The Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has presented a significant challenge to the global health system and economies. As a coronavirus economic response, the Australian government has made some amendments on both of the JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments.
JobKeeper to be Extended to 28 March 2021
On 21 July 2020, the Australian government announced that due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the JobKeeper Payment scheme will be extended by six months until 28 March 2020, from the original end date of 27 September 2020. However, there will also be changes on the eligibility rules and payment rates.
Changes on Eligibility Rules
JobKeeper :
Commencing 28 September 2020, businesses and not-for-profit organisations seeking to claim the JobKeeper Payment will be required to demonstrate that they have suffered an ongoing significant decline in turnover using actual GST turnover rather than projected GST turnover.
From 28 September 2020, businesses and not-for-profit organisations will be required to reassess their eligibility for the payment with reference to their actual GST turnover in June and September quarters 2020. They will need to demonstrate that they have met the relevant decline in turnover test in both of those quarters to be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment from 28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021.
To be eligible for JobKeeper Payments under extension, businesses and not-for-profit organisations will need to demonstrate that they have experienced a decline in turnover of :
● 50 per cent for those with an aggregated turnover of more than $1 billion ;
● 30 per cent for those with an aggregate turnover of $1 billion or less ; or
● 15 per cent for Australian Charities and Not for profit Commission-registered charities ( excluding schools and universities ).
* If a business or not-for-profit does not meet the additional turnover tests for the extension period, this does not affect their eligibility prior to 28 September 2020.
From 4 January 2021, businesses and not-for-profit organisations will need to further reassess their turnover to be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment. They will need to demonstrate that they have met the relevant decline in turnover test with reference to their actual GST turnover in each of the June, September and December quarters 2020 to remain eligible for the JobKeeper Payment from 4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021.
JobSeeker :
In March 2020, requirements on JobSeeker recipients were temporarily paused due to coronavirus. The Government is slowly reintroducing the mutual obligation requirements for the payment recipients. The stated requirements are approved tasks and activities recipients agree to do while receiving JobSeeker Payment from the Government.
Starting from 4 August 2020, applicants for JobSeeker payment will need to :
● Complete the JobSeeker Snapshot questionnaire
● Agree to a Job Plan
● Go to appointments, either online or over the phone, with your employment services provider
● The tasks on your online employment services dashboard, if you don’t have a provider
● The activities in your Job Plan if it is safe to do so, including job searches
● Accept any offer of suitable paid work
From 4 August 2020, penalties such as cancellation of payment for at least 4 weeks may be applied to recipients who refuse suitable work without a reasonable excuse.
From 25 September 2020, the JobSeeker Payment asset limit will also be reinstated. Your JobSeeker payment will be cancelled when your assets are more than a certain amount with the income limit still being applicable.
Changes on Payment Rates
JobKeeper :
From 28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021, the JobKeeper Payment rates will be :
● $1,200 per fortnight for all eligible employes who, in the four weeks of pay periods before 1 March 2020, were working in the business or not-for-profit organisations for 20 hours or more a week on average, and for eligible business participants who were actively engaged in the business for 20 hours or more per week on average in the month of February 2020; and
● $750 per fortnight for other eligible employees and business participants.
From 4 January 2021 to 28 March 20201, the JobKeeper Payment rates will be :
● $1,000 per fortnight for all eligible employees who, in the four weeks or pay periods before 1 March 2020, were looking in the business or not-for-profit organisations for 20 hours or more a week on average and for business participants who were actively engaged in the business for 20 hours or more per week on average in the month of February 2020; and
● $650 per fortnight for other eligible employees and business participants.
JobSeeker :
Commencing 28 September 2020, there will be a JobSeeker supplement cut from $550 a fortnight to $250, in an extension of the supplement that will run until December 31.
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