What lockdown support is available? If you can’t work because you or someone in your household is impacted by COVID-19, support is available. There are three types of payments accessible to Sole traders may apply for COVID-19 Disaster individuals who have lost work because of the Payment if you are unable to operate your pandemic: business from home. However, you will not be eligible if you are also receiving a State or the COVID-19 Disaster Payment; Territory business grant. ‘Top up’ payments for those on income support; and The disaster payment is tax-free and the ATO has the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment. confirmed that it doesn’t need to be included in How to apply for support your tax return. You can apply for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment Timing of the payment or the top-up income support payment through The disaster payment is generally accessible your MyGov account if you have created and when the Chief Medical Officer declares a region linked a Centrelink account. Generally, once your a hotspot (you can find the listing here). From 2 application has been accepted, you will not need August 2021, payments will apply from day one to reapply for the payment while your area of the lockdown and will be paid in arrears once remains a hotspot unless your circumstances claims open (previously, the hotspot had to last 7 change. days or more and the payment only applied from day 8 of a lockdown). Apply for the Pandemic Leave Payment by phoning Services Australia on 180 22 66. In New South Wales, the requirement to be in a Commonwealth declared hotspot was removed COVID-19 Disaster Payments for anyone who met the other eligibility criteria The COVID-19 Disaster Payment is a weekly from 18 July 2021. In Victoria, the hotspot payment available to eligible workers who can’t requirement was removed from 15 July 2021. attend work or who have lost income because of a lockdown and don’t have access to paid pandemic leave entitlements. If you are a couple, both people can separately claim the payment. COVID-19 Support for Individuals 1 Area Date of Disaster Eligibility declaration payment accessible The COVID-19 disaster payment is emergency from relief. It is available if you: ACT All 12 August 20 August Live or work in an area that is subject to a state 2021 2021* or territory public health order that imposes NSW All 18 July 2021 restriction on movement and is declared a QLD City of Brisbane, 1 August 7 August Commonwealth COVID-19 hotspot, or Moreton Bay 2021 2021* Have visited an area that is a Commonwealth Region, Redland COVID-19 hotspot and you are subsequently City, Logan City, subject to a restricted movement order when City of Ipswich, you return to other parts of the impacted Shire of Noosa, region or interstate. City of Gold Coast, Lockyer Valley And you: Region, Scenic Rim Are an Australian citizen, permanent Region, Somerset resident or temporary visa holder who has Region and the right to work in Australia, and Sunshine Coast Are aged 17 years or over, and Region QLD Regional Council 8 August 16 August Have lost 8 hours or more of work or a full of Cairns and Shire 2021 2021* day of your usual work as a result of the of Yarrabah Qld restrictions - losing work includes being SA Metropolitan 20 July 2021 28 July 2021 stood down by your employer, not being Adelaide assigned any shifts for the week of VIC All 22 July 2021 25 July restrictions and being unable to work from 2021* home. Losing a full day of what you were VIC All 5 August 13 August scheduled to work but could not work 2021 2021* because of a restricted movement order *Payment paid in arrears from date of declaration (day 1 includes not being able to attend a full-time, of the lockdown). part-time or casual shift of less than 8 hours, and How much is the payment? Don’t have paid pandemic-related leave available through your employer (annual or The COVID-19 disaster payment amount available personal leave is not taken into account), depends on how many hours of work you have and lost in the week: Are not receiving income support payments, a state or territory pandemic payment, Hours of work lost Disaster payment Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment or state amounts* small business payment for the same period. Between 8 and 20 (or a $450 See ‘Top up’ payments for those on income full day of work) support below. Income support payments 20 or more $750 include Age Pension, Austudy, Carer * From 2 August 2021 Payment, Disability Support Pension, Farm Household Allowance, JobSeeker Payment, The payment applies to each week of lockdown Parenting Payment, Partner Allowance, you are eligible. Special Benefit, Widow Allowance, Youth Allowance and Income Support Supplement, Service Pension or Veteran Pension from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. COVID-19 Support for