JobKeeper and JobSeeker update
A summary of what you need to know:
JobKeeper
- JobKeeper has been extended until 28th March 2021
- Payments are being reduced twice
- Will be split into “two tiers” – one for full-time and one for part-time workers
- From 28th September – fortnightly payments for full-time workers is decreasing from $1,500 to $1,200
- From 3rd January 2021 – fortnightly payments for full-time workers will drop again from $1,200 to $1,000 a fortnight
- Payments for part-time workers are being cut in half
- If you were working less than 20 hours a week in February 2020 (pre-COVID) – your payment will drop from $1,500 to $750 a fortnight after September
- At the start of 2021 this will drop again to $650 a fortnight
- Casual Workers will continue to receive payments depending on how many hours they were working
JobSeeker
- JobSeeker supplement will be reduced and extended until December
- $550 supplement is being reduced after September to $250 a fortnight
- Total payment will go from $1,115 to $815
- From end of September, you can earn $300 a fortnight instead of the previous $106 before JobSeeker payment is affected
- JobSeeker applicants will have to start actively looking for work again
Small Business Owners
- Employers will have to prove a turnover decline again
- You will need to reapply to prove you are experiencing hardship again at end of September and then again at start of January
- Also prove that you have experienced the relevant decline in turnover (30% drop) in all previous quarters to receive the payment
- If you are applying for the extension from 28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021 – you have to prove your turnover decreased in June 2020 and September 2020 quarters.
- If you are applying for the extension from 4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021 – you have to prove your turnover decreased in June 2020, September 2020 and December 2020 quarters.
- Comparable periods for the turnover decrease are the same quarters in previous years
