Government Support - COVID Updated 12th October 2021
VICTORIA
Support packages information has just been released in relation to the latest lockdown.
Dan Andrews has also mentioned that they are looking into support for micro-businesses earning under $75,000 (not registered for GST), and those businesses that miss out on the Business Cost Assistance Program. We'll update you with any info as it comes to hand.
INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT
There are two payments accessible to individuals:
COVID-19 Disaster Payment; and,
Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment.
How to apply for support
You can apply for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment through your MyGov account if you have created and linked a Centrelink account. Apply for the Pandemic Leave Payment by phoning Services Australia on 180 22 66.
COVID-19 Disaster Payments - Services Australia
The COVID-19 Disaster Payment is a weekly payment available to eligible workers who can’t attend work or who have lost income because of a lockdown and don’t have access to certain paid leave entitlements. If you are a couple, both people can separately claim the payment.
Timing of the payment
The disaster payment is generally accessible if the hotspot triggering the lockdown lasts more than 7 days as declared by the Chief Medical Officer. However, In Victoria, anyone who meets the eligibility criteria will be able to access the payment from day 1 of the 5th lockdown (15 July 2021). Payments are accessible from 23 July 2021.
How much is the payment?
The COVID-19 disaster payment amount available depends on:
Claim period 1 – 16 July to 22 July 2021
Claim period 2 – 23 July to 27 July 2021
$600 for loss of more than 20 hours or $375 for loss of 8-20 hours (Victoria)
Claim period 3* – 6 August to 12 August 2021
$750 for loss of more than 20 hours or $450 for loss of 8-20 hours (Victoria)
*technically from 8:00 pm 5 August to 7:59 pm 12 August 2021
The payment applies to each week of lockdown you are eligible for and is taxable (you will need to declare it in your income tax return).
Eligibility
The COVID-19 disaster payment is emergency relief. It is available if you:
Live or work in an area that is subject to a state or territory public health order that imposes a restriction on movement and is declared a Commonwealth COVID-19 hotspot, or
Have visited an area that is a Commonwealth COVID-19 hotspot and you are subsequently subject to a restricted movement order when you return to other parts of New South Wales or interstate
And you:
Are an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or temporary visa holder who has the right to work in Australia, and
Are aged 17 years or over, and
Have lost 8 hours or more of work or a full day of your usual work as a result of the restrictions - losing work includes being stood down by your employer, not being assigned any shifts for the week of restrictions, and being unable to work from home. Losing a full day of what you were scheduled to work but could not work because of restricted movement order. This includes not being able to attend a full-time, part-time or casual shift of fewer than 8 hours, and
Don’t have paid leave available through your employer (other than annual leave), and
Are not receiving income support payments, a state or territory pandemic payment, Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment or state small business pays for the same period. Income support payments include Age Pension, Austudy, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, Farm Household Allowance, JobSeeker Payment, Parenting Payment, Partner Allowance, Special Benefit, Widow Allowance, Youth Allowance and Income Support Supplement, Service Pension or Veteran Pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
For further information please head to Covid-19 Disaster Payment - Services Australia
Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment - Services Australia
The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment is for those who have been advised by their relevant health authority to self-isolate or quarantine because they:
Test positive to COVID-19;
Have been identified as a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case;
Care for a child, 16 years or under, who has COVID-19; or
Care for a child, 16 years or under, who has been identified as a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case; or
Care for a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.
How much is the payment?
The payment is $1,500 for each 14 day period you are advised to self-isolate or quarantine. If you are a couple, you both can claim this payment if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Eligibility
The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment is available if you:
Are an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or temporary visa holder who has the right to work in Australia; and
Are aged 17 years or over; and
Are unable to go to work and earn an income; and
Do not have appropriate leave entitlements, including pandemic sick leave, personal leave or carers leave; and
Are not getting any income support payment, ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Paid parental leave, or Dad and Partner Pay. Income support payments include Age Pension, Austudy, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, Farm Household Allowance, JobSeeker Payment, Parenting Payment, Partner Allowance, Special Benefit, Widow Allowance, Youth Allowance and Income Support Supplement, Service Pension or Veteran Pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The payment is taxable and you will need to declare it in your income tax return.
If you are uncertain of your eligibility, talk to Services Australia.
BUSINESS SUPPORT - VICTORIA
Business Costs Assistance Program Overview
The Business Costs Assistance Program (BCAP) started in February 2021 and was designed for businesses in specific industries (ANZIC) that were forced to close due to lockdown.
