Scott Morrison has today announced the changes to the JobKeeper program which are scheduled to commence after 27 September 2020 (which is the end of Phase one of the JobKeeper program).

Phase Two of the JobKeeper program will have the following key features

• JobKeeper will be extended to 28 March 2021 (adding six months to the initial program).
• The first quarter of this second phase (the December 2020 quarter) will have a two-tiered subsidy rate. The full-time rate will be reduced from $1500 per fortnight to $ 1200 and a new “part-time” rate for workers doing less than 20 hours per week will be set at $750 per fortnight.
• The second quarter of this second phase (the March 2021 quarter) will see the subsidies for those two tiers further reduced to $1000 per fortnight for full time and $650 for part-time.
• Eligibility for the 30% decline in revenue will be retested during each quarter so you will not necessarily get the entire six months just because you pass in October.

New Rules Re-Testing Decline in Turnover For Phase Two

From 28 September 2020, businesses and not-for-profits seeking to claim the JobKeeper Payment will be required to demonstrate that they have suffered an ongoing significant decline in turnover using actual GST turnover (rather than projected GST turnover).

From 28 September 2020, businesses and not-for-profits will be required to reassess their eligibility with reference to their actual GST turnover in the June and September quarters 2020. They will need to demonstrate that they have met the relevant decline in turnover test in both of those quarters 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 further reassess their turnover to be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment. They will need to demonstrate that they have met the relevant decline in turnover test with reference to their actual GST turnover in each of the June, September and December quarters 2020 to remain eligible for the JobKeeper Payment from 4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021.

There is no change to employee eligibility requirements