Government Announced JobKeeper Payment Extension – DrZuhdy.com. On July 21st 2020, the government made an announcement that it is extending the JobKeeper Payment. The government mentioned that it would extend the payment until 28th March, 2021. Moreover, the government also announced that it is targeting support to businesses as well as non-profit organizations that keep to be highly impacted by the global pandemic. From September 28th, 2020, an actual turnover on relevant periods becomes the base of eligibility for the JobKeeper Payment. Moreover, the payment has also been reduced and is paid at 2 rates.
Read more information: How to Apply for COVID-19 Financial Assistance
On August 7th, 2020, further changes were announced that are proposed to adjust the reference date for employee eligibility. The changes also make it way easier and simpler for organizations to meet the requirements for the extension of the JobKeeper Payment from September 28th, 2020.
Business Eligibility
From September 28th, 2020, businesses and non-profit organizations that want to claim JobKeeper payments need to reassess their eligibility for the JobKeeper payment. Those businesses and non-profit organizations need to refer to their actual turnover in the September 2020 quarter. They need to show that they are qualified for the relevant continuing decline in turnover test in both of those quarters to meet the requirements from September 28th, 2020 to January 3rd, 2021.
Business and non-profit organizations will be required to reassess their eligibility again in the first month of 2021 for the period from January 4th, 2021 to March 28th, 2021. They also have to show again that they are already qualified for the relevant decline in turnover test in the December 2020 quarter to keep their eligibility for the March 2021 quarter.
Employee Eligibility
July 1st, 2020 was chosen as the reference date to assess which employee is eligible for the JobKeeper payment and it took effect from August 3rd, 2020. The reference date for employees about the hours worked to determine their tier of payment will be the two fortnightly pay periods prior to March 1st, 2020 or July 1st, 2020. The period with a higher number of hours would be used for employees who were qualified on March 1st, 2020.
JobKeeper Payment Rate
As it is said before, the JobKeeper Payment rate has been stepped down and is paid at 2 rates. Here are the details:
- From September 28th, 2020 to January 3rd, 2021, the payment rate is $1,200 per fortnight for all qualified employees, who in the 4-weekly pay periods before the reference date were working in a business or non-profit organization for 20 hours or more a week on average.
- This payment rate is also for business participants who were actively involved in the business for 20 hours or more per week. The payment rate is $750 for employees and business participants who were working and actively involved in the business or non-profit organization for less than 20 hours a week on the reference date.
- From January 4th, 2021 to March 28th, 2021, the payment rate will be $1,000 per fortnight for all eligible employees and business participants who were working or engaged in the business or non-profit organizations for 20 hours or more per week. And $650 per fortnight for all eligible employees and business participants who were involved in the business or non-profit organization for less than 20 hours per week in the reference period.
Well, that was information about Government Announced JobKeeper Payment Extension. We hope this information is helpful.
