JobKeeper Payment — Information for employees

EMPLOYEE OBLIGATIONS 

Employees will receive a notification from their employer that they are receiving the JobKeeper Payment. The majority of employees will need to do nothing further. 
Employees in the following circumstances will have additional obligations.

• Employees that have multiple employers must notify the employer that is their primary employer.
• Employees that are not Australian citizens must notify their employer of their visa status, to allow their employer to determine if they are an eligible employee.
• Employees that are currently in receipt of, or have applied for, an income support payment should advise Services Australia of their change in circumstances online at my.gov.au or by telephone.

BACKGROUND ON JOBKEEPER PAYMENT FOR EMPLOYEES

Under the JobKeeper Payment, businesses and not-for-profits impacted by the Coronavirus will be able to access a wage subsidy from the Government to continue paying their employees. Affected employers will be able to claim a payment of $1,500 per fortnight per eligible employee from 30 March 2020 until 27 September 2020.

Eligible employees will receive a minimum of $1,500 per fortnight, before tax. It will be up to the employer if they want to pay superannuation on any additional wage paid because of the JobKeeper Payment.

Eligible employees include Australian citizens, the holders of a permanent visa, and Special Category (Subclass 444) Visa holders as at 1 March 2020. Employees must be a resident for Australian tax purposes on 1 March 2020.

Full time and part time employees, including stood down employees, would be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment. Where a casual employee has been with their employer on a regular and systematic basis for at least the previous 12 months on 1 March 2020, and are not permanent employees of any other employer, they will also be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment. An employee will only be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment from one employer.

Employees will be able to receive this payment in a number of different ways.

• If your employer pays you $1,500 or more in income per fortnight before tax, the JobKeeper Payment will assist your employer to continue operating by subsidising all or part of your income.
• If your employer would otherwise pay you less than $1,500 in income per fortnight before tax, your employer must pay you, at a minimum, $1,500 per fortnight before tax.
• If you have been stood down, your employer must pay you, at a minimum, $1,500 per fortnight before tax.

You will not be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment if you are receiving Parental Leave Pay from Services Australia. However, you will be eligible if you are on parental leave from your employer.
If you are receiving workers compensation you will be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment if you are working, for example on reduced hours, but will generally not be eligible if you are not working.

If you are receiving a Services Australia income support payment, like the JobSeeker Payment, and your employer has notified you that they are receiving the JobKeeper Payment, you must report that income to Services Australia. You may also need to cancel your JobSeeker Payment. If you do not report the income or cancel your JobSeeker Payment, you may incur a debt that you will be required to pay back. You can withdraw your claim or cancel your payment using your Centrelink online account through my.gov.au or the Express Plus Centrelink app.

Employee who has been stood down and applied for income support 
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Phoebe works at a cinema as a permanent full-time employee, but she has been stood down under the Fair Work Act without pay. Phoebe had registered an intent to claim with Services Australia for access to the JobSeeker Payment and the Coronavirus supplement. Phoebe is single, with no children and in total she would be eligible to receive $1,124.50 per fortnight, before tax, from Services Australia. 

Phoebe’s employer has decided to apply for the JobKeeper Payment. This would entitle Phoebe to $1,500 per fortnight before tax. Phoebe’s employer is required to advise her that she has been nominated as an eligible employee to receive the payment. 

If Phoebe remains registered to receive income support through Services Australia, she must advise Services Australia of the change in her circumstances. Under the income tests that apply for the JobSeeker payment, Phoebe will no longer be eligible for income support from Services Australia as a result of receiving the JobKeeper Payment. If Phoebe does not notify Services Australia, she may incur a debt that she would need to repay . ​