$500 support package: who qualifies?

The Federal Government announced a temporary COVID disaster payment to be made on a weekly basis to struggling Australians.

The support payment of up to $500 a week comes in response to Victoria’s latest lockdown leaving many unable to work. Applications for the temporary payment open on Tuesday 8 June 2021 and can be completed over the phone or online (details yet to be provided).

The federal government today announced new support payments of up to $500 per week for struggling Australians who have endured lockdown for more than 7 days.

Who qualifies for the payment

The temporary COVID distaster payment will only be eligible to those that meet the following:

Aged 17+
Australian residents (or permitted to work)
Unable to work due to restrictions
Not receiving other income support
Less than $10,000 in cash (or assets easily converted to cash)
Must live or work in a location deemed a hotspot by the Chief Medical Officer

How to determine if you’ll be eligible to the full (or part) payment

The rate of payment will be dependent on the normal hours you work per week.

If you work more than 20 hours a week normally, you will be eligible to receive $500 a week if you meet the eligibility criteria. For those that work less than 20 hours a week the rate reduces to $325 a week.

It is anticipated that the payment will be administered by Centrelink, however this is yet to be confirmed.