You may have seen that the previously announced JobKeeper proposal was passed by parliament yesterday.
 
This is critical as it's possible that many people whose employment/income has been impact by the crisis will benefit more from JobKeeper than from other available stimulus measures.
 
However, unfortunately there remains confusion about how the available support works and what individuals should be applying for.  Part of this is because the JobKeeper scheme is named similarly to the JobSeeker scheme, but they refer to different things and apply in different circumstances.
 
Below are some Q&As that I hope will assist those needing information, but please contact our office if you need more detail or guidance.  We're also very happy to speak will family members or friends who may require help - we may not be able to give them specific advice, but we can talk with them generally about the assistance available and where they should start.
 
We'll focus on JobKeeper and JobSeeker here but summaries of all stimulus initiatives are attached for reference.  
 
What's the difference between JobKeeper and JobSeeker?

Both are designed to assist individuals whose income has reduced or has been totally eliminated.  However, JobKeeper is a temporary payment made to eligible employers to pass onto their eligible employees, whereas JobSeeker is a benefit directed to the individual.
 
JobKeeper is a temporary stimulus package specifically in response to the coronavirus crisis.  It's a benefit paid to employers if their business income has declined by a certain amount (please refer below) with the requirement that the payment be passed onto their eligible employees (also more information below).
 
JobSeeker has been around for a long time - in past lives it's been known as Newstart and the Dole.  Usually there are means tests applied such that if the applicant's income or assets (including the income or assets of their partner) are above a certain level then their entitlement will be reduced or eliminated.  Those receiving JobSeeker must also meet certain 'mutual obligations' requiring them to complete activities to seek employment.
 
Who qualifies for a JobKeeper benefit and how much can they receive?

Qualification for the JobKeeper benefit is dependent upon the revenue of the business in which you were employed on 1 March 2020.
 
A business is eligible for JobKeeper benefits if:

• It generates less than $1 billion pa in revenue and has suffered a decline in revenue of more than 30%; or
• It generates more than $1 billion pa in revenue and has suffered a decline in revenue of more than 50%; or
• It's a registered charity and revenue is estimated to have fallen by 15% or more.

Businesses include companies, trusts, partnerships, not for profits and any other legal entity that employed staff as at 1 March 2020 (except those subject to the major bank levy).  It also includes those who are self-employed and/or sole traders.  
 
In most cases the measure of the decline in revenue is in comparison with the same month or quarter of 2019.
 
Those businesses that qualify are required to register (https://www.ato.gov.au/general/gen/JobKeeper-payment/) and if approved by the ATO will receive $1,500 per fortnight for every eligible employee for a period of 6 months from 30 March 2020.
 
Eligible employees are those aged at least 16 and employed full time, part time or on a casual basis (but casuals must have been employed for a minimum of 12 months as at 1 March 2020).  It doesn't matter if the eligible employee is still employed as normal, is working on reduced hours or has been stood down.  However, any employee made redundant since 1 March 2020 will only qualify if subsequently re-employed.
 
The JobKeeper benefit is paid to the employer and must be passed onto each eligible employee in full.  
 
Eligible employees whose income is currently higher than $1,500 per fortnight won't likely receive more, however the benefit will subsidise part of their employment cost thus reducing the financial pressure on their employer.  
 
Those employees whose income is currently less than $1,500 per fortnight (or nil) will receive the full $1,500 per fortnight benefit.  
 
Eligible employees who work for multiple employers can only receive the JobKeeper benefit from one (usually the employer from whom they claim the tax free threshold in their wages).  Payments will be made in early May but backdated to 30 March 2020.
 
Who qualifies for a JobSeeker benefit and how much can they receive?

JobSeeker benefits depend upon individual circumstances, however in response to the crisis the government is temporarily waiving the usual asset test requirement, has loosened the income test requirement and won't impose the 'mutual obligation' requirement for new applicants for the time being. 
 
