The Treasurer announced, on Wed 29.9.2021, that the Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payment will begin to transition, once a State or Territory reaches 70% full vaccination of its population (16 years and older), in line with Phase B of the National Plan agreed to at National Cabinet.
Currently, eligible recipients of the Disaster Payment receive $750 per week if they have lost over 20 hours of work, $450 per week if they lost between 8 and 20 hours, and $200 per week for those on income support payments who lost over 8 hours of work. Once a State or Territory reaches 70% full vaccination, the Treasurer said the automatic renewal of the temporary payment will end and individuals will have to reapply each week that a Commonwealth Hotspot remains in place to confirm their eligibility.
In line with the movement into Phase C of the National Plan, where a Commonwealth Hotspot remains in place and a State or Territory reaches 80% full vaccination of its population (16 years and older), the temporary payment will step down over a period of 2 weeks before ending. In the first week after a State or Territory has reached 80% vaccination, the Treasurer said there will be a flat payment of $450 for those who have lost more than 8 hours of work, while those on income support will receive $100. In the second week, the payment will be bought into line with JobSeeker at $320 for the week for those who have lost more than 8 hours of work, while the payment will end for those on income support. The Government said it will also leave in place the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment until 30 June 2022. [LTN 188, 29/9/21]
Source: Treasurer’s joint media release, 29 September 2021
[Tax Month – September 2021] 30.9.21