Covid 19 Support for Businesses

Find out what Covid 19 Support for Businesses is available in August 2021

Full details can be found here on the covid19.govt.nz website but we will summarise some key information for you regarding the Wage Subsidy and Resurgence Payment below.

If you need our help, get in touch!

Wage Subsidy

Wage subsidies are available for all businesses and self-employed people who have or predict at least a 40% decline in their revenue from 31 August to 13 September.

Applications are to be made to Work and Income note however, they are currently experiencing some delays.

If you applied for the wage subsidy in the initial two week period in August, you can also apply for the second wage subsidy relating to the period 31 August to 13 September however you must meet eligibility criteria.

The Wage Subsidy Scheme

If your business cannot operate due to level 4 restrictions or you will lose revenue, you can apply for the Wage Subsidy which is designed to help keep paying your staff and protect jobs.

Businesses and self-employed people must expect a 40% drop in revenue to be eligible to receive the wage subsidy.

The wage subsidy is paid in a 2 week lump sum. You can get:

• $600 per week for each full-time employee
• $359 per week for each part-time employee

As an employer you must pass on the full wage subsidy to your employee. If the wage subsidy is more than your employee’s pay, you can continue to pay them at their normal rate.

If your business has to physically close but your employees can work from home, and you are not eligible for the Wage Subsidy Scheme, you need to keep paying them their usual salary or wages.

You cannot get the Wage Subsidy August 2021, Leave Support Scheme and Short-Term Absence Payment for the same employee at the same time.

Applications for the August 2021 Wage Subsidy are now open. You need to apply through Work and Income.

Find out if you are eligible for the Wage Subsidy and how to apply

COVID-19 Resurgence Support Payment

The COVID-19 Resurgence Support Payment helps to cover wages and fixed costs for businesses who have been directly affected when there is an increase to Alert Level 2 or higher for a week or more.

To be eligible, your business must have experienced at least a 30% drop in revenue or a 30% decline in capital-raising ability over a 7-day period, due to an increase in Alert Levels.

You can receive $1,500 per business plus $400 per full-time employee (FTE), up to 50 FTE.

The maximum payment is $21,500.

If you’re a sole trader, you can receive a payment of up to $1,900.

Applications for the COVID-19 Resurgence Support Payment are now open. You need to apply through Inland Revenue. Businesses anywhere in New Zealand can apply if they meet the eligibility criteria.

You can apply for both the COVID-19 Resurgence Support Payment and the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme if you meet all the eligible criteria.

Find out more information about the COVID-19 Resurgence Support Payment and how to apply