This is a summary of the latest government financial support measures being offered to individuals and businesses. The support package is processed through Service NSW. It is the responsibility of the applicant to apply and ensure all information is provided.
Business Support Measures
The first action is to register your interest with Service NSW if you haven’t done so. Follow the link here: Register your interest – 2021 Covid-19 Business Grant
The NSW Government will be offering financial support to businesses impacted by the recent COVID-19 restrictions and stay-at-home orders.
COVID-19 Business Grant
If you’re a business, sole trader or not-for-profit organisation impacted by the current Greater Sydney COVID-19 restrictions, you may be able to apply for a grant of up to $15,000. Apply for the COVID-19 Business Grant – 2021
- $7,500 for a decline of 30% or more;
- $10,500 for a decline of 50% or more; or
- $15,000 for a decline of 70% or more.
Eligibility criteria
Businesses that have been impacted by the Public Health Orders will be eligible for the $7,500 (tier one) grant if they:
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and were operating in New South Wales as at 1 June 2021;
- have total annual Australian wages of $10 million or less as at 1 July 2020;
- had an aggregated annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million (inclusive) for the year ended 30 June 2020;
- have business costs for which there is no other government support available;
- have experienced a decline in turnover of 30% or more due to the Public Health Orders over a minimum 2-week period from 26 June 2021 to 17 July 2021 compared to the same period in June and/or July 2019;
- maintain their employee headcount as at 13 July 2021 for the period for which the business is receiving payments under this Grant and the JobSaver scheme.
Businesses will be eligible for the $10,500 (tier two) grant if they:
- meet the eligibility criteria for the $7,500 (tier one) grant set out above, except they must
- have experienced a decline in turnover of 50% or more due to the Public Health Orders over a minimum 2-week period from 26 June 2021 to 17 July 2021 compared to the same period in June and/or July 2019.
Businesses will be eligible for the $15,000 (tier three) grant if they:
- meet the eligibility criteria for the $7,500 (tier one) grant set out in Section 3.1, except they must:
- have experienced a decline in turnover of 70% or more due to the Public Health Orders over a minimum 2-week period from 26 June 2021 to 17 July 2021 compared to the same period in June and/or July 2019.
New Businesses
Businesses that cannot demonstrate the minimum $75,000 aggregated annual turnover or the minimum decline in turnover should contact Service NSW as they may still be eligible to apply if they:
- were not operating for the full year to 30 June 2020 (e.g. they are a new business) but can demonstrate income consistent with $75,000 per annum over a shorter period prior to 26 June 2021, and they can demonstrate they have been significantly impacted by the Public Health Orders, or
- their turnover in June/July 2019 was not representative of their usual or average turnover (e.g. due to drought or bushfires) which is usually $75,000 per annum or more, and they can demonstrate they have been significantly impacted by the Public Health Orders.
Where a business does not submit a BAS to the Australian Tax Office, the business should also contact Service NSW to discuss further.
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 your business must demonstrate a revenue decline of 30% or more, and annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million.
For non-employing businesses (e.g., eligible sole traders) the payment will be set at $1,000 per week.
Ensure you are registered for updates on how to apply for this grant.
Micro Business Grant
If you’re a micro business (small business or sole trader with annual turnover of more than $30,000 and under $75,000) impacted by the current Greater Sydney COVID-19 restrictions, you may be able to apply for a $1,500 payment per fortnight of restrictions from late July 2021.
Ensure you are registered for updates on how to apply for this grant.
Employers – Standing down employees
Employers may be able to stand their employees down during the coronavirus outbreak for various reasons. This includes when:
- the business has closed because of an enforceable government direction (which means the employee can’t be usefully employed, even from another location)
- there’s a stoppage of work due to lack of supply for which the employer can’t be held responsible.
Please find further information at https://coronavirus.fairwork.gov.au/coronavirus-and-australian-workplace-laws/pay-leave-and-stand-downs/stand-downs
Employers can use Service NSW Template letter for standing down employees – due to the impacts of coronavirus (DOCX 63.2KB) (PDF 310KB). The template includes steps to consider before standing down employees, as well as a letter template for notifying an employee that they are being stood down under the Fair Work Act provisions.
Employees
COVID-19 Disaster Payment
In response to the current NSW lockdown, the Federal Government has extended this support for individuals who have lost work (and pay) as a result of the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Specifically, from week four of the lockdown, the COVID-19 Disaster Payment will increase:
- from $500 to $600 each week if a person has lost 20 hours or more of work a week; or
- from $325 to $375 each week if a person has lost between 8 and 20 hours of work (or a full day of their usual work hours per week).
This will be a recurring payment for approved recipients for as long as the Commonwealth-declared hotspot and lockdown restrictions remain in place. Furthermore, from 18 July 2021, this payment will be available to eligible NSW residents outside Commonwealth-declared hotspots (which will be funded directly by the NSW Government).