Changes to JobKeeper, Victorian business grants

Businesses will now only need to show their GST turnover has fallen in the June quarter to qualify for the extended JobKeeper scheme, reports the ABC.

Previously businesses needed to show GST turnover loss over multiple quarters.

Likewise, businesses applying for the second extension of the scheme will only need to show a loss for the December quarter to qualify in January; under previous guidelines businesses needed to have recorded a GST turnover loss for multiple quarters.

The federal government said it needs to change the criteria for JobKeeper following Victoria’s increased restrictions in response to Covid-19.

The government will also change employee eligibility for the scheme, with workers qualifying for payments if they have been in the workplace since at least 1 July, instead of the previously stated deadline of 1 March.

New employees will be eligible for JobKeeper payments dating back to August 3.

The initial JobKeeper will finish on September 28, with businesses and employees needing to apply for the extension to the scheme.

Victorian government grants

In Victoria, the state government is offering one-off grants to eligible businesses affected by the state’s most recent Covi-19 restrictions. The Business Support Fund – Expansion program offers $10,000 for eligible businesses in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire and $5,000 for eligible businesses in regional areas, excluding Mitchell Shire.

Applications for the program will be extended until 14 September, but businesses that have already received a Business Support Fund – Expansion grant, or have applied for one, will not need to re-apply as ‘successful applicants will automatically receive this additional allocation’.

Category: Local news