Job Keeper

JobKeeper Payment Extended

COVID-19 Updates

Updated September 8th 2020

The JobKeeper Payment has been a very successful grant offered by the Australian Government in an effort to help businesses keep their employees on board during these tough times we are currently facing. Since it’s introduction, many have been hoping an extension will be announced for its initial 27 September 2020 end date.

As of 21 July 2020, the Australian Government has officially announced that an extension, will, in fact, now be made available. This extension will continue to be available for eligible businesses (including self-employed) and not-for-profits up until 28 March 2021.

Previously, those that were eligible for the JobKeeper Payment, were able to receive up to $1500 per fortnight. From 28 September 2020, the payment rate will be reduced to $1200 per fortnight and then later on to $1000 per fortnight from 4 January 2021. Lower payment rates will also apply for those that work less than 20 hours per week.

In order to continue claiming the JobKeeper Payment past the 28 September 2020 due date, businesses and not-for-profits must once again be required to demonstrate that they have suffered significant ongoing decline in their actual GST turnover.

Then from 4 January 2021, businesses and not-for-profits will need to further reassess their turnover to continue to remain eligible from here onwards.

The JobKeeper Payment will also continue to remain open to new recipients after 27 September 2020. Businesses and not-for-profits will have to meet the current existing eligibility requirements, as well as the additional turnover tests during the extension period in order to be eligible for the payment.

To be eligible for the JobKeeper Payments under the new extension, applicants must demonstrate that they have experienced the following decline in turnover:

  • A 50 per cent decline for those with an aggregated turnover of more than $1 Billion;
  • A 30 per cent decline for those with an aggregated turnover of $1 Billion or less;
  • A 15 per cent decline for Australian Charities and Not-for-profits commission-registered charities (excludes schools and universities).

Eligibility for employees to receive the JobKeeper Payment will remain unchanged.