Round 1 BCAP - February
Round 2 BCAP2 - May / June with a top payment due to extended lockdown
Round 2 BECAP2e - Extension - July / August for businesses who missed or were ineligible for Round 2
Round 3 BCAP3 - August
Round 4 BCAP4 - September - Only businesses who had registered in Round 2 or Round 3 will receive this payment
Round 5 - October - Only businesses who had registered in Round 2 or Round 3 will receive this payment
Applications are now closed for businesses that had not previously applied for the program in August 2021.
Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five
Top-up payments were announced on 30 September 2021 as part of the ongoing business costs assistance program
Four tiers of automatic payments will be available to eligible Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two (BCAP2) or Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension (BCAP2 July Extension) recipients based on the size of their annual payroll.
Weekly Payments:
$1,000 per week for non-employing businesses
$2,800 per week for businesses with no payroll or an annual payroll below $650,000
$5,600 per week for businesses with an annual payroll between $650,000 and less than $3 million
$8,400 per week for businesses with an annual payroll between $3 and $10 million.
In Phase A, businesses in Metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Victoria that are subject to lockdown restrictions will receive fortnightly payments. Businesses in eligible ANZSIC classes located in areas not subject to stay-at-home restrictions will also receive fortnightly payments.
In Phase B, businesses in Metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Victoria in eligible ANZSIC classes that remain closed or heavily restricted are eligible for the payments. Please note these are not the same ANZSIC classes as for Phase A.
Business Costs Assistance Program Round Four - Construction
The Business Costs Assistance Program Round Four - Construction is now open. This will provide one-off payments to eligible employing and non-employing businesses in the construction sector that operate in the following local government areas:
Metropolitan Melbourne
The City of Greater Geelong
Mitchell Shire
Surf Coast Shire
Businesses must have incurred direct costs because of the health restrictions in place between September 21st, 2021 - October, 4th 2021 that have not been and will not be partially or fully recovered or otherwise reimbursed.
Payments of up to $8,400 will be made available to eligible businesses based on payroll size.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE 9th NOV 2021
Rent Relief
If your business has experienced a loss in turnover during the pandemic then you may be eligible for the Andrews Government’s Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme.
Commercial Tenants
On the 3rd of August 2021, The Government announced a rent relief scheme to help alleviate the financial hardship been faced by Commercial tenants.
Eligibility is calculated by comparing the turnover for the final quarter of the 2020/21 financial year with the turnover from the final quarter of 2018/19.
You are eligible if:
You have an annual turnover of less than $50 million and,
Your fall in turnover is greater than 30%
You will require a letter from a Certified Practicing Accountant attesting to your eligibility)
If you are a new business that was not operating in 2019… don’t panic! Special arrangements are in place to assess your turnover impact as well.
What Rent Relief means
Under the Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme Landlords are required to offer you rent reduction
Rent reduction can be up to 100% of the rent payable, however it must at least match your fall in turnover
50% of the rent reduction must be waived by your landlord (You will not repay this)
The other 50% must be repaid over a 24 month period beginning on the 16 January 2022.
Please see below for the Commercial Landlord Hardship Fund
What we can do for you
We are offering our services to perform an assessment of your financial position in the final quarters of the 2018/19 and 2020/21 financial years for you and provide you with a written letter attesting to your eligibility.
If you are a client that is currently on a package with us, our assistance will be free of charge. If you are not on a package, please contact our office for more information.
Commercial Landlord Hardship Fund 3
Grant support to eligible small landlords that have waived rent for their tenants under the Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme
Eligible Landlords
On the 13th September 2021, The Government announced payments of up to $6,000 for Landlords who offered their tenants a rent reduction and have since experienced financial hardship.
You are eligible if you’re:
A small landlord with total taxable landholdings of less than $3 million, including part holdings but excluding principal place of residence, or where a property is held on trust, the total taxable landholdings of the trust must be less than $3 million
An owner and landlord of the property for which an application is made
A landlord that has made a rent relied agreement with their tenant(s) under the Commercial Tenancy Relied Scheme in operation between 28 July 2021 and 15 January 2022
An Australian citizen, resident or Australian incorporated entity.
What we can do for you
We are offering our services to perform an assessment of your eligibility for the grant and complete the application on your behalf.
Please contact our office to find out more information
