Commonwealth income support on the way for SA hotspots
- Written by Scott Morrison
Help is available for South Australians and more help is on the way.
The Morrison Government has activated income support payments of up to $600 a week for South Australians affected by COVID restrictions.
Our Government will stand by South Australians, as we will with other states and territories, in support of those communities that are facing the economic consequences of extended lockdowns.
Australia’s Chief Medical Officer has declared a number of local government areas a ‘hotspot’ under Commonwealth definitions, and the South Australian Government has declared a lockdown for the state for seven days.
Individuals will be eligible for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment if they have lost between 8 and less than 20 hours of work for a payment of $375, and for 20 or more hours of work for a payment of $600, during the period of the lockdown. There will be no liquid assets test applied to eligibility for these payments.
The payments will be paid in arrears for the lockdown and anyone affected can apply through myGov from Wednesday, 28 July. More information about this payment and how to claim, will be available on the Services Australia website soon at: servicesaustralia.gov.au/covid19disasterpayment
To get ready, South Australians should set up their myGov accounts so they can claim quickly and easily online.
Services Australia will make the payments as quickly as possible, with some payments being made in less than an hour following an application.
Anyone who is required to self-isolate by South Australian health directions is also eligible for payments of $1500 to support them to replace lost income. You can get more information on this payment at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/pandemic-leave-disaster-payment
Further information on lockdown assistance is available here.
South Australians in the following local government areas can apply:
The cities of:
- Adelaide
- Burnside
- Campbelltown
- Charles Sturt
- Holdfast Bay
- Marion
- Mitcham
- Norwood Payneham and St Peters
- Onkaparinga
- Playford
- Port Adelaide Enfield
- Prospect
- Salisbury
- Tea Tree Gully
- Unley
- West Torrens
The towns of:
- Gawler
- Walkerville
And the council of:
- Adelaide Hills Council
