Access to COVID isolation payments will resume as of the end of this week, as health authorities try to stop the rising spread of virus cases across the country.
Employees who have tested positive for COVID and need to isolate themselves from their job may receive the $ 750 payment that will be available starting Wednesday.
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It comes after the federal government agreed to extend the isolation payments known as Pandemic Disaster Payment (PLDP) until the end of September, after the plan ended on June 30th.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said payments were restored following health advice on the growing number of COVID cases, caused by a more infectious strain of the Omicron subvariant.
Chalmers said the federal government will work collaboratively with state and territorial governments to help manage the third wave of Omicron cases.
The return of COVID isolation payments will be priced at $ 780 million, but the costs will be shared between the federal, state and territorial governments.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after the national cabinet meeting on Saturday. Credit: PAUL BRAVEN / AAPIMAGE
The government initially said it did not want to reintroduce payments due to pressure on the federal budget.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not indicated whether the September 30 deadline for payments could be extended.
The number of cases continues to increase as a result of Omicron strains BA.4 and BA.5.
Over the weekend, more than 78,000 new cases of COVID were recorded, with 107 deaths recorded.
More than 337,000 active cases of the virus were reported, with 4,700 treated by COVID in the hospital.
COVID payments return for those who need to isolate themselves. Credit: AAP
Experts have said the peak of the new wave of Omicron is not expected to arrive until the end of July.
With more COVID hospitalizations planned in the coming weeks, the Victorian government has unveiled a package of more than $ 160 million to respond to the wave.
The money will be used to fund an additional 400 specialists at 12 major hospitals in Melbourne and Geelong.
It comes when hospitals have experienced an increase in cases, accompanied by staff shortages due to the virus affecting healthcare workers, with more than 10,000 sick employees in the first week of July alone.
There has been a 99 percent increase in hospitalizations with COVID in the state since June 22nd.
Who is eligible?
Payment is a taxable income, which means you’ll need to include it on your tax return.
You have the right to claim payment if you are quarantined with COVID or isolate yourself as a close contact or caregiver.
You must not have any sick leave, pandemic leave, caregiver leave or personal leave, and not be able to work at least eight hours (or a full day) in a seven-day period of self-isolation, quarantine or care. .
Full-time work is the total scheduled hours, and could be less than eight hours for full-time, part-time, and occasional shifts.
If you have a child under the age of 16 or are caring for someone who lives with you, including someone with a disability or serious illness, you may also receive payment.
Essential workers who are able to work and earn an income will not be eligible for pay unless you are caring for someone who has COVID, or you cannot return to work without a RAT test and you are unable to do so.
You must also be resident in Australia over the age of 17 and live in Australia at the time of your claim, with less than $ 10,000 in net assets.
Your claim must also be made within 14 days of the start date of your isolation period for it to be valid.
How much can I get?
You can request payment multiple times, but the amount will depend on the amount of work you have lost.
For between eight hours (or a full day of work) and 20 hours of work lost, payment will be $ 450.
For more than 20 hours of lost work the payment will be $ 750.
How can I make a claim?
You will need a myGov account linked to Centrelink to make a payment claim; if you don’t have an account, you can make one and link it here.
If you have not filed a claim with Services Australia before and need to create an account, you will need an Australian birth certificate or citizenship, or an Australian visa or passport, in addition to your driver’s license and Medicare card. .
Once you’re signed in to MyGov, select “request assistance” from the government support alert for coronavirus.
Under “Coronavirus Affected,” select “Start,” and select “Request Pandemic Disaster Payment.”
From here, you must follow the directions for the claim, including the upload of supporting documents.