New JobKeeper payment available for sole traders and employees

1.04.20

On Monday the government announced a new $130 billion JobKeeper payment scheme for those adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This $1500 per fortnight subsidy is available for eligible employers to pass on to eligible employees. Sole traders may also be eligible.

We encourage our members to review the eligibility criteria to assess if the JobKeeper payment is right for them. 

Am I eligible?

If you are a sole trader whose revenue has fallen, or can expect to fall, by more than 30% in comparison to a typical month in 2019 you may be eligible for the JobKeeper payment for a temporary period of 6 months. You will need to provide an ABN and a declaration about your business. Sole traders are businesses where the individual owner is legally responsible for all aspects of the business, and who may or may not employ others.

We appreciate that most creators receive income from royalties, payable once or twice a year, and understand that it may be difficult for them to show that their revenue has been adversely affected by Coronavirus. We expect that the Treasury will make case studies for creators available in the coming days so that we can better understand how you might apply for the JobKeeper payment. We will update you on this information as it becomes available.

For more information specific to the JobKeeper payment for sole traders click here. 

If you are an employee whose employer’s business has been adversely affected by the pandemic, your employer may be eligible to participate in the JobKeeper scheme. If eligibility requirements are met and your employer elects to participate in the scheme, you would receive the $1500 per fortnight subsidy, via your employer. Full time and part time employees are eligible, as are casuals who have held their job for more than 12 months. If you have multiple jobs you can only receive the payment once, from the employer you nominate as your primary employer. 

For more information specific to the JobKeeper payment for employees click here.

Please note that if you have previously applied for, or have accessed, the JobSeeker payment, but intend to switch over to the JobKeeper payment, you will need to advise Services Australia as you cannot access both payments at the same time. For more examples illustrating the financial support available to creators under the JobSeeker payment, please download these case studies provided by the Department of Social Services.