Individuals 2 ‘Top up’ payments for those on Eligibility income support The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment is A special $200 a week ‘top-up’ payment is available if you: available to those who are ineligible for the Are an Australian citizen, permanent resident or temporary visa holder who has the right to COVID-19 disaster payment because they receive work in Australia; and an income support payment through social Are aged 17 years or over; and security, ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Dad and Are unable to go to work and earn an income; Partner Pay or Parental Leave Pay. The top-up and payment is in addition to your existing income Do not have appropriate leave entitlements, support payment, if you can demonstrate: including pandemic sick leave, personal leave or carers leave; and You have lost more than 8 hours of work and Are not getting any income support payment, ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Paid parental leave Reported employment income to Centrelink at or Dad and Partner Pay. Income support least once on or after 29 April 2021 or had payments include Age Pension, Austudy, Carer ongoing employment income on or after 29 Payment, Disability Support Pension, Farm April 2021, and Household Allowance, JobSeeker Payment, You meet the other eligibility requirements for Parenting Payment, Partner Allowance, Special the COVID-19 Disaster Payment. Benefit, Widow Allowance, Youth Allowance and Income Support Supplement, Service If you are a member of a couple, you can both Pension or Veteran Pension from the apply for this payment. Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment The payment is taxable and you will need to The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment is for declare it in your income tax return. You will also those who have been advised by their relevant need to include the Pandemic Leave Disaster health authority to self-isolate or quarantine Payment in your Family Tax Benefits, Child Care because they: Subsidy, or Child Support income assessment. Test positive to COVID-19; If you are uncertain of your eligibility, talk to Have been identified as a close contact of a Services Australia. confirmed COVID-19 case; Care for a child, 16 years or under, who has If you are concerned about the impact of disaster COVID-19; or relief payments on you, talk to us. Care for a child, 16 years or under, who has been identified as a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case; or NSW Child-care gap fee Care for a person who has tested positive to From 19 July 2021, the Government is enabling COVID-19. childcare services in NSW Local Government How much is the payment? Areas subject to stay at home orders to waive gap-fees for parents keeping their children at The payment is $1,500 for each 14 day period home due to current COVID-19 restrictions. The you are advised to self-isolate or quarantine. If gap fee is the difference between the Child Care you are a couple, you both can claim this Subsidy (CCS) the Government pays to a service payment if you meet the eligibility criteria. and the remaining fee paid by the family. COVID-19 Support for Individuals 3 The child-care gap fee waiver is only applicable where the childcare service opts in. See Fair Trading NSW for further details. 60 day freeze on evictions The Local Government Areas were expanded and now cover: City of Sydney, Municipality of Tenants who can’t pay their rent in full because Woollahra, City of Randwick, Municipality of they are impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak Waverley, Bayside Council, Blacktown City cannot be evicted between 14 July 2021 and 11 Council, Blue Mountains City Council, September 2021. Municipality of Burwood, Camden Council, Financial support for landlords Central Coast Council, City of Campbelltown, City Residential landlords who decrease rent for of Canada Bay, City of Canterbury-Bankstown, impacted tenants from 14 July 2021 can apply for Cumberland City Council, City of Fairfield, a grant of up to $1,500 per tenancy or land tax George’s River Council, City of Hawkesbury, reductions depending on their circumstances. Hornsby Shire, Municipality of Hunter’s Hill, Inner The land tax relief will be equal to the value of West Council, Ku-ring-gai Council, Lane Cove rent reductions provided to financially distressed Council, City of Liverpool, Mosman Council, North tenants for up to 100% of the 2021 land tax year Sydney Council, Northern Beaches Council, City liability. of Parramatta, City of Penrith, City of Ryde, Shellharbour City Council, Municipality of To claim the support, landlords will need a rental Strathfield, Sutherland Shire, The Hills Shire, bond number or a written tenancy agreement, Wollondilly Shire, City of Willoughby, and and a written agreement with the tenant to Wollongong City Council.