Here we are again locked down. With luck the Level 4 will only last till Friday 20th but it may be longer before you can all get back to work in a normal fashion.
The Government has again opened the coffers to help you through this period. Below is a summary of the available financial relief packages and links to the further information.
Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS)
This payment will be available nationally to help eligible businesses (the criteria will be included on the application form, I think we can assume it will be a 40% decline in revenue caused by the change in alert levels, as per the March 2021 WSS criteria) continue paying staff and protecting jobs. To reflect increased wage costs, the payments have been increased to $600 for full-time employees and to $359 for part-time employees. This will be open to applications from 9am on Friday 20 August 2021, with applications initially open for two weeks. For more information on the WSS, see https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/index.html
The Resurgence Support Payment (RSP)
This payment will be available to any business or organisation in New Zealand that experiences at least a 30% drop in revenue or a 30% decline in capital-raising ability over a 7-day period, due to a COVID-19 alert level increase of level 2 or higher. This will be open to applications from 8am on Tuesday 24 August 2021 and will be available until one month after a nationwide return to Alert Level 1. For more information on the RSP, see https://www.ird.govt.nz/covid-19/business-and-organisations/resurgence-support-payment
The Leave Support Scheme (LSS)
This payment provides a two-week lump sum payment of either $585.80 per week for full-time workers or $350 per week for part-time workers who must self-isolate and cannot work from home. The rates increase to either $600 per week for full-time workers or $359 per week for part-time workers from Tuesday 24 August 2021. For more information on the LSS, see https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/leave-support-scheme/index.html
The Short-Term Absence Payment (STAP)
This payment provides a one-off (once per 30 days) payment of $350 for workers who must miss work due to a COVID-19 test and cannot work from home. The rate increases to $359 from Tuesday 24 August 2021. For more information on the STAP, see https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/short-term-absence-payment
The Small Business Cashflow Scheme (SBCA)
This scheme supports small to medium businesses and organisations struggling with a loss of actual revenue due to COVID-19. Applications are open until 31 December 2023. For more information on the SBCS, see https://www.ird.govt.nz/covid-19/business-and-organisations/sbcs
This is just a brief outline of what is available so please do use the links for more detailed information.
Please remember we have been through this before and if we work together we will be back at the Level 1 version of normal before we know it.
If you have any concerns or worries or just need help with your applications just contact the team here at Hetherington Johnston and we would be happy to help. Contact us on (04) 566-3302.
Be Safe and Well.
Helen & Alastair McEwen and the team at HJ
