This information is a summary of the announced extension to the JobKeeper Payment to run from 28 September until 28 March 2021.
The JobKeeper extension will become law when amendments to the JobKeeper Rules are registered.
We will regularly update information once it is available. Information is current at 2 September 2020.
Extension from 28 September 2020
The existing JobKeeper scheme runs until 27 September 2020. The Government has announced that the JobKeeper scheme will be extended from 28 September 2020 until 28 March 2021.
There are two separate extension periods. For each extension period, an additional actual fall in turnover test applies and the rate of the JobKeeper payment is different.
Alternative tests for determining turnover and payment rates may be available in some circumstances. We will publish more information as it becomes available.
The extension periods are:
- Extension 1: from 28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021
- Extension 2: from 4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021
The rates of payment will change
The rate of the JobKeeper Payment will depend on the number of hours an eligible employee works or an eligible business participant is actively engaged in the business. It will be split into two rates.
| Tier 1 rate: | Tier 2 rate: |
| This rate is expected to apply to: o eligible employees who worked for 80 hours or more in the four weeks of pay periods before either 1 March 2020 or 1 July 2020, and o eligible business participants who were actively engaged in the business for 80 hours or more in February and provide a declaration to that effect. | This rate is expected to apply to: o any other eligible employees and eligible business participants. |
Employers and businesses will need to nominate the rate they are claiming for each eligible employee and/or eligible business participant.
The rate of the JobKeeper Payment is also different for each extension period.
JobKeeper Extension 1
This extension period will run from 28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021.
You will need to demonstrate that your actual GST turnover has fallen in the September 2020 quarter (July, August, September) relative to a comparable period (generally the corresponding quarter in 2019).
The rates of the JobKeeper Payment in this extension period are:
- Tier 1: $1,200 per fortnight (before tax)
- Tier 2: $750 per fortnight (before tax).
JobKeeper Extension 2
This extension period will run from 4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021.
You will need to demonstrate that your actual GST turnover has fallen in the December 2020 quarter (October, November, December) relative to a comparable period (generally the corresponding quarter in 2019).
You can be eligible for JobKeeper Extension 2 even if you were not eligible for JobKeeper Extension 1.
The rates of the JobKeeper Payment in this extension period are:
- Tier 1: $1,000 per fortnight (before tax)
- Tier 2: $650 per fortnight (before tax).
