Australians getting pandemic leave payments, with more expected as cases surge

More than two million Australians have accessed Covid support payments already, with more expected. See who has accessed the most and if you’re eligible.

Millions of people across Australia have been paid more than $13 billion in assistance to survive pandemic-related lockdowns, with more claims expected as cases surge.

Federal government data released on Monday showed 2.38 million people in Australia have been paid $13.11 billion in assistance through three programs including the Covid Disaster Payment, the $200 Income Support Payment for welfare recipients who have lost at least 8 hours of work and the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment for those forced to isolate or quarantine.

The Covid Disaster Payment, which was introduced in June last year, was accessed the most by Australians during lockdown with 5.89 million claims worth $12.59 billion was paid out to more than two million people.

Lines of unemployed people outside Darlinghurst Centrelink last year during last year’s lockdown. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Meanwhile, more than 183,000 people were paid a total of $268.91 million in the $200 Income Support Payment, while 170,000 people were paid a total of $254.84 million in Pandemic Leave Disaster Payments.

Overall, NSW has had the lion’s share of the Covid Disaster Payments while the state was locked down between June and October, with more than one million people paid a total of $7.48 billion.

In Victoria, 745,000 residents received $4.45 billion while another $344 million has gone to 65,000 in the ACT.

More than 196,000 Queenslanders received $252.6 million in disaster payments, followed by $48.2 million given to 86,000 people in South Australia and another $6.9 million paid to 7,500 people in the Northern Territory.

It comes as NSW recorded 25,870 Covid cases and 11 deaths on Tuesday, while Victoria recorded 37,994 cases and 13 deaths.

People are required to isolate for at least seven days if they record a positive result or are deemed a close contact.

While the Covid Disaster Payments and the $200 Income Support Payment have stopped, Australians are still eligible to receive Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment amid the skyrocketing case numbers.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke to media during a press conference in Parliament House Canberra. Picture: Gary Ramage

“I encourage people to become familiar with the supports that are in place,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

“That support is there for (for people if they are) forced to isolate because of a state government requirement.

“Large numbers of Australians have done that, and it’s been an important tool that we’ve had. It’s funded together with the states and territories.”

ACCESSING PANDEMIC LEAVE DISASTER PAYMENT

The payment provides $750 for every seven days a person is in isolation, quarantine or needs to care for a person with Covid.

If someone needs the payment for longer than seven days they have to submit a new claim each week.

The payment was initially $1500 for each 14-day period in isolation, but this was changed to a weekly support of $750 from December 9.

For someone to be eligible they must be at least 17 years old and an Australian resident or hold a visa giving them the right to work in the country.

AUSSIE POVERTY

They must also be unable to go to work and earn an income and have no sick leave entitlements, including pandemic sick leave, personal leave or carer’s leave.

Couples can complete claims together and don’t need to fill out separate forms.

The support is taxable, meaning people need to include it in their tax return.

If a person gets the Family Tax Benefit or Child Care Subsidy they need to include the financial support in their family income estimate as taxable income.

People who want to claim the payment should call 180 22 66 or visit the Services Australia website. This is the form someone has to fill out.

Originally published as Australians getting pandemic leave payments, with more expected as cases surge