WHAT ARE THE SEPTEMBER CHANGES TO JOBKEEPER AND JOBSEEKER PAYMENTS? - Partnership with
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Partnership with
WHAT ARE THE SEPTEMBER CHANGES TO
JOBKEEPER AND JOBSEEKER PAYMENTS?
Presented by : Amanda Ghouse from Midlas partnership with
the Shire of Mundaring
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO COUNTRY
WEBINAR
TOPICS
• The latest finance news
• Jobseeker and Jobkeeper
Payments
• Other payments and
supplements
• Residential Tenancy Assistance
• Small Business Relief Package
• Banks, Utilities and Telco
Providers
• Accessing your Superannuation
• Resources
• Q and A
LATEST COVID-19 FINANCE
UPDATE
• Western Australia is in a current State of Emergency which
has been extended to 17 September 2020
• WA roadmap sees us currently in Phase 4 until at least the
24th October 2020.
• Support for immediate cash flow needs for Small Medium
Enterprises (SMEs)
• State government is placing a freeze on all household tariffs,
fees and charges 2020/21
• State government is helping businesses by creating jobs and
helping industries to rebuild through investment.
JOBSEEKER PAYMENT
Coronavirus Supplement end date extended to 31 December 2020.
From 25 September 2020, the Coronavirus Supplement drops from
$550/fortnight to $250/fortnight.
Eligibility rules are tightening:
• From 4 August, beneficiaries must apply for four jobs a month –
gradual increase in obligations
• Penalties for not taking jobs or failing to meet obligations
reinstated.
• Asset tests reintroduced.
• Partner income tests increased from 25c for every dollar earned
over $996/fortnight to 27c for every dollar earned over
$1,165/fortnight.
• Waiting period continues to be waived
INCOME FREE AREA CHANGES The income free area will increase for both: • JobSeeker Payment • Youth Allowance for job seekers. The income free area will increase from: • $106 per fortnight to $300 per fortnight for JobSeeker Payment • $143 per fortnight to $300 per fortnight for Youth Allowance. If you earn above $300 per fortnight, your payment will reduce by 60 cents for each dollar over $300.
PAYME N T S AND
S UPPLEMENTS Pre 25th Post 25th
EXAMPLES September September 2020
2020
JobSeeker payment $510.80 $510.80
• Geoff is 62 years of age, partnered
married and has been a self-
employed sole trader for the Coronavirus $550.00 $250.00
past 30 years. supplement
• Due to several factors Energy supplement $7.90 $7.90
including ill health and the
downturn in his business due
to Covid-19 he is no longer
able to run his business.
Total fortnightly $1068.70 $768.70
• What is he eligible for now
and post 25th September 2020? payment
•
PAYME N T S AND
S UPPLEMENTS Pre 25th Post 25th
EXAMPLES September September 2020
2020
Youth Allowance $462.50 $462.50
• Chantel is 20 years of singe
age, single and studying part-
time at Tafe. She is currently Coronavirus $550.00 $250.00
looking for work. supplement
• Due to several factors she Rent assistance $93.07 $93.07
is unable to live at home
with her parents.
• What is she eligible for
now and post 25th Total fortnightly $1105.57 $805.57
September 2020? payment
•
CORONAVIRUS DEBT PAUSE • Centrelink has paused a range of debt raising and recovery activities, including those connected to social security payments, Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Subsidy. • Debt recovery line:1800 076 072 • Indigenous Debt Recovery line: 1800 138 193
J O B K E E P E R PAY M E N T
C OV I D - 1 9 M E A S U R E – C H A N G E S E F F E C T I V E
2 8 TH S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0
• JobKeeper Payments will now end on 28 March 2021
• From 1 October 2020, JobKeeper Payments will change from $1,500/fortnight to
$1,200/fortnight for staff working more than 20 hours per week
• For staff working less than 20 hours per week, it will drop to $750/fortnight
• From 1 January 2021, JobKeeper Payments will drop again
• $1,000/fortnight for people working over 20 hours a week
• $650/fortnight for people working under 20 hours a week
Detailed information - - https://www.ato.gov.au/general/jobkeeper-payment/employers/your-eligible-employees/ELIGIBLE EMPLOYERS • To qualify for the first extension (28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021), the employer only needs to prove the 30% decline in revenue from July to September 2020. • To qualify for the second extension (4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021), the employer only needs to prove the 30% decline in revenue from October to December 2020. https://www.ato.gov.au/General/JobKeeper- Payment/Employers/Eligible-employers/
ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES • You will not be paid the JobKeeper payment by the ATO. Payment comes from your employer who is reimbursed by the ATO. • Tax is withheld from payments at your marginal tax rate, so you may receive less than $1,500 in your bank account. • Talk to your employer if you are interested in the JobKeeper payment. • If you are receiving an income support payment, like JobSeeker, contact Services Australia and let them know that your employer has applied for the JobKeeper payment. • JobKeeper payments must be included as income in your tax return.
