The government has introduced further changes to the JobKeeper Payment, making it easier for organisations to qualify. The rules have now been registered and are effective from 3 August 2020.

These changes include:

• employees’ eligibility for the JobKeeper Payment can now be assessed in reference to 1 July 2020
• employees can now be nominated by alternative employers if their employment has changed since the JobKeeper Payment began. However, they can still only be nominated by one employer at any given time
• for the fortnights commencing on 3 and 17 August 2020, employers have until 31 August 2020 to meet the wage condition for new eligible employees under the 1 July eligibility test.

The ATO has updated their website accordingly. In summary, the updates to content based on rule change are:

New: How to determine if your employee is considered a long-term casual employee for JobKeeper payments, including new eligibility rules from 3 August.

• • Long-term casual employees

Update: to outline rule changes to the JobKeeper Payment including employee nomination requirements and wage conditions for new eligible employees under the 1 July eligibility test.

• • Your eligible employees
  • Eligible employees

Update: to explain that for JobKeeper fortnights commencing on 3 August 2020 and 17 August 2020, employers have until 31 August 2020 to meet the wage condition for all new eligible employees under the 1 July eligibility test.

• • JobKeeper – key dates

Update: form now includes the eligibility changes.

• • JobKeeper payment – employee nomination notice

Minor updates:

• • JobKeeper guide – employers reporting through STP
  • JobKeeper guide – employers not reporting through STP
  • JobKeeper guide – sole traders
  • JobKeeper Payment landing page
  • Not for profits and charities – JobKeeper payment
  • Employee test requirements

Please note: Eligible employers, sole traders and other entities can still enrol at any time until the program closes.

For more information, visit www.ato.gov.au/jobkeeper