Venkat Raman
Auckland, October 22, 2021
Fortnightly Payments (calculated weekly) from November 12, 2021
- RSP rate doubled and paid fortnightly, up to $43,000 per business
- Wage subsidy will continue through the transition period
- Cost of new RSP and wage subsidy is up to $940 million per fortnight
- $60 million package for Regional Business Partner Programme and mental health support
Businesses will receive higher, fortnightly Resurgence Payment (RSP) from November 12, 2021 in addition to the existing Wage Subsidy Scheme as Auckland continues to be under tough lockdown conditions and the rest of the country feeling the impact.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced in Wellington today that the RSP will be up to $43,000 per business depending on its loss in business review and number of full-time employees and that it would cost the Exchequer about $940 million every fortnight.
Higher fortnightly payments
He said that the fortnightly payments will begin at the double rate after the next scheduled payment to be made on October 29, 2021. The enhanced support will first be paid on November 12, 2021 and fortnightly thereafter until Auckland is able to move into the new framework.
“Currently the RSP is paid at a base rate of $1500 per eligible business and $400 for each Full-Time Employee up to a total of $21,500. For the payments starting on November 12, 2021, this will be $3000 per business and $800 per FTE, up to 50 FTEs. In effect, this means the RSP will be a weekly rather than three weekly payments as it is now, but for ease of application and administration, it will be available in fortnightly instalments. We are not changing any settings at this time so payments can be made without disruption,” he said.
He said that the enhanced RSP will be available until Auckland moves into the new framework. The Wage Subsidy will continue to be available on the current criteria while areas of the country are still in Alert Level 3.
“Final details of the support to be provided under the new framework will be agreed upon in November. My expectation is that because businesses will be able to operate at all levels of the framework, the wage subsidy and the RSP will be reworked to a new targeted payment at the RED level of the new framework,” Mr Robertson said.
Mental Health Support
He said that the Cabinet has approved a $60 million package for business advice and mental health support to help Auckland businesses through this transition period.
Businesses will be able to apply for up to $3000 worth of advice and planning support, and then receive up to $4,000 to implement that advice through the established Regional Business Partners programme, he said.
“Businesses have requested for this fund. It worked well in the first phase of Covid to support businesses to realign themselves with a changed and challenging business landscape. Some businesses used it to develop a new online presence, others to change the focus of their production, or to target a different market. As part of the package, $10 million is being provided for mental health and wellbeing support to small businesses. This will be delivered through a programme to be designed in conjunction with the Employers and Manufacturers Association and Auckland Business Chamber of Commerce,” Mr Robertson said.
Helping Small Businesses
Small Business Minister Stuart Nash said that the measures are designed to support Auckland businesses to deal with the uncertainties caused by the Delta outbreak.
“This will help build more resilient businesses, improve the ability to operate when Covid-19 restrictions are in place and position businesses better to seize future opportunities. The Regional Business Partners programme is a proven network of experienced advisors who can recommend tailored solutions to the issues faced by business owners. This will make a real difference in difficult times and ease some of the financial and wellbeing stresses faced by Auckland businesses under lockdown,” he said.
Mr Robertson said that the government has thus far paid about $4.8 billion in support since the Delta outbreak began on August 17, 2021.
“This amount exceeds the new operating spending we would have for a whole year for the whole country in most Budgets. But we are not through this outbreak yet and as we have done constantly over the past 20 months we are adjusting in response to the circumstances. I know this outbreak has been particularly hard on Auckland and the coming weeks will continue to be tough as we lift vaccination rates so that we can move to the new Covid-protection framework,” he said.
