21 July | Australian Government: Treasury On 21 July, the Government announced it is extending the JobKeeper Payment until 28 March 2021 and is targeting support to those organisations which continue to be significantly impacted by the Coronavirus. From 28 September 2020, eligibility for the JobKeeper Payment will be based on actual turnover in the relevant periods, the payment will be stepped down and paid at two rates. Information about the operation of the existing JobKeeper Payment until 27 September 2020 is available on the ATO website.

Business eligibility

From 28 September 2020, organisations seeking to claim JobKeeper payments will be required to reassess their eligibility for the JobKeeper extension with reference to their actual turnover in the September quarter 2020. Organisations will need to demonstrate that they have met the relevant continuing decline in turnover test to be eligible for JobKeeper from 28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021. Organisations will need to further reassess their eligibility in January 2021 for the period from 4 January to 28 March 2021. Organisations will need to demonstrate that they have met the relevant continuing decline in turnover test in December quarter to remain eligible for the March 2021 quarter.

JobKeeper payment rates

The JobKeeper payment rate is to be reduced and paid at two rates:

• From 28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021, the payment rate will be $1,200 per fortnight for all eligible employees who, in the four weeks before the reference period, were working in the business for 20 hours or more a week on average and for business participants who were actively engaged in the business for more than 20 hours per week, and $750 per fortnight for employees who were working in the business for less than 20 hours a week on average and business participants who were actively engaged in the business less than 20 hours per week in the same period.
• From 3 August the relevant employment date moved from 1 March, 2020 to 1 July 2020. From 4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021, the payment rate will be $1,000 per fortnight for all eligible employees who in the four weeks before the reference period were working for 20 hours or more a week on average and for business participants who were actively engaged in the business for more than 20 hours per week, and $650 per fortnight for employees who were working for less than 20 hours a week on average and business participants who were actively engaged in the business for less than 20 hours per week in the same period.

For Fact Sheet and Updates: https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/jobkeeper/extension