About the Payment
COVID-19 Disaster Payment is a payment to support workers who are unable to work due to a state or territory public health order that imposes restrictions on movement, such as a lockdown. The Payment is available for the second and any subsequent weeks of restrictions.
For weeks 2 and 3 of restrictions, the amount of the Payment is:
- $500 per week of restrictions for people who have lost 20 hours or more of paid employment per week; and
- $325 per week for people who have lost less than 20 hours per week of paid employment.
From week 4 of restrictions onwards the amount of the Payment is:
- $600 per week for people who have lost 20 hours or more of paid employment per week; and
- $375 per week for people who have lost between 8 and 20 hours per week of paid employment, or a full day of your usual work hours.
COVID-19 Disaster Payment is taxable income.
Eligibility
To be eligible for COVID-19 Disaster Payment, you must be in one of the following circumstances:
You live or work in an area that is subject to a state or territory public health order that imposes restriction on movement and is declared a Commonwealth COVID-19 hotspot.
You have visited an area that is a Commonwealth COVID-19 hotspot and you are subsequently subject to a restricted movement order when you return to other parts of New South Wales or interstate.
In addition, you must:
- be at least 17 years old.
- be an Australian resident or hold a visa class permitted to work in Australia.
- have lost more than 8 hours of work or a full day of your usual work as a result of the restrictions.
- for week 2 of restrictions only, have access to liquid assets of less than $10,000.
- not be receiving:
- an income support payment (including if on a nil rate)
- Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment for the same week you are claiming COVID-19 Disaster Payment
- a state or territory business support payment.
• not have access to appropriate paid leave entitlements.
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Eligible visa classes include permanent visas, temporary visas which give you a right to work in Australia and New Zealand passport holders with a Protected Special Category Visa.
Losing work includes being stood down by your employer, not being assigned any shifts for the week of restrictions and being unable to work from home.
A full day of your usual work is what you were scheduled to work but could not work because of a restricted movement order. This includes not being able to attend a full-time, part-time or casual shift of less than 8 hours.
Sole traders may apply for COVID-19 Disaster Payment if you are unable to operate your business from home.
Income support payments include: Age Pension, Austudy, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, Farm Household Allowance, JobSeeker Payment, Parenting Payment, Partner Allowance, Special Benefit, Widow Allowance, Youth Allowance and Income Support Supplement, Service Pension or Veteran Pension from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Appropriate leave includes special pandemic paid leave, paid sick/carers leave only when you are sick or injured or need to care for an immediate family/household member who is sick or injured, or for an emergency.
Appropriate leave does not include annual leave, unpaid leave, or any leave you are not able to access when you have been stood down without pay by your employer under the Fair Work Act.
Timing
You only need to be eligible on one day of the relevant week of restrictions to claim the Payment for that week.
• You may apply for the Payment from the eighth day of restrictions.
• You must claim the Payment within 28 days of the start of each eligible week of restrictions.
Parts of Sydney
If you live in, work in or visited the local government areas of Bayside, Canada Bay, City of Sydney, Inner West, Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra (Parts of Sydney), key dates are:
| Lockdown Week | Dates | Claims Open | Claims Close |
| Week 1 | 24-30 June 2021 | COVID-19 Disaster Payment not available | COVID-19 Disaster Payment not available |
| Week 2 | 1-7 July 2021 | 1 July 2021 | 28 July 2021 |
| Week 3 | 8-14 July 2021 | 8 July 2021 | 4 August 2021 |
| Week 4 | 15-21 July 2021 | 15 July 2021 | 11 August 2021 |
| Week 5 | 22-28 July 2021 | 22 July 2021 | 18 August 2021 |
| Week 6 | 29-30 July 2021 | 29 July 2021 | 25 August 2021 |
- If you are claiming the Payment from week 3 onwards, you do not need to meet the liquid assets test.
- When you make a claim for week 4, you may choose to receive payments for future weeks automatically. This will mean you do not have to make a new claim for each new week of restrictions.
- You will need to inform Services Australia if your circumstances change, as this may affect your eligibility for future payments.
Greater Sydney
If you live in, work in or visited the remainder of Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Shellharbour and Wollongong (Greater Sydney), key dates are:
| Lockdown Week | Dates | Claims Open | Claims Close |
| Week 1 | 27 June-3 July 2021 | COVID-19 Disaster Payment not available | COVID-19 Disaster Payment not available |
| Week 2 | 4 – 10 July 2021 | 4 July 2021 | 31 July 2021 |
| Week 3 | 11 – 17 July 2021 | 11 July 2021 | 7 August 2021 |
| Week 4 | 18 – 24 July 2021 | 18 July 2021 | 14 August 2021 |
| Week 5 | 25 – 30 July 2021 | 25 July 2021 | 21 August 2021 |
- If you are claiming the Payment from week 3 onwards, you do not need to meet the liquid assets test.
- When you make a claim for week 4, you may choose to receive payments for future weeks automatically. This will mean you do not have to make a new claim for each new week of restrictions.
- You will need to inform Services Australia if your circumstances change, as this may affect your eligibility for future payments.
How to apply
You can claim COVID-19 Disaster Payment in two ways:
- Australian residents can claim online via a myGov account linked to a Centrelink online account.
- Eligible visa holders can claim by calling Services Australia on 180 22 66. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
For more information about COVID-19 Disaster Payment, visit the Services Australia website.
You can also call 131 202 to talk to Services Australia in languages other than English.
You do not need to do anything else once you have lodged your claim online. Progress updates on claim processing will be provided via SMS or can be viewed online via your myGov account.
Money will be received within 24 hours of the claim being finalised, or on the next available business day.
ITP The Income Tax Professionals have been helping Australian individuals and business with their tax for 50+ years. If accessing Covid-19 payments are confusing, an ITP Accountant can advise and help.
Phone a friendly professional today to chat about how to take advantage of government schemed and reduce your businesses overall tax bill. Phone 1800 367 487 today.