Generally speaking those who are single and whose income is impacted by the crisis will qualify for a JobSeeker benefit if their current income is less than $28,249 pa, though it could be up to $55,243.50 pa if caring for dependents.
 
Those who are a member of a couple will qualify if their current income is less than $25,831 pa (depending on their partner's income) or if they have no current income and their partner's current income is less than $79,788.80 pa.
 
The amount of the JobSeeker entitlement also depends upon individual circumstances, but is up to $565.70 per fortnight for a single person without dependents and up to $790.10 per fortnight for those with dependents.  
 
However, another facet of the current stimulus measures is a $550 per fortnight supplement to the JobSeeker benefit, so for the next 6 months the benefits increase to between $1,115.70 per fortnight and $1,340.10 per fortnight respectively.
 
What about tax and superannuation?

Both JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments are taxable income and will need to be declared in your tax return for the financial year in which the benefit is received.  Your employer should deduct tax from the JobKeeper benefit if required, but tax isn't usually deducted from JobSeeker benefits (although you can apply to Centrelink to change this).  If in doubt please speak with us or with your accountant to ensure that you don't end up with an unexpected tax liability.
 
Neither JobKeeper nor JobSeeker benefits attract superannuation contributions, however you may wish to make superannuation contributions from any JobKeeper benefit that you receive - please speak with your employer to organise this.
 
Should you apply for JobKeeper or should you apply for JobSeeker?
The JobKeeper benefit ($1,500/fortnight) is higher than the maximum JobSeeker benefit.  Hence, if your employer qualifies for the JobKeeper benefit then my recommendation is to approach them to ensure that they register and to stay in touch with them to follow up the payments.
 
However, if your employer doesn't qualify or if you're unsure then I recommend lodging an application for the JobSeeker benefit with Centrelink.  This can be done via MyGov ( go to www.my.gov.au if you don't already have an account) and linking to Centrelink.  If you haven't already done this then I recommend doing so ASAP as there's a backlog of applicants and unfortunately the process is detailed.  Please contact us if you're having trouble and we'll talk through it.
 
Can you receive JobKeeper and JobSeeker?

No.  As JobKeeper benefits are treated as taxable income, they count in the income test for the JobSeeker entitlement and will preclude an individual from receiving both.
 
However, as above, if you're unsure whether your employer is going to receive the JobKeeper benefit on your behalf, then I encourage you to apply for JobSeeker as a backup.  If you subsequently receive a JobKeeper benefit then you'll need to disclose that to Centrelink and you won't receive JobSeeker, but you'll be no worse off and will have the peace of mind of knowing that you've at least registered for a benefit.  
 
What if you don't think that you qualify for either JobKeeper or JobSeeker?

Please contact our office and we'll discuss your circumstances.  There are other stimulus measures that may be appropriate or at the very least we can talk through strategies to manage your cash flow through the forthcoming period.
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stimulus_package_-_assistance_for_individuals___households_-_update_1.pdf
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stimulus_package_-_assistance_for_small_and_medium_businesses__1_.pdf

As you'll have likely seen in the press the government has announced some further stimulus measures in addition to those already announced and have also amended a key component for those seeking the JobSeeker allowance (please see below, towards the end of this email).
 
We've attached the previously announced measures for reference as they remain relevant, but the key additional measure announced yesterday is the JobKeeper Payment.  
 
Unfortunately there's a bit of confusion around this so there's some further detail below based on what we know, but please contact our office if you need more information or guidance.
 
The current status of JobKeeper:
The below detail has been announced but it yet to pass parliament so there may be further refinements or detail to emerge.
 
What is JobKeeper?
It's a business support package with payments to be made to employers, not employees (however the payments must be on-paid to employees).  The overall design of the policy is to assist employers in keeping employees on their books.
 
Eligible employers will qualify for a payment of $1,500 per fortnight per employee for a maximum of 6 months.  Assuming that the legislation passes parliament, payments will begin from May 2020 but will be backdated to 30 March 2020.
 
