Boost to Financial Support for Businesses and Individuals as Lockdown continues in NSW

As Greater Sydney prepares for an extended lockdown until 28 August 2021, welcomed boosts to the financial subsidies offer some reprieve to struggling businesses and individuals. Boost to JobSaver Program Weekly payments between $1,500 and $100,000 are now available to employing businesses that maintain their employee headcount, with payments based on 40% of their weekly NSW payroll. JobSaver payments are now available to businesses with an annual turnover of between $75,000 and $250 million, which have experienced a decline of 30% or more. Non-employing businesses remain eligible for a maximum of $1,000 per week. The JobSaver payments are backdated and take effect from 18 July 2021. Increase in Disaster Payments for Individuals Individuals who have lost more than 20 hours or more of work per week are now eligible to receive weekly payments of $750. Individuals who have lost between 8 and less than 20 hours of work per week are now eligible to receive weekly payments of $400. To be eligible to receive the Disaster Payment, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• You are an Australian resident or hold a visa that gives you the right to work in Australia;
• You are 17 years of age or older;
• You are not receiving an income support payment, ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Dad and Partner Pay or Parental Leave Pay;
• You are not receiving the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment, a state or territory pandemic payment or a state small business payment for the same period;
• You have lost hours of work and income due to a lockdown in your state and don't have any pandemic-related paid leave entitlements.

You are not required to take any of the following types of leave before accessing the Disaster Payments:

• Annual leave;
• Unpaid leave;
• Paid sick and carer's leave;
• Long service leave; or
• Compassionate leave when your employer has stood you down without pay.

Additional eligibility criteria apply depending on which Local Government Area you live in, work from or visited. For Greater Sydney and other parts of Sydney, individuals must demonstrate that:

• You live in or work from a Commonwealth-declared hotspot that is subject to a state restricted movement order;
• You were unable to earn your usual income of 8 hours or more or a full day's work because you were in the hotspot and are subject to restricted movement; and
• If you are in Greater Sydney and are claiming for the period between 4 to 10 July 2021, you must demonstrate that you own less than $10,000 in liquid assets (e.g. cash, savings or assets that can easily converted to cash).

For assistance or to discuss further please call our office on 02 9391 3000. Article prepared by: Margaret Gotsopoulos, Graduate, Joey Tass, Senior Associate and Sarah Cappello, Partner