Financial Support Available During the August 2021 Lockdown
There are various COVID-19 financial support schemes available to those impacted by the recent New Zealand Lockdown, depending on your situation.
Overview of support available at different alert levels
Resurgence Support Payment
Resurgence Support Payment applications will open nationally from 8am on Tuesday 24 August 2021. Applications will remain open for one month after a nationwide return to Alert Level 1.
Businesses and organisations will be eligible if they experience a 30% drop in revenue over a seven day period after an alert level increase and meet other eligibility criteria. This drop is compared to a typical seven-day period in the six weeks before the increase in alert level. Seasonal businesses should show a 30% revenue drop compared with a similar week the previous year.
The decline in revenue must be a result of the specific alert level change, not just COVID-19 in general. You must have been in business for at least six months to be eligible. Charities, not-for-profit organisations, the self-employed and pre-revenue businesses, such as start-ups may also be eligible.
This payment is not a loan, so does not need to be repaid. The payment must be used to help cover business expenses such as wages and fixed costs.
Check eligibility HERE
Apply HERE
Wage Subsidy Scheme
Applications for the Wage Subsidy Scheme are open. You can apply on the Work and Income website.
The Wage Subsidy is available to eligible businesses, organisations and the self-employed impacted by the move to Alert Level 4 on 17 August 2021.
To reflect higher wage costs since the scheme was first used in March 2020 the payments have been increased to:
- $600 per week per full-time employee
- $359 per week per part-time employee.
Find out more HERE
Enquiry form HERE
Short-Term Absence Payment
A COVID-19 Short-Term Absence Payment is available at all Alert Levels to employers to pay workers who follow public health guidance and are staying home while waiting for a COVID-19 test result. It’s also available to eligible self-employed workers. To be eligible, workers need to be unable to work from home and need to miss work while waiting for the test results.
There's a one-off payment of $350 for each eligible worker. From 24 August 2021, this payment is increasing to $359 for each eligible worker. Employers or the self-employed can apply for any worker once in any 30-day period.
Find out more and how to apply HERE
