Latest financial support for Covid-19 disruption

Introduction

There is a range of additional and extended support available to NZ businesses in light of the recent change in Alert Levels.

Here’s a quick overview – read more below or give us a call.

COVID-19 Wage Subsidy March 2021

The Wage Subsidy March 2021 is a payment to support self-employed people and employers, to continue to pay employees and protect jobs for businesses affected by the rise in alert levels.
You can apply from 1pm on Thursday 4 March 2021, and payments will start from Monday 8 March 2021.

Read about the Wage Subsidy March 2021

Resurgence Support Payment – available now

Inland Revenue’s Resurgence Support Payment is available now. It’s in addition to the other payments listed here.
It’s to help businesses whose revenue has reduced because of a COVID-19 Alert Level 2 or higher. Applications can be made in myIR.

Find out more on the Inland Revenue website.

COVID-19 Short-term Absence Payment

Available from 9am on 9 February 2021, it’s to help businesses keep paying eligible workers who:

cannot work from home and
need to miss work to stay at home while waiting on a COVID-19 test result (in line with public health guidance).

There’s a one-off payment of $350 for each eligible worker.
It will also be available to self-employed workers.
Parents or caregivers who need to miss work to support their dependents who are staying at home awaiting a test result will also be eligible.

You can learn more here.

COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme

This is still available. The payment rates are:

$585.80 for people working 20 hours or more per week (full-time rate)
$350 for people working less than 20 hours per week (part-time rate).

The Leave Support Scheme is for employees and self-employed people who meet certain health criteria (for example workers who are sick with COVID-19 or meet the other eligibility criteria).

Learn more here.