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COVID-19 payments extended: Who is eligible and how do you apply?
14 Sept 2022
The COVID-19 pandemic leave payment will be extended, the Prime Minister announced today. The lump sum payment will continue for as long as people are required to isolate.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and state and territory leaders decided to continue the payments which were due to end on 30 September, following a national cabinet meeting.
“While the government requires mandated isolation, the government has a responsibility to provide support,” Mr Albanese said.
“We remain obviously of the view that if people are sick, whether from COVID or from other health issues, they should not be at work.”
However, Mr Albanese added that the rules will be changed to cap the number of claims at three per person payments in a six-month period, except in extraordinary circumstances.
You may be eligible for the payment if you need to isolate due to COVID-19 and are unable to work. Here’s how it works.
What is the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment?
The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment is a lump sum payment for those who are unable to work and earn an income because of mandated COVID-19 isolation or quarantine. This could be because you have tested positive for COVID-19, you are a deemed close contact of someone who has COVID-19, or you are caring for someone who has to isolate with COVID-19 or as a close contact, including a child under 16 or a person with a disability.
If you are eligible and your workplace is high risk, the government will pay you $750 if you lost 20 hours or more of work, or $450 if you lost at least eight hours or a full day’s pay.
If you don’t work in a high risk workplace, you can get $540 if you lost 20 hours or more of work, or $450 if you lost at least eight hours or a full day’s work.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible for the payment, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- You’re at least 17 years old and living in Australia as a citizen, permanent resident or on an eligible visa
- You can’t work and earn an income for at least eight hours or a full day’s pay in your five- or seven-day period of self-isolation, quarantine or caring
- You have no sick leave entitlements, including pandemic sick leave, personal leave or leave to care for another person
- You have liquid assets (such as cash or savings) of less than $10,000
Couples can both claim the payment but will need to lodge separate claims. For more details on these criteria, you can visit the Services Australia website.
How to claim the payment
You can make a claim online through your myGov account linked to Centrelink. Claims must be made within 14 days of the start of each five- or seven-day period of self-isolation, quarantine or caring.
If you are having trouble using online services, you can also call 180 22 66 for help claiming.
For more information visit Services Australia.
Cover image source: illpaxphotomatic/Shutterstock.com
This article was reviewed by our Deputy Editor Sean Callery before it was updated, as part of our fact-checking process.
