$250 Covid voucher for families as homeschool ‘thank you’

Another incentive has been announced to help the NSW economy recover post-lockdown – with families to big beneficiaries.

Families with school-aged kids will receive a $250 voucher to spend on recreation and accommodation in addition to existing benefits.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the vouchers were his “thank you” to parents for juggling home schooling with work during the lockdown.

The vouchers will be available in March next year through the Service NSW app and expire at the end of October.

Premier Dominic Perrottet announcing the new voucher. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Adam Yip

Each household will receive one $250 voucher irrespective of how many children they have.

“We all owe you, the mums and dads of this state, a great deal of gratitude,” Mr Perrottet said.

“You have been the primary educators to make sure none of our kids get left behind.

“You are really the cornerstones of our success here in NSW.”

Treasurer Matt Kean revealed on Thursday that the latest lockdown cost the NSW economy about $50 billion dollars. The weekly cost of the lockdown peaked at $1.9 billion.

Parents Will and Lauren Brincat have been home schooling 8-year-old son Teddy in Dee Why during the Covid 19 lockdown. Picture: Toby Zerna

“NSW has seen the biggest contraction in economic activity in our state’s history,” he said.

Mr Kean said he expected unemployment rates in December to sit at 6.4 per cent.

He said the government’s decision to “taper off” financial support payments was driven by a desire to incentivise employment.

“The current support payments are not incentivising people to get back into work,” he said.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said today’s jump in cases, with 372 new infections, was “still below” the peak he expected.