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JobKeeper FAQs

What is a JobKeeper payment?

The objective of the JobKeeper payment is to provide a general economic stimulus to the economy and direct financial support in the form of a wage subsidy to businesses that have been directly impacted by COVID-19. The employer (Translationz) continues to pay their employee and then receives the reimbursement for the JobKeeper payment of $1,500 per fortnight.

Who is eligible?

Eligibility was determined by the criteria set by the Australian government. Translationz has followed the requirements of the government.

Business eligibility: Translationz meets the criteria and has opted to participate as a company in JobKeeper.

Employee eligibility: We invited all employees to participate who met the following criteria for eligibility.

An employee is eligible for JobKeeper payments if they:

  • are employed during the JobKeeper period (between 30 March 2020 and 27 September 2020);
  • met the eligibility criteria on 1 March 2020; and
  • have completed a Nomination Notice.

The eligibility criteria for an employee on 1 March 2020 was:

  • employed on a full-time or part-time basis, or a long-term casual employee;
  • over 16; and
  • an Australian resident or 444 visa holder.

A long-term casual employee is defined as an employee who has been employed by the business on a "regular and systematic basis" for at least 12 months prior to JobKeeper beginning.

Eligible employees must also complete a Nomination Notice indicating they wish to receive a JobKeeper payment from their employer. The Nomination Notice states that the employee:

met the 1 March 2020 eligibility requirements;

  • agrees to be nominated by the employer as an eligible employee for the JobKeeper payment; and
  • has not given a Nomination Notice to any other employer.

Question: What does regular and systematic mean?

When determining whether a casual employee is regular and systematic, the normal test from the Fair Work Act was applied. Factors such as a clear pattern or roster of hours is a strong indicator of a regular and systematic, though this can also be established where the employer offered work and it was accepted by the employee regularly enough to no longer be considered irregular.

Question: Who has been enrolled in JobKeeper?

Translationz employees who are eligible, have completed the JobKeeper Employee Nomination Notice and nominated Translationz have been enrolled in JobKeeper with Translationz as their employer.

Question: Can I not accept work and still receive the JobKeeper payment?

No. You must continue to accept work when offered in a regular and systematic basis between the period of 30 March and 27 September 2020. Employees cease to be eligible for JobKeeper payments if you stop accepting the work on a regular and systemic basis. As you have been in previous months accepting and declining assignments the same regular and systematic accepting of work is expected on the JobKeeper program. If you cease to be eligible, Translationz will remove you from the JobKeeper nomination. If you have a specific concern feel free to contact us by telephone to discuss.

Amounts paid

Question: Who pays JobKeeper to me and how much do I receive?

Answer: You are an eligible recipient of JobKeeper and Translationz is the employer you nominated for JobKeeper. Translationz pays you the JobKeeper payment in the amount of at least equivalent to the JobKeeper payment which is $1500 per fortnight before tax.

Question: Why have I received less than $1,500?

Answer: The payment you receive from Translationz is generally treated the same as salary or wages for tax purposes, so Translationz must withhold income tax and any other amounts that are ordinarily withheld from your wage or salary. Examples of amounts withheld from salary are HECS-HELP repayments and salary sacrifice arrangements. We applied the tax nomination that we have on file for you which is the same tax nomination that has been applied in previous payments.

Source: https://www.ato.gov.au/General/JobKeeper-Payment/In-detail/Employees--frequently-asked-JobKeeper-questions/

Question: Why have I received more than $1,500?

If you performed work exceeding $1500 per fortnight, you will be paid the amount you earned less tax.

Question: How is my JobKeeper payment calculated?

Payment made to you 30 April for 1st to 15th of April period.

On April 22nd, Translationz paid you the regular pay which was for the period from 1 – 15 April. We then paid the top up payment for the period 1 – 15 April on 30 April. If you did not receive a payment on the 30th April, it is because a top up was not required as your pay during this period exceeded the $1500.

The total amount of JobKeeper is $1500 per fortnight. Translationz had historically been paying twice per month instead of fortnightly and therefore the calculation is as follows for the first payment:

Over the six month period there are 26 weeks equaling 13 fortnights. (13 x $1500 = $19,500.)

Over the six months there are 12 pay periods (as per Translationz historical pay).

Therefore, the first pay is equal to a total of ($19,500 divided by 12) = $1,625 minus tax.

This was calculated as $1,625 minus the amount already paid for the period minus any tax.

Example: Peter was paid $800 for the pay run for the 1 -15th of April. Therefore the top up payment was $1,625 minus $800 = $825 minus tax.

Translationz will switch to fortnightly payments in the next payment which will be for period 12th to 26th of April period.

Your next pay will be made on 7th May and will be for the period 12th to 26th of April.

Future fortnightly payments will be made one week after the end of the fortnight period (see table below).


Question: I completed assignments where if calculated (rate * assignments) I would earn LESS than $1,500 per fortnight. What pay will I receive?

As you are an eligible JobKeeper recipient and if you maintain eligibility, Translationz will pay you $1,500 (before tax) per fortnight. Without JobKeeper you would have recieved less than $1,500 in pay (before tax) per fortnight based on your completed assignments,

Translationz will continue paying you your actual assignment based pay and then provide a ‘top-up’ so you receive $1,500 (before tax) per fortnight.

Question: I completed assignments where if calculated (rate * assignments) I would earn MORE than $1,500 per fortnight. What pay will I receive?

Translationz will pay you the actual amount earned (before tax) per fortnight. Note: You do not receive $1,500 in addition to the assignment based earnings.

Question: How do I maintain eligibility?

You must maintain eligibility to continue to receive JobKeeper. To do this you must continue to be accept work when offered in a regular and systematic basis between the period of 30 March and 27 September 2020. Employees cease to be eligible for JobKeeper payments if you stop accepting the work on a regular and systemic basis. If you cease to be eligible, Translationz will remove you from the JobKeeper nomination. Feel free to contact us if you have concerns.

https://coronavirus.fairwork.gov.au/coronavirus-and-australian-workplace-laws/flexibility-in-workplace-laws-during-coronavirus/jobkeeper-changes-to-the-fair-work-act

Question: I am an employee of more than one employer. Can I change the JobKeeper employer?

Answer: No – once you have agreed to be nominated by one of your eligible employers and completed the Employee Nomination notice, you cannot change the employer who is claiming JobKeeper payments for you. If you have an employer you are permanently employed with you cannot nominate your casual employer.

Source: https://www.ato.gov.au/General/JobKeeper-Payment/In-detail/Employees--frequently-asked-JobKeeper-questions/