employment law - Full time contract -lay off pay

[Guest]

i hope someone can answer my question. I have been in full time employment since 20/08/2018 with a full time contract. I have been laid off since beginning of july 2019. is my boss under any legal obligation to pay me. he said (verbally) from the outset of the lay off period he would make sure I was ok but vague with figures, anticipating not getting paid I asked him to draught a letter to confirm my lay off so I could apply for benefits as I live in a council flat and would most probably get housing benefit for my lay off period. but because I had his assurance I would get paid I with held the benefit claim. now today is my usual monthly payday I asked him this morning how much £ I was going to get and just got evasive answers back. im back in work next week as some contracts have started to come in.