COVID-19 update – business support

By on 20th August 2021


COVID-19 Wage Subsidy August 2021

Applications for the wage subsidy are now open.

Who can get the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy August 2021?

The eligibility criteria for this wage subsidy is set out in detail on the Work and Income website, click here.  You must complete a full declaration to be able to apply.

The decline in revenue test is:

  •  your business is being or will be affected by the move to Alert Level 4 on 17 August 2021, and
  • your business has had, or you predict will have, a decline in revenue that can be attributed to the effect the move to Alert Level 4 on 17 August 2021 has had on your business, and that is:
    • at least a 40% decline over the period between 17 August 2021 and 30 August 2021 inclusive (this is the revenue test period), compared to a typical 14-day consecutive period of revenue in the six weeks immediately before the move to Alert Level 4 on 17 August 2021 (this is the default comparator period), or
    • if your business has highly seasonal revenue, you must have at least 40% decline over the revenue test period compared to the same 14 consecutive days in 2020 or 2019 (this is the seasonal comparator period), provided you can demonstrate that the seasonal nature of your business makes it harder to meet the 40% revenue decline using the default comparator period than if your business was not of a seasonal nature, and
    • the calculations and comparisons above cannot include any payments made to you from:
      • this subsidy
      • other COVID-19 wage subsidy schemes
      • the Short-term Absence Payment
      • the Leave Support Scheme
      • the COVID-19 Essential Workers Leave Support scheme
      • the COVID-19 Resurgence Support Payment
      • the COVID-19 Small Business Cashflow scheme.

Evidence you are required to prepare and retain

Please note that you are required to prepare and retain evidence to support this declaration, such as records that demonstrate:

  • how the decline in revenue was attributable to the move to Alert Level 4 on 17 August, and
  • if you’re an employer that has highly seasonal revenue:
    • the basis on which you claim your business to be of a seasonal nature, and
    • how the seasonal nature of your business made it harder for your business to meet the 40% revenue decline using the default comparator period than if your business was not of a seasonal nature.

Applications are open for two weeks from today.

Click here to the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy August 2021 page.

(Note: you will require your New Zealand Business number to apply this is available from here).

COVID-19 Resurgence Support Payment (RSP)

Applications for this latest alert level increase will open at 8am on 24 August 2021.

The Resurgence Support Payment (RSP) is a payment to help support viable and ongoing businesses or organisations due to a COVID-19 alert level increase to level 2 or higher.  If your business or organisation is facing a reduction in revenue due to an alert level increase, you may be eligible for the RSP.

Eligibility criteria

A business or organisation must have experienced at least a 30% in revenue or a 30% decline in capital-raising ability over a 7-day period, due to the increased COVID-19 alert level.

Click here to find out more about RSP including the amount you can apply for.

Other business support mechanisms available:

COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme, click here

COVID-19 Short-Term Absence Payment, click here

Useful websites for COVID-19 business support:

Business.govt.nz, click here

Work and Income, click here

Unite against COVID-19, click here

Call us on 04 4771801 or contact us today