How to claim the COVID-19 Disaster Payment Sydney residents eligible from July 1
Some NSW residents will be able to access a one-off payment of $500 this Thursday due to being forced out of work as a result of a COVID-induced lockdown.
The payment forms one part of the COVID-19 Disaster Payment, a Commonwealth-funded program that pays Aussies who have been displaced from work due to state lockdowns.
Specifically, affected workers can only access the payment after a lockdown exceeds seven days – but that’s not the only catch. Here’s what we know:
What is the COVID-19 Disaster Payment?
The COVID-19 Disaster Payment is a one-off cash payment for each period of lockdown.
If you’ve lost less than 20 hours of work, you can receive $325.
If you lost 20 hours or more of work, you can receive $500.
The payment is only accessible if you are locked down for more than seven days.
Okay, when can Sydneysiders access the payment? Aren’t they nearing seven days?
Technically, to access the payment you need to live or work in a Commonwealth declared hotspot.
On June 23, Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly declared the City of Sydney, Waverley, Woollahra, Bayside, Canada Bay, Inner West and Randwick as a COVID-19 Hotspot.
That means residents in those areas who are eligible for the payment can receive theirs as early as this Thursday, July 1 (on the eighth day of lockdown, if that helps).
Three days later on June 26, Professor Kelly declared all of of Greater Sydney plus the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and Wollongong as Commonwealth hotspots.
That means residents and workers in these areas can be paid from July 4.
What if I’m living outside of NSW? What about Queensland and the Northern Territory?
A lot of states are now coping with some form of restrictions. But the basics of the payment still apply:
- You need to live or work in a Commonwealth declared hotspot
- The lockdown needs to last for more than seven days.
If Queensland’s or Darwin’s lockdown extends for more than seven days, then those affected residents will be able to submit a claim.
That’s pretty confusing. Are there any more terms and conditions I need to know about?
I’m hearing you, and yes it gets worse.
To receive the payment you must be an Australian resident, a permanent resident or be an eligible working visa holder.
But here’s the kicker: you must also have liquid assets of $10,000 or less.
That means if you have more than $10k in the bank worth of savings – or trust fund money, or shares – you won’t be eligible. And no, your car is not a liquid asset.
You also won’t receive the payment if you’re getting income support payments, another form of pandemic leave payment or a state small business payment.
Right. I think I’m still eligible … how do I apply for the payment?
To apply for the payment, you need to have an online myGov account to which you can link a Centrelink online account (if you haven’t already).
Once online, Centrelink will ask the user a series of questions to determine if they eligible to claim the payment. If you are, a claim will be submitted and the user will be sent a text message confirming the claim has been submitted successfully.
There’s no need to call Centrelink and the money should be paid on the day it is owed.
What if I’m a small business? The latest NSW lockdown has killed my trading and JobKeeper is all wrapped up.
Good question.
The Berejiklian Government today announced grants of up to $10,000 for businesses to help them survive.
Small businesses who experience a 70 per cent decline in turnover can access $10,000, those who have experienced a 50 per cent decline can access $7000 and those who have experienced a 30 per cent decline can access $5000.
The payments will be available by July 19.
To receive the payments, businesses must have an accountant statement that confirms a loss in revenue for the time period compared to the same time in July 2019.
You can find out more details about how to book your vaccine through the Federal Government health site here.
The information provided on this website is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice. The information has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information on this website you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.
