What lockdown support is available to NSW business? – PART 2
The COVID-19 Business Grant provides up to $15,000 to eligible businesses (including not-for-profits and sole traders) with annual wages of up to $10 million.
The value of the grant is determined by the impact of the lockdown on your turnover. Your business will need to prove a decline in turnover across a minimum 2 week period from 26 June 2021 to 17 July 2021.
Decline in turnover | Grant |
70%+ | $15,000 |
50% or more | $10,500 |
30% or more | $7,500 |
How to apply
Applications are made online through Service NSW and close at 11:59pm on 13 September 2021.
Eligibility
The 2021 COVID-19 business grant is available if you:
- Have an active ABN; and
- Can demonstrate that your business was operating in NSW as at 1 June 2021; and
- Have had total annual Australian wages of $10m or less as at 1 July 2020; and
- Have had an aggregated annual turnover between $75,000 and $50m (inclusive) for the year ended 30 June 2020; and
- Have unavoidable business costs from 1 June 2021 for which there is no other government support available; and
- Maintain employee headcount as at 13 July 2021 – the number of people you employed in NSW including full time, part time and long-term casuals that have been employed by the business for more than 12 months; and
- Have experienced a decline in turnover of at least 30% over a minimum 2-week period from 26 June 2021 to 17 July 2021 compared to the same period in 2019. The application will ask you for your lowest fortnightly turnover in this period.
- For businesses and not-for profits on the NSW border with Victoria impacted by lockdown orders that began on 27 May 2021, use the turnover period from 27 May 2021 to 17 July 2021 compared to the same period in May and/or June and/or July 2019.
Some businesses are ineligible for the grant. These include businesses predominantly earning passive income (rent, interest, or dividends), businesses owned by sovereign entities (foreign Governments), businesses in liquidation or bankruptcy proceedings, businesses that did not have an ABN as at 1 June, government agencies, local governments, banks, and universities.
Can I get the JobSaver and the business grant?
If your business meets the eligibility conditions, you can access both the grant and JobSaver.
If your business does not have any employees, you cannot access the grant if persons associated with the business, and who derive income from it, have applied for, or are receiving, the Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
If your business is in the performing arts sector, please see the NSW Performing Arts COVID support package – CreateNSW is streamlining all applications through them.
I don’t employ staff, can I still get the grant?
For sole traders and other businesses without employees, you can access the grant if you meet the other eligibility criteria but only if persons associated with the business, and who derive income from it, have not applied for, and are not receiving, the Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
We can work with you to help assess your eligibility and apply for the grant!
The micro-business grant provides $1,500 per fortnight while lockdown restrictions apply to sole traders and other small businesses with aggregated annual turnover between $30,000 and $75,000. The grants are available from week one of the lockdown until restrictions are eased.
How to apply
Applications are made online through Service NSW. Applications close at 11:59pm on 18 October 2021.
Where your business operates through a trust structure, you will need to provide additional information to demonstrate that a national aggregated annual turnover of more than $30,000 and less than $75,000 is derived through the trust.
Eligibility
- Have an active ABN registered in NSW or can demonstrate your business was operating in NSW as at 1 June 2021; and
- Have had an aggregated annual turnover of more than $30,000 and less than $75,000 for the year ended 30 June 2020; and
- Have experienced a decline in turnover of at least 30% over a minimum 2-week period from the start of the Greater Sydney Lockdown (from 26 June 2021), compared to the same period in 2019; and
- Have business costs for which there is no other government support available; and
- Have not applied for either the 2021 COVID-19 Business Grant or JobSaver; and
- Have less than 20 full time equivalent employees at 1 June 2021; and
- If you are an employer, maintain your headcount as at 13 July 2021; and
- If you do not have employees, such as a sole trader, the business making the application is your primary source of income.
Businesses that received the $1,500 small business fees and charges rebate can apply for this grant.
If your business does not have any employees, you cannot access the grant if persons associated with the business, and who derive income from it, have applied for, or are receiving, the Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
Ineligible businesses include those predominantly earning passive income (rent, interest, or dividends), or businesses in liquidation or individuals in bankruptcy proceedings.
There is a problem with my 2019 comparison period, can I still get help?
Businesses that are not able to meet all the eligibility criteria can still potentially qualify for the grant, but it is necessary to contact ServiceNSW to discuss the situation before applying. Alternatives may be available where:
- The business was not operating for the full year to 30 June 2020 (e.g., new businesses) and you can prove the turnover requirements over a shorter period of time.
- Your business was affected by drought, bushfires or other natural disasters.
- A business change (acquisition, disposal or restructure) impacted the business’ turnover.
- You’re a sole trader or partnership and turnover was impacted by sickness, injury or leave.
You are likely to need us to verify any alternative scenarios for you as part of your application.