2022 Small Business Support Program – Guidelines Released

The NSW Government has released the 2022 Small Business Support Program Guidelines (‘the Guidelines’) on the Service NSW website (www.service.nsw.gov.au) which provide businesses with further detail regarding the Support Program announced on 30 January 2022.

The Support Program provides cash flow support to help businesses survive the immediate impacts of the current Omicron wave of COVID-19 and maintain employee-employer relationships.

Eligible businesses will receive one payment covering the four-week period of February 2022. Businesses will not receive payment for January 2022.

Eligible employing businesses will receive the equivalent of 20% of weekly payroll for work performed in New South Wales:

1. the minimum payment will be $750 per week, and
2. the maximum payment will be $5,000 per week.

Eligible non-employing businesses will receive $500 per week.

Businesses impacted by COVID-19 will be eligible if they:

1. had an Australian Business Number (ABN) and were operating in New South Wales on 1 January 2021;
2. had an aggregated annual turnover of between $75,000 and $50 million (inclusive) for the year ended 30 June 2021 or 30 June 2020 (must use the financial year for the Australian Tax Return most recently lodged with the ATO);
3. experienced a decline in turnover of 40% or more due to the impacts of COVID-19 during the month of January 2022, compared to January 2021 or January 2020;
4. experienced a decline in turnover of 40% or more due to the impacts of COVID-19 from 1–14 February 2022 compared to the same fortnight in February in the comparison year used for criterion (c) above, and
5. maintain their employee headcount from 30 January to 28 February 2022

Applicants will be required to complete an online application form through the Service NSW website. Applications will open on 14 February 2022 and close after 11:59pm on 31 March 2022.

Payments will be made in one lump sum covering the four weeks in February 2022.

Businesses must notify Service NSW if they are not maintaining their employee headcount in accordance with these guidelines.

Further information regarding the 2022 Small Business Support Program can be obtained by visiting the Service NSW website or contacting our team.