Updated 23 July 2020

As part of the Government’s continuing economic response to COVID-19, it has announced an extension to the JobKeeper Payment for eligible businesses, by a further 6 months, until 28 March 2021. The changes do not impact JobKeeper Payments until 28 September 2020.

From 28 September 2020, businesses and not-for-profits will need to reassess their turnover to be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment under additional turnover tests. Information regarding the additional eligibility requirements is available here.

Along with the additional eligibility requirements, the previous JobKeeper Payment rate of $1,500 per fortnight for eligible employees and businesses will be reduced during the extension periods as follows:

From 28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021:

$1,200 per fortnight for -

• eligible employees who, in the four weeks before 1 March 2020, were working in the business or not-for-profit for 20 hours or more a week on average; and
• 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 2021:

$1,000 per fortnight for -

• all eligible employees who, in the four weeks before 1 March 2020, were working in the business or not-for-profit for 20 hours or more a week on average; and
• 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.

The JobKeeper Payment will continue to remain open to new recipients, provided they meet the existing eligibility requirements and the additional turnover tests during the extension period.

For further information on eligibility requirements and additional turnover tests, please refer to the Australian Government's Fact Sheet here.

Other eligibility rules for businesses and not-for-profits and their employees remain unchanged.

Further information for employers can be viewed at: www.ato.gov.au/General/JobKeeper-Payment/Employers/

Employees

The eligibility rules for employees also remain unchanged and can be viewed at: www.ato.gov.au/General/JobKeeper-Payment/Employees/

Please note: we will keep this page updated should the ATO announce any further updates to payments and/or eligibility requirements.