Which employers are eligible?
Employers become eligible if their business turnover has reduced by more than 30% vs last year (if the business has less than $1 billion in turnover) or has reduced by more than 50% vs last year (if the business has turnover above $1 billion).
 
Employers can be a company, trust or not-for-profit and the indication is that it will also include the self employed and sole traders.
 
If the employer is eligible and registers then the payments must be passed onto their eligible employees.
 
Businesses must register for the benefit:
Only businesses that register for JobKeeper payments will be eligible.  If the business doesn't register then they won't receive any payments irrespective of how much their turnover has been impacted by the coronavirus crisis.
 
Businesses can register via this link - https://www.ato.gov.au/general/gen/JobKeeper-payment/.  The business will need to declare the impact on their turnover as well as all employees who are eligible for the payment.  This will likely need to be updated monthly.
 
Which employees are eligible?
Any employee of the business as at 1 March 2020 is eligible if they continue to be employed or continue to be engaged by the business.  This includes full time, part time and casuals (provided that the casual was employed by that business for at least 12 months as at 1 March 2020).
 
Employees who've been stood down are considered to be eligible but those made redundant are not eligible unless they've subsequently been rehired (and were employed at 1 March 2020).
 
Employees who work for more than 1 employer can only claim the benefit once.  The indication is that they'll be able to claim from their "primary employer", which is the employer from whom they claim the tax-free threshold.
 
Employee earnings:
All eligible employees from all eligible registered businesses will receive the JobKeeper payment.  
 
The benefit is intended to replace lost income for those who've been stood down, those who've have had their income reduced significantly and/or to provide a subsidy to employers to help them pay employees.
 
If an employee's current gross income is more than $1,500/fortnight then their employer need only pay the difference between the $1,500/fortnight JobKeeper payment and the employee's wage.
 
If an employee's current gross income is less than $1,500/fortnight (including those currently receiving no income) then they'll receive the full $1,500/fortnight benefit (even if that's more than they would otherwise normally receive).
 
Impact on superannuation, tax and social security:
The JobKeeper payments won't be eligible for superannuation contributions.
 
The JobKeeper payments will be treated as taxable income.
 
The JobKeeper payments will also be assessable income for Centrelink purposes (please refer below).
 
Can an employee receive the JobKeeper payment and also make a claim for the JobSeeker allowance?
Please note that the JobSeeker allowance was formally known as Newstart and those of a certain age would know it as "the dole".
 
It's important to note that the JobKeeper payment is assessable income in Centrelink's eyes and those receiving it must report that income to Centrelink.
 
The current cut off point for JobSeeker eligibility is $1,086.50 per fortnight (for a single person with no dependants).  Hence, those receiving the JobKeeper payment won't be eligible for the JobSeeker allowance as their income will be too high.
 
What should you (or anyone you know) do if they're currently financially impacted?
As JobKeeper payments are only paid to registered businesses, it's suggested that those impacted by the crisis contact their employer to check if the employer qualifies and if they intend to register.
 
If their employer won't register or is unable to register for any reason then it's best to revert to the assistance available to individuals and families (please refer to the attached).  
 
An important enhancement for those seeking the JobSeeker allowance:
Typically those applying for a JobSeeker benefit need to meet an income test and an assets test.
 
The government has already announced a temporary lifting of the assets test in response to the crisis but has now also introduced a more lenient (and sensible) treatment of income earned by the partner of someone seeking a JobSeeker allowance.
 
Previously if the partner of an applicant for the JobSeeker allowance earned more than $48,000 pa then the claim would be rejected.  That threshold has now been lifted to $79,762 pa.  The purpose of this is to capture some of those whose income has diminished or completely disappeared due to the crisis but who would otherwise have been precluded from support because of their partner's income.
 
Next steps:
Please contact our office if any further information is needed and we'll respond ASAP.

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stimulus_package_-_assistance_for_individuals___households__1_.pdf
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stimulus_package_-_assistance_for_small_and_medium_businesses__1_.pdf