A Restart wage subsidy of up to $10,000 over two years is available.
You may remember that the 2014 Federal Budget introduced a wage subsidy for employers hiring older unemployed people. That scheme commenced this month.
Starting 1 July 2014, the Restart wage subsidy of up to $10,000 over two years is available if you hire and retain an unemployed person aged at least 50 who has been on income support for no less than six months.
Note that long-term unemployed people who do not qualify for benefits due to their family situation are excluded from the scheme. Nor does it help someone who has been retrenched get back into their normal occupation if they've taken a fill-in job while they search for a career position.
Back at the practical level, Restart payments are available in respect of new hires working at least 15 hours per week, with the full amount limited to those doing at least 30 hours. The payments are made at six-monthly intervals; two of $3,000 followed by two of $2,000.
There are a number of conditions concerning the job and the employee. In particular, the job must be "a sustainable, ongoing position" that "does not displace an existing employee".
Another condition is that the position "will not bring the Commonwealth into disrepute".
