Continuation of JobKeeper to September 27

The Prime Minister confirmed the JobKeeper program will continue as originally announced until 27 September 2020.

Extension of the JobKeeper Payment

The Government is extending the JobKeeper Payment for eligible businesses by a further six months to March 2021. Support will be targeted to businesses and not-for-profits that continue to be significantly impacted by the Coronavirus.

Eligible businesses – Turnover Test

From 28 September 2020, organisations seeking to claim JobKeeper payments will be required to reassess their eligibility for the JobKeeper extension with reference to their actual turnover in both the June and September quarters 2020.

Organisations will need to demonstrate that they have met the relevant continuing decline in turnover test (i.e. 50% for those with an aggregated turnover of more than $1 billion or 30% for those with an aggregated turnover of $1 billion or less) in both of those quarters to be eligible for JobKeeper from 28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021. To be clear, hotels who have not suffered a turnover decline of more than 30% in the September quarter will not be eligible for JobKeeper after September 27.

Organisations will need to further reassess their eligibility in January 2021 for the period from 4 January to 28 March 2021. Organisations will need to demonstrate that they have met the relevant continuing decline in turnover test in each of the previous three quarters to remain eligible for the March 2021 quarter.

AHA NSW Members are strongly advised to consult with your financial adviser as soon as possible regarding your eligibility beyond September 27.

Payment Rate
The JobKeeper payment rate is to be reduced and paid at two rates:

• From 28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021, the payment rate will be:
  • $1,200 per fortnight for all eligible employees who, in the four weeks before 1 March 2020, were working in the business for 20 hours or more a week on average
  • $1,200 per fortnight for business participants who were actively engaged in the business for more than 20 hours per week,
  • $750 per fortnight for employees who were working in the business for less than 20 hours a week on average
  • $750 per fortnight for business participants who were actively engaged in the business for less than 20 hours per week in the same period.

• From 4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021, the payment rate will be
  • $1,000 per fortnight for all eligible employees who, in the four weeks before 1 March 2020, were working in the business for 20 hours or more a week on average
  • $1,000 per fortnight for business participants who were actively engaged in the business for more than 20 hours per week
  • $650 per fortnight for employees who were working in the business for less than 20 hours a week on average
  • $650 per fortnight for business participants who were actively engaged in the business for less than 20 hours per week in the same period.

Please find link to a fact sheet on the extension of the JobKeeper payment here.

Please find link to our Jobkeeper Employer Guide (Edition 9) here.

Please find a link to our Jobkeeper 2.0 Employer Guide here.