The purpose of this blog post is to provide you with a basic understanding of the current NSW 2021 COVID-19 support package as well as to assist you in determining your eligibility for financial support. We note that the rules have been moving so this is a guide only.
HELP FOR INDIVIDUALS & HOUSEHOLDS:
Residential Tenants
- Landlords will not be able to evict tenants who get behind on their rent until 11 Sept, 2021.
- Landlords who decrease their tenants rent can apply for a grant / land tax exemptions.
COVID19 disaster payment
- A lump sum taxable payment to help workers that are unable to earn income due to a lockdown / hotspot / restricted movement.
- You must meet the general eligibility rules to receive this payment.
- If you are a member of a couple, you can both receive this payment.
- You can get this payment even if you’re eligible on only one day of a recognised COVID-19 period of restricted movement, lockdown or hotspot.
- If you live, work in, or visited NSW, you need to meet specific eligibility rules to get the COVID-19 Disaster Payment. (As well as the general eligibility rules listed above).
- To claim online (the easiest way) you will need a MyGov account linked to centrelink online account.
- Depending on where you live in Sydney / NSW / Victoria, if eligible, you’ll get $375 per relevant period if you lost between 8 and 20 hours per week and $500 if you lost more than 20 hours of work.
- From (15th July – people in parts of Sydney), (18th July – people in greater Sydney), (18th July – all other areas in NSW), (23rd July – people in Victoria), you’ll get $375 for each relevant period if you lost between 8 and less than 20 hours per week OR a full day of your usual work hours per week. If you lost more than 20 hours per week, you’ll get $600 for each relevant period.
Pandemic leave disaster payment
- A lump sum payment to help you during the 14 days you need to self-isolate, quarantine or care for someone.
Other help
- Dine & discover NSW program
- What to do if your job has been impacted by COVID19
- A guide for home owners in financial difficulty.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
HELP FOR BUSINESSES, SOLE TRADERS & SMALL NOT-FOR-PROFITS
The new small business support payment will support up to an estimated 500,000 entities employing more than 3 million people.
COVID19 Business Grants
Eligible businesses (including non employing businesses such as sole traders & non profit organisations) can apply for a one-off grant of: $7,500, $10,000 or $15,000 grants depending on your decline in turnover).
- Your annual turnover must be greater than $75,000 but less than $50M for the year ending 30 June, 2020.
- Your payroll can be up to $10 million.
- You must have an active ABN and be GST registered as at 1 June, 2021
- You must be operating in NSW as at 1 June, 2021
- You must have incurred business costs for which there is no other government support eg: wages, utilities, rent, advice around business continuity planning, the cost of perishable goods that can no longer be used, other activities around supporting the operation of your business.
- You must have maintained your employee headcount as at 13 July 2021 for the period in which the business is receiving payments under this grant and the JobSaver scheme.
- Applications open on 19th July ,2021 and close on 13th Sept, 2021.
- Apply here.
- You’ll require an accountant verified letter to go with your application. Email out team to request yours.
JobSaver
- Fortnightly payments to help maintain employee headcount (as at 13 July) and provide cashflow support to businesses.
- Employing businesses: 40% of weekly payroll, with a minimum payment of $1,500 per week and a maximum payment of $10,000 per week
- Non-employing business: $1,000 per week.
- To be eligible you must show a revenue decline of 30% or more and have a turnover of between $75 and $50 million.
- Applications open late July.
- Register your interest with services NSW here.
COVID 19 Micro Business Grants
- A $1,500 per fortnight payment for businesses with a turnover between $30,000 and $75,000.
- Revenue must have declined by 30% or more
- Applications open late July.
- Register your interest with services NSW here.
Tenants in commercial or retail premises
- Protection will be offered for impacted tenants in commercial and retail tenancies in NSW.
- Landlords will not be able to lock out or evict impacted tenants without first going to mediation.
- Tenants must have an annual turnover of $50 million or less.
- Tenants must be eligible for either the Micro-business COVID-19 Support Grant, the COVID-19 NSW Business Grant, or the JobSaver Scheme.
- Landlords with commercial properties may be eligible for a land tax concession of up to 100% of 2021 land tax if they provide rent reductions to their tenants.
- For further information visit revenue NSW.
Other help