COVID 19 - Support for Individuals

JobKeeper Payment

The JobKeeper Payment helps employers to cover the costs of their employees’ wages, so more Australians can retain their jobs and continue to earn an income during COVID-19. Your employer will notify you if they intend to claim the JobKeeper payment of $1,500 per fortnight on your behalf.

You will not be paid the JobKeeper payment by the ATO. Payment comes from your employer who is reimbursed by the ATO.
Tax is withheld from payments at your marginal tax rate, so you may receive less than $1,500 in your bank account.
If you are receiving an income support payment, like JobSeeker, contact Services Australia and let them know that your employer has applied for the JobKeeper payment.

Early release of superannuation

From 20 April, eligible individuals will be able to apply online through myGov to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation before 1 July 2020 and up to a further $10,000 from 1 July 2020 until 24 September 2020.

Individuals will not need to pay tax on amounts released and the money they withdraw will not be taken into account under any income or means tests.

The government has also announced that eligible temporary residents will be able to apply to access up to $10,000 of their super before 1 July 2020.

Reducing superannuation minimum drawdown rates

For many retirees, the significant losses in financial markets as a result of COVID-19 are having a negative effect on their account balance of their superannuation pension or annuity. The minimum drawdown requirements for account-based pensions and similar products have been reduced by 50% for 2019–20 and 2020–21. To reduce your minimum drawdown amount you must let your fund know and they will make the change for you.

Working from home

As the situation around COVID-19 continues to develop, we understand you may now be working from home . To make it easier when claiming a deduction for additional running costs you incur as a result of working from home, special arrangements have been announced.

A simplified method has been introduced that allows you to claim a rate of 80 cents per hour for all your running expenses, rather than having to calculate the additional amount you incurred for specific running expenses.

This simplified method will be available to use from 1 March 2020 until 30 June 2020. You may still use one of the existing methods to calculate your running expenses if you would prefer to.