Updated 7 August 2020

As part of the Government’s continuing economic response to COVID-19, on 21 July 2020, it announced an extension to the JobKeeper Payment (with some changes to the eligibility criteria and payments) 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:

• demonstrate that they have suffered the relevant percentage decline in turnover in the September quarter using actual GST turnover (rather than projected GST turnover)

to be eligible for the JobKeeper payment from 28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021.

From 4 January 2021, businesses and not-for-profits will need to:

• demonstrate that they have suffered the relevant percentage decline in turnover in the December quarter using actual GST turnover (rather than projected  GST turnover)

to be eligible for the JobKeeper payment from 3 January 2021 to 28 March 2021.

In addition, from 3 August 2020, the relevant date of employment of an employee when applying for the eligibility criteria will change from 1 March 2020 to 1 July 2020, increasing employee eligibility for the existing scheme.

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 the rate of payment eligible employees and business participants will decrease to $1,200 per fortnight.

A lower payment amount of $750 will apply for the employees and business participants who worked less than 20 hours per week in the four weeks prior to either 1 March 2020 or 1 July 2020.

From 4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021 the rate of payment for eligible employees and business participants will decrease to $1,000 per fortnight.

A lower payment amount of $650 will apply for the employees and business participants who worked less than 20 hours per week in the four weeks prior to either 1 March 2020 or 1 July 2020.

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.

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

Employees

Eligibility has been extended to employees who met the employment conditions at either 1 March 2020 or 1 July 2020.

The full eligibility conditions, including details of the relevant employment conditions, can be viewed at: www.ato.gov.au/General/JobKeeper-Payment/Employees/.

Please note: we will keep attempt to keep this page up to date should the Government announce any further updates to payments and/or eligibility requirements, however, for more information, we encourage you to visit: https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/jobkeeper.