Whenever the Federal Government releases a brand new payment scheme, you really have to run over everything with a fine-tooth comb to see who misses out and who gets included. Most of the time it feels like reading over ancient tomes that make partial sense, and the details are often murky. Alas, we’ve gone over the new COVID-19 disaster payment plans to find out exactly who misses out.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s make one thing clear: this is a COVID-19 disaster payment scheme for workers, so to be eligible, there has to be a significant loss of work. Those without a job, unfortunately, cannot apply.
Those who have lost 8-20 hours of work receive $375 a week, while those who have lost more than 20 hours a week are eligible for $600.
Payments are only for those who live, work or have visited one of the Great Sydney LGAs that have been highlighted as COVID-19 ‘hotspots’. The full list of suburbs can we found HERE on the Services Australia website.
If you would like to read more about what the COVID-19 disaster relief payment is all about, you can read up on it over HERE and head on back.
See, that wasn’t so hard to make things clear as day now was it?
The support announced today for NSW small and micro-businesses is welcome, and is exactly what should have been in place as soon as JobKeeper ended and JobSeeker was cut.
Victorians should rightly feel aggrieved that it took a Sydney outbreak to make it happen.
— Steve Baty (@docbaty) July 13, 2021
Now let’s get into who misses out on these payments.
Anyone under 17
Anyone under 17 is not eligible to receive the COVID-19 disaster relief payments.
Sure there’s no real minimum age to start working in NSW, and there’s a good chance a 16-year-old out there has been missing out on important work, but the rules are as such.
Anyone who hasn’t lived, worked or visited a Commonwealth declared COVID-19 hotspot
Basically, if you haven’t been in the suburbs that are confirmed COVID-19 hotspots and locked down for at least a week, you are not eligible for payments.
Anyone in lockdown for less than seven days
Keep in mind you will have to have been locked down for at least seven days in the COVID-19 hotspot zones to be eligible.
Chances are you have been stuck in lockdown if you live/work around Greater Sydney.
Anyone who isn’t already working
Unfortunately, if you are not currently working, you will not be eligible for payments.
If you’ve just started a job, you will have had to have missed out on eight or more hours of work, and you can get some dosh in your pockets.
Anyone who has lost less than eight hours of work a week
If your hours have been reduced due to the pandemic, but only by a little, you may not actually be eligible for payments.
To receive payment, you will need to miss out on eight or more hours of work a week. Losing more than 20 hours a week makes you eligible for even more money, but it’s still a bit less than JobKeeper, which sucks.
The disaster payment announced for workers in NSWs is $150 less per week than JobKeeper 12 months ago. It doesn’t guarantee that workers keep their jobs. We know what works why won’t they just do it.
— Michele O’Neil (@MicheleONeilAU) July 13, 2021
Anyone on income support payments
If you currently receive any income support payment, including Disability Support Pension, Youth Allowance or JobSeeker, then no COVID-19 support payment for you.
You have to be working pretty much full-time with no income support from the Government, to receive this brand new form of income support.
So there you have it, folks, those are all the people who miss out on the Government’s shiny new COVID-19 disaster payment.
If you have any more questions or queries, you can head to the Service Australia website to read all about the payments, or how to apply for them yourself!
