goodbyes for career changes shorter than the 90-day B&Q returns policy.
Grant Shapps, Dominic Raab, Steve Barclay and Johnny Mercer were sacked by Liz Truss in September and rehired this week by Rishi Sunak.
By law they are each allowed to pocket three months' ministerial salary - £16,876 - as an exit payment.
The Mirror understands Mr Raab is choosing to keep about £9,000 of his payoff - the amount he would have earned in 49 days if he’d not been sacked.
The others did not return the Mirror’s requests about whether they would keep their money.
Mr Shapps - who was only out of office for 43 days before he was parachuted in as Home Secretary - is donating half his sum to charity, according to The Guardian.
The fifth Cabinet minister, Brandon Lewis, is eligible for TWO £16,876 severance payments totalling more than £33,000.
He quit on July 7 under Boris Johnson, rejoined Cabinet on September 6 under Liz Truss, then left again on Tuesday under Rishi Sunak.
Mr Lewis’ office did not return the Mirror’s request about whether he would turn the payments down.
Lib Dem Cabinet Office spokeswoman Christine Jardine said: "It is outrageous that Conservative ministers have been able to pocket thousands of pounds after being out of a job for just a few weeks.
"During a cost of living crisis and speculation about cuts to our vital public services, these Conservative MPs should think hard about whether these payouts are appropriate.
"Millions of people who are struggling to make ends meet would not have the same luxury. This will not be forgiven by the British public."
Any ministers who leave government are entitled to three months’ salary - on top of their pay as an MP.
There is no minimum service they must give before becoming eligible. They can receive it in full, unless they rejoin government within three weeks.
Other top ministers were in or out of their jobs for just over three months - and are also entitled to a three-month payoff each.
They include PM Rishi Sunak, one of Britain’s richest men, who is entitled to a £16,876 payoff from when he quit as Chancellor in July.
It’s understood Michael Gove - who left under Boris Johnson in July and returned this week - intends to claim his £16,876 exit payment in full.
Chief Whip Simon Hart is entitled to a £16,876 exit payment after he spent three and a half months out of government.
Similarly, Wales Secretary Robert Buckland - sacked by Rishi Sunak - is able to claim a three-month payoff after a stint in office lasting three and a half months.
Payoffs will also have been due to junior ministers - such as Conor Burns, who resigned as Trade Minister after an allegation of “serious misconduct”.
Liz Truss’ resignation as Prime Minister will have entitled her to an £18,860 exit payment.
Downing Street declined to say if it was morally right for ministers to claim the money for a job change lasting 49 days.
The PM’s official spokesman said: “Clearly there are long-standing rules that are established for ministers and former ministers and it’s important those rules are adhered to.”
Top Tories and their hokey-cokey payoffs
Grant Shapps
JOB TITLE: Transport Secretary, then Home Secretary, then Business Secretary
OUT OF OFFICE: 43 days (September 6 - October 19)
ENTITLED TO: £16,876
CLAIMED: Is said to be donating half his payoff to charity
Dominic Raab
JOB TITLE: Justice Secretary
OUT OF OFFICE: 49 days (September 6 - October 25)
ENTITLED TO: £16,876
CLAIMED: He will claim about 54% of the three-month payoff ‘pro rata’ - just over £9,000
Steve Barclay
JOB TITLE: Health Secretary
OUT OF OFFICE: 49 days (September 6 - October 25)
ENTITLED TO: £16,876
CLAIMED: Unknown
Johnny Mercer
JOB TITLE: Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, attends Cabinet
OUT OF OFFICE: 49 days (September 6 - October 25)
ENTITLED TO: £16,876
CLAIMED: Unknown
Brandon Lewis
JOB TITLE: Northern Ireland Secretary, then Justice Secretary
OUT OF OFFICE: 61 days (July 7 - September 6, and again from October 25)
ENTITLED TO: £33,752
CLAIMED: Unknown
Robert Buckland
JOB TITLE: Wales Secretary
IN OFFICE: 110 days (July 7 - October 25)
ENTITLED TO: £16,876
CLAIMED: Unknown
Michael Gove
JOB TITLE: Levelling-Up Secretary
OUT OF OFFICE: 111 days (July 6 - October 25)
ENTITLED TO: £16,876
CLAIMED: £16,876
Simon Hart
JOB TITLE: Wales Secretary, then Chief Whip
OUT OF OFFICE: 111 days (July 6 - October 25)
ENTITLED TO: £16,876
CLAIMED: Unknown
Rishi Sunak
JOB TITLE: Chancellor, then Prime Minister
OUT OF OFFICE: 111 days (July 6 - October 25)
ENTITLED TO: £16,876
CLAIMED: Unknown
