Changes to the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment

We’ve just updated this information to reflect the changes that apply from 18 January 2022 to the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment .

This is ever changing so please make sure you check back to get updates or please give us a call or drop us an email if you have any questions.

This is a support payment if you can’t earn an income because you must self-isolate or quarantine, or are caring for someone with COVID-19.

This helps individuals who have no sick leave entitlements, including pandemic sick leave, personal leave or leave to care for another person.

Various eligibility requirements apply and the key changes are:

The amount you get depends on the hours of work you lost, for each seven day period –
- $450 if you lost at least 8 hours or a full day’s work, and less than 20 hours of work
- $750 if you lost 20 hours or more of work.
You won’t be eligible if you have liquid assets of more than $10,000 on the first day of the period you’re claiming for

Claims are made via Centrelink.

Find out more here: Services Australia

Some of the State Governments are offering support payments for individuals. You need to check the latest information for your State.

At this point in time, for example, NSW and Victoria are offering a “test and isolate payment”, there is no such payment for Queensland.

The order in which you apply for State versus Federal payments may affect eligibility so care should be taken when applying for each.