As you would be aware, things have changed significantly around Australia with the recent announcements of enforced closing of some businesses and other restrictions imposed by the Governments to stop the spread of COVID-19.
It is going to be a very tough time for all of us over the next 6 to 12 months and some of us will be affected way more than others, but we want to reassure you that the team at BeWise Accounting are here and will be working overtime to ensure we are supporting all of our clients.
The key Government website that you need to be aware of is https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus
It contains very useful Fact Sheets and information for business owners and individuals.
We have had many enquiries about what benefits might be available to you. Below is a summary of the key measures for individuals faced with loss of employment or significantly reduced income and what assistance is available. This information does not specifically address small business clients.
In Summary
- Sole traders and self-employed eligible for Jobseeker payment – the eligibility criteria to access income support relaxed for the self-employed and sole traders.
- Early release of superannuation – individuals in financial distress are able to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation in 2019-20, and a further $10,000 in 2020-21. The withdrawals will be tax-free and will not affect Centrelink or Veterans’ Affairs payments.
- Temporary reduction in minimum superannuation draw down rates – superannuation minimum drawdown requirements for account based pensions and similar products reduced by 50% in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
- Deeming rates reduced – from 1 May, superannuation deeming rates reduced further to a lower rate of 0.25% and upper rate of 2.25%.
- Supplements increased, access extended and eased – for 6 months from 27 April 2020:
- A temporary coronavirus supplement of $550 will be paid to existing income support recipients (people will receive their normal payment plus $550 each fortnight for 6 months).
- A second one-off stimulus payment of $750 will be paid automatically from 13 June 2020 to certain income support recipients (in addition to the payment made from 31 March 2020).
- Eligibility for access to income support eased to include sole traders and the self-employed, and to those caring for someone infected or in isolation.
- Waiting periods and assets tests temporarily waived.
- Bankruptcy safety net – temporary 6 month increase to the threshold for the minimum amount of debt required for a creditor to initiate bankruptcy proceedings against a debtor from $5,000 to $20,000.
In Detail
Sole traders and self-employed eligible for Jobseeker payment
The eligibility criteria to access income support payments will be relaxed to enable the self-employed and sole traders whose income has been reduced, to access support.
More: Income support for individuals
More: More financial support for coronavirus affected job seekers
Early release of superannuation
From mid-April, individuals in financial distress will be able to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation in 2019-20, and a further $10,000 in 2020-21. The withdrawals will be tax free and will not affect Centrelink or Veterans’ Affairs payments.
To be eligible to access your superannuation you need to meet the following requirements:
- you are unemployed; or
- you are eligible to receive a job seeker payment, youth allowance for jobseekers, parenting payment (which includes the single and partnered payments), special benefit or farm household allowance; or
- on or after 1 January 2020:
- you were made redundant; or
- your working hours were reduced by 20% or more; or
- if you are a sole trader — your business was suspended or there was a reduction in your turnover of 20% or more.
For those eligible to access their superannuation, you can apply directly to the ATO through the myGov website from mid-April.
More: Early access to superannuation
Temporary reduction in minimum superannuation draw down rates
Superannuation minimum drawdown requirements for account-based pensions and similar products will be reduced by 50% in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
| Age | Default minimum drawdown rates (%) | Reduced rates by 50 per cent for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 income years (%) |
| Under 65 | 4 | 2 |
| 65-74 | 5 | 2.5 |
| 75-79 | 6 | 3 |
| 80-84 | 7 | 3.5 |
| 85-89 | 9 | 4.5 |
| 90-94 | 11 | 5.5 |
| 95 or more | 14 | 7 |
The upper and lower social security deeming rates will be reduced further. As of 1 May 2020, the upper deeming rate will be 2.25% and the lower deeming rate 0.25%.
More: Providing support for retirees
Time limited fortnightly $550 ‘coronavirus supplement’
For the next 6 months, the Government is introducing a new Coronavirus supplement to be paid at a rate of $550 per fortnight. This supplement will be paid to both existing and new recipients in the eligible payment categories.
The payment will be made to those receiving:
- Jobseeker payment (and those transitioning to the jobseeker payment)
- Youth allowance jobseeker
- Parenting payment
- Farm household allowance
- Special benefits recipients
In addition, eligibility to income support payments will be expanded to:
- Permanent employees who are stood down or lose their job
- Casual workers
- Sole traders
- The self-employed
- Contract workers who meet the income test
The Government notes that these criteria could include those required to care for someone affected by the Coronavirus.
Asset testing has also been reduced and will be waived for 6 months. Income testing will still apply.
The payment is not available if you have access to any employer entitlements such as annual or sick leave or income protection insurance.
More: Income support for individuals
Second $750 payment to households
The Government is now providing two separate $750 payments to social security, veteran and other income support recipients and eligible concession card holders residing in Australia (see the full list here). The payment will be exempt from taxation and will not count as income for the purposes of Social Security, Farm Household Allowance and Veteran payments.
- Payment 1 from 31 March 2020 (previously announced on 12 March): Available to people who are eligible payment recipients and concession card holders at any time between 12 March 2020 to 13 April 2020;
- Payment 2 from 13 July 2020: Available to people who are eligible payment recipients and concession card holders on 10 July 2020.
The payments will be made automatically to those that meet the criteria.
More: Payments to support households
Bankruptcy safety net
A temporary 6 month increase to the threshold for the minimum amount of debt required for a creditor to initiate bankruptcy proceedings against a debtor will increase from $5,000 to $20,000. In addition, the time a debtor has to respond to a bankruptcy notice will be temporarily increased from 21 days to six months.
Where someone declares their intention to enter voluntary bankruptcy, the period of protection from unsecured creditors will be extended from 21 days to 6 months.
More: Temporary relief for financially distressed businesses
More information:
- Joint media release with The Hon. Scott Morrison MP Prime Minister
- Treasury: Support for Businesses
- Treasury: Supporting Individuals and Households
The team at BeWise Accounting are here to help you. Please reply to this email or phone us on (02) 4225 0816 if you need any assistance. We will stay in touch with you with regular update emails, and while we’re limiting face to face appointments for the time being, we will be available for phone meetings or even a Skype/Zoom Meeting if required. We are here to help however we can.
