27th August 2021
The financial packages, eligibility criteria, and information offered by the Government changed at a breakneck speed early in this latest NSW lockdown. No sooner had we crafted the perfect newsletter with the most up-to-date information, and the goalposts would shift. It is little wonder many business owners are still a bit lost, confused, or discouraged to apply for the grants. We would encourage you to take a deep breath and have another look. We want to ensure our clients are getting what they are eligible for in order to keep you afloat during this latest lockdown.
NSW Business Grant also equals Jobsaver
The NSW Business Grant changes mostly focused on the comparison periods available. Here is a quick summary:
Businesses, including sole traders, are eligible for a NSW Business Grant if they have experienced a decline in turnover for a 2-week period within the dates of 26 June – 17 July 2021 when compared to the same period in 2019, or the same period in 2020, or the 2-week period immediately before lockdown commenced (12 – 25 June 2021) and have:
- A NSW registered ABN or able to demonstrate they are physically located and primarily operating in NSW; and
- Annual turnover of more than $75,000 for the year ending 30 June 2020; but
- Below the NSW Government 2020-21 payroll tax threshold of $1.2m as at 1 July 2020; with
- Fewer than 20 full-time equivalent employees
If you believe you are eligible for the NSW Business Grant and haven’t applied yet, please apply here.
What is not well known is the eligibility for JobSaver Payments. If a business qualifies for the NSW Business Grant, they are also eligible to apply for Jobsaver. The payments for Jobsaver are:
- Employing businesses: 40% of weekly payroll, with a minimum payment of $1,500 per week and a maximum payment of $100,000 per week
- Non-employing business: $1,000 per week.
We hope this is a happy surprise for your Friday. To apply for Jobsaver, click on this link
Change in dates for Micro Business Grants
The test periods for the Micro Business Grants have opened up considerably, which means many more small businesses will now be eligible. Double-check these dates to determine if you are now eligible for the Micro Business Grant:
If your business has experienced a decline in turnover of 30% or more due to the public health order over a minimum 2-week period within the period of restrictions (commenced 26 June 2021 to end of lockdown), compared to:
- the same period in 2019, or
- the same period in 2020, or
- the 2 weeks immediately prior to any restrictions of 12 June to 25 June 2021 (inclusive).
This may be a little bit of good news for your small business. If so, head over to the Service NSW Micro Grants to apply
It’s not often we have a genuine apology from a politician and so when one arrives, it’s a refreshing change. Victor Dominello, Minister for Customer Service, recently publicly apologised for the shortcomings of Service NSW in meeting the needs of businesses requiring support. They are struggling under the weight of applications from businesses in need. If you are experiencing delays or problems with your application, please call Service NSW on 13 77 88 or email them at smallbusinessassistance@service.nsw.gov.au
If you think we might be able to help, then please don’t hesitate to reach out.
