COVID-19 Disaster Payment
For workers, or sole traders who are unable to work due to a COVID-19 public health order.
Are you a worker, or sole trader adversely affected by your state’s public health order? If you are, you may be able to apply for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment, a lump sum payment to help workers unable to earn an income due to a COVID-19 state public health order. This could be due to a lockdown, hotspot, movement restrictions, or an entire industry shut down, as we’ve seen with the Construction Industry in Victoria.
The Victorian Construction Industry Shutdown
Due to continued concern about case numbers, transmission risk and reduced compliance, construction will shut down in metropolitan Melbourne and other Local Government Areas currently in lockdown for two weeks from 11.59 pm, Monday 20 September. The industry is expected to reopen on Tuesday, 5 October 2021.
If you need to stand your staff down with the closure of worksites, the Government will keep them going with the payment of $750 a week for full-time staff. Your staff will need to apply for this payment themselves. To do so, and for more information, please ask them to follow the Victorian link below.
The eligibility for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment is different for each state, and the amount you receive will depend on your location and your individual circumstances.
Check if you can get the payment if you’ve been affected by a public health order in any of these areas:
- Victoria
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/covid-19-disaster-payment-victoria
- New South Wales
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/covid-19-disaster-payment-new-south-wales - Queensland
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/covid-19-disaster-payment-queensland
- Australian Capital Territory
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/covid-19-disaster-payment-australian-capital-territory
- Northern Territory
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/covid-19-disaster-payment-northern-territory
- South Australia
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/covid-19-disaster-payment-south-australia
For more information, visit:
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/covid-19-disaster-payment
Post updated:
08 September 2021