The Finance Minister, Grant Robertson, has confirmed that both the Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) and the Resurgence Support Payment (RSP) will be available to businesses as a result of the COVID-19 community outbreak.
If eligible, businesses will be able to apply for both the Resurgence Support Payment as well as the Wage Subsidy Scheme.
The Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS)
It has been reported that payment rates for this scheme have been increased to reflect the change in the minimum wage and are now set at $600 per full-time employee (30hrs a week or more) and $359 per part-time employee (less than 30 hrs per week). The wage subsidy scheme is available for businesses that expect to have a 40% loss in turnover due to the alert level changes.
The Wage Subsidy will be paid as a two-week lump sum. Applications open on Friday, August 20, with the first payments usually available after three days.
The Resurgence Support Payment (RSP)
This payment from the IRD is available if businesses incur a loss of 30 per cent of revenue as a result of the alert level increase. Businesses can apply for the lessor of:
- $1,500 plus $400 per full-time equivalent (FTE) employee, up to a maximum of 50 FTEs
- four times (4x) the actual revenue decline experienced by the applicant (a maximum total of $21,500)
You will be able to apply for the resurgence payment here.
Leave Support Scheme
The COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme is available for employers, including self-employed people, to help pay their employees who need to self-isolate and can't work from home.
Short Term Absence Payment
The COVID-19 Short-Term Absence Payment is available for businesses, including self-employed people, to help pay their workers who cannot work from home while they wait for a COVID-19 test result.
