JobKeeper changes announced
The Federal Government has extended JobKeeper arrangements, and these will remain available for eligible employers until 28 March 2021.
The Government has confirmed that current JobKeeper arrangements will operate at the current single rate of $1500 per fortnight until 28 September. After this date JobKeeper will operate with a two-tiered payment system.
As the economy reopens the payment will be tapered in the December and March quarters to encourage businesses to adjust to the new environment, supporting a gradual transition to economic recovery, while ensuring those businesses who most need support continue to receive it.
A two-tiered payment will also be introduced from 28 September, to better align the payment with the incomes of employees before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Employees who were employed for less than 20 hours a week on average in the four weekly pay periods ending before 1 March 2020 will receive the lower payment rate.
JobKeeper Payment rates from 28 September 2020 to 28 March 2021:
| Date | Full rate per fortnight | Less than 20hrs worked per fortnight rate |
| 28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021 | $1,200 (for those employees who averaged in February 2020 more than 20 hours per week) | $750 (for those employees who averaged in February 2020 less than 20 hours per week) |
| 4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021 | $1,000 | $650 |
From 28 September 2020, businesses will be required to reassess their eligibility by reference to their actual June and September quarter turnovers to demonstrate that they have suffered an ongoing significant decline in turnover. Organisations will need to demonstrate that they have experienced the relevant decline in turnover in both of those quarters to be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment in the December quarter.
Employers will need to again reassess their eligibility for the JobKeeper Payment for the March quarter. Employers will need to demonstrate that they have met the relevant decline in actual turnover in each of the previous three quarters ending on 31 December 2020 to remain eligible for the JobKeeper Payment in the March quarter 2021.
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