Increased financial support for hundreds of thousands of workers in New South Wales will be available from next week as part of the Commonwealth Government’s expanded national COVID-19 Disaster Payment.

 

Payments will continue to support workers in every state and territory who lose hours due to a state government lockdown or public health order.

 

Eligible workers will receive $750 per week if they lose 20 hours or more of work while those that lose between 8 and less than 20 hours, or a full day of work, will receive a payment of $450 per week.

 

This new level of payment recognises the significant impact that the new COVID-19 Delta strain is having on communities, businesses and workers.

 

The Commonwealth Government will provide financial support to those in a declared Commonwealth Hotspot. The provision of financial support outside of these areas will be provided where requested at the cost of state or territory governments.

 

The new national payment rate will commence for payments processed week commencing 2 August and will be automatically updated for those already in the Services Australia system.

 

It will be available from day one of any potential lockdown in the future, with claims made from day eight in arrears for the previous seven days. A weekly payment will then be made for the duration of the hotspot declaration.

 

There will be no liquid assets test applied to eligibility for these payments and an individual does not need to run down personal annual leave.

 

Individuals who currently receive an income support payment through our social security safety net will receive a weekly payment of $200, in addition to their existing payment, if they can demonstrate they have lost more than 8 hours of work and meet the other eligibility requirements for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment.

 

Claiming this payment must be done through Services Australia and myGov and will be a separate stand-alone payment. It will be paid weekly for however long the lockdown and Commonwealth Hotspot remains in place.

 

Our Government will continue to support Australians facing the economic consequences of extended lockdowns.

 

The Commonwealth Government, through Services Australia, has processed more than 955,000 COVID Disaster Payment claims, paying out more than $490 million to workers in New South Wales and Victoria.

 

More information about the COVID-19 Disaster Payment can be found on the Services Australia website.

Image courtesy ABC