Auckland is currently in Alert Level 3 until at least midnight Wednesday 17 February, and the rest of NZ is in Level 2, meaning some businesses have to change how they operate.
Here is some of the support on offer.
WAGE SUBSIDY
In the event of a move of Levels 3 and 4 for seven days or more, the wage subsidy will be available.
The value will be $585.80 a week for full-time staff, and $350 for part-time, and businesses will need to show a 40 per cent decline compared to the six weeks prior to the alert level change.
RESURGENCE SUPPORT PAYMENT
In the event of a move to Levels 2, 3 or 4 for seven days or more, businesses that suffer a revenue drop of 30 per cent over a fortnight will be able to receive up to $21,500 depending on how many employees they have. The key point to note is ‘seven days or more’. We have learnt today (16 Feb) that Parliament is to rush through the Covid-19 business support laws today. Details TBC.
Businesses can get $1500 plus $400 for every full-time employee, up to 50 employees.
SHORT-TERM ABSENCE PAYMENT
The short-term absence payment helps businesses to pay employees who cannot work from home while they wait for a Covid-19 test result. It’s also available to those self-employed.
A one-off $350 payment is available for each employee and can be used once for each eligible worker in a 30-day period. There is an exception to the 30-day limit, however. The payment can be applied for more than once if the worker is told to get a test by a doctor or medical official.
LEAVE SUPPORT SCHEME
Available when staff have been told to self-isolate, have Covid-19, a caregiver of someone told to self-isolate, a close contact of someone with Covid-19, or are in a household with people at high risk from Covid-19 and have been told to self-isolated, and can’t work from home.
SMALL BUSINESS CASHFLOW SCHEME
This is a loan scheme that you need to apply for but the criteria from last year has changed in that you need to show a 30% drop in revenue over a 14 day period. Applications are open until December 2023.
BUSINESS FINANCE GUARANTEE SCHEME
Business Finance Guarantee loans can help small and medium businesses access credit for cashflow, capital assets and projects related to, responding to or recovering from the impacts of COVID-19. Borrowers are still liable and must pay back the debt, with interest, in the usual way.
TRAVEL OUTSIDE AUCKLAND
Businesses that require travel outside Auckland can register for travel documents using an online register. Register from this link from Business.govt.
For more information go to Work and Income, the official Covid-19 site, or business.govt.nz
If you are thinking of applying for further support for you and your business, make a time to have a quick chat to us first.
(Source: One News).