JOBKEEPER PAYMENT EXAMPLES
Example: Employer with a part- Example: Employer with five full
time employee getting paid less time employees who all currently
than $1200 per fortnight. get paid more than $1,200 per
fortnight.BUSINESS CASH FLOW
BOOSTS
Eligible businesses and not-for-profit (NFP) organisations who
employ staff will receive between $10,000 to $100,000 in cash
flow boost amounts by lodging their activity statements up to
the month or quarter of September 2020.WA BUSINESS STIMULUS Recent stimulus measures include • $14.4 million tourism package to support small tourism operators in WA • $150 million housing investment package • $24.5 million support package to assist the building and construction industry retain apprentices and trainees • $9 million relief package to support the taxi and on- demand transport industry. • SME Guarantee Scheme: providing businesses with more affordable credit to help businesses fund a wider range of investments. More information: https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/blog/wa- coronavirus-relief-package
RESIDENTIAL TENANCY
ASSISTANCE
Measures include:
• A ban on rent increases during the moratorium period
• More flexible conditions around ending fixed-term leases
• The ability to negotiate a Rent Repayment Agreement with your landlord if
you are suffering financial hardship
Applicable only during emergency period set to end on the 29th September
2020.
Visit https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/consumer-protection/residential-tenancies-
covid-19-response (Dept of Mines, Industry, Regulation and Safety)RENT REPAYMENT
AGREEMENT
• These are voluntary agreements that landlord and tenant can
enter into when the tenant is experiencing financial hardship as a
result of Covid 19.
• It helps preserve the tenancy and make clear the arrangements for
what rent can be paid and whether a rent waiver and/or deferral
can apply.
• It has to be in writing and landlord and tenants can negotiate their
own terms. If terms cannot be agreed upon the matter can be
referred to the Consumer Protection's conciliation service.
• Rent must continue to be paid.
Access Consumer Protection's free informal voluntary conciliation service by
phoning 1300 304 054 or by email at consumer@dmirs.wa.gov.au.T HE RESIDE NT IAL RENT RELIEF
GRANT SCHEM E
• The Western Australian government has introduced a
grant for tenants who suffering financial hardship due to
the COVID-19 response. To be eligible for the grant, the
tenant must have either:
• • completed Consumer Protection's conciliation
service to negotiate a new agreement with their
landlord, or
• • negotiated with the landlord a rent reduction or
deferral of payments and lodged this agreement with
Consumer Protection.
The grant will be paid to the landlord, on behalf of the
tenant, and is the equivalent of 4 weeks rent up to a
maximum of $2000, whichever is the lesser.
For more information please visit:
https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/consumer-
protection/residential-rent-relief-grant-schemeRESIDENTIAL TENANCY
SUMMARY
• Important to keep up with rent payments
• Rent will continue to accumulate
• Landlords can’t evict a tenant who is unable to pay rent
due to financial hardship caused by COVID-19 (unless they
are causing damage or other disruptions); however this is
only during the emergency period
• If tenants are not affected financially by COVID-19 they are
not covered under these special measuresWHAT ARE THE
BANKS DOING?
For individuals as at April 2020:
• A deferral of scheduled loan repayments up
to 6 months
• Waiving fees and charges
• Interest free periods or no interest rate
increases
• Debt consolidation to help make
repayments more manageable.
For small business:
• Deferral of loan repayments for up to 6
months
• Low interest ratesDEFERRING YOUR HOME LOAN REPAYMENTS
Ruby – 6-month principal and interest deferment and loan term extension
granted from bank
Before Deferral After Deferral Before Deferral After DeferralCONTACT YOUR
B ANK/LEN DE R
• The earlier you to speak to
your bank/lender the better
• Make contact via phone or
email to the Bank’s hardship
department
• Financial counsellor and
financial wellbeing workersWHAT ARE THE UTILITY AND
TELECOMMUNIC ATION COMPANIES DOING?
• Not charging late payment fees
• Not suspending services for overdue bills
• No disconnections or credit collection activity
• Placing your account on hold
• Water Assist scheme
• Make contact early and ask for assistanceCOVID-19 EARLY ACCESS TO YOUR
SUPERANNUATION
• Many Australians may now be eligible to withdraw up to $20,000 from their
super over the next two financial years.
• Accessing your super early should be a last resort
• Need advice or assistance speak to a financial counsellor or financial advisorRESOURCES • Midlas – FREE services – 9250 2123 • Shire of Mundaring - https://www.mundaring.wa.gov.au/News/COVID-19/ • UnitingWA – https://unitingwa.org.au/ • Department of Social Services - https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/subjects/payments- and-services-during-coronavirus-covid-19 • Australian Taxation Office - ato.gov.au • National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007 • Emergency Services Directory - https://waconnect.org.au/ • ASIC MoneySmart - https://moneysmart.gov.au/ • Financial Counselling Network WA - https://www.financialcounsellingnetwork.org.au/
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