Scott Morrison has today announced that coronavirus disaster payments will rise to $750 a week for workers who lose hours of employment because of lockdowns. Here’s what we know so far.
Locked-down Sydneysiders who lose hours because of lockdowns will receive up to $750 a week under a boosted federal support scheme.
Coronavirus disaster payments for people who lose more than 20 hours per week will be increased from $600 to a maximum of $750, with the new rate mirroring the original JobKeeper wage subsidy.
Workers who lose between eight and 20 hours per week will be eligible for $450, up from $375, while welfare recipients will no longer be excluded.
People on Centrelink payments will be eligible for $200 a week if they lose more than eight hours of work.
But unlike the JobKeeper scheme, which ended in March, individuals must apply themselves for financial support rather than through their employer.
If you’re a member of a couple, you can both claim payments, but you and your partner will need to make separate claims.
If you need longer-term help, check to see what other payments you may be eligible to get.
While the expansion is designed to help people in NSW immediately, all Australians will be eligible for the new rates under future lockdowns.
Find out more about COVID-payments for individuals in NSW here.
Payments for businesses in NSW
In NSW, eligible businesses and not-for-profits with an annual turnover of between $75,000 and $250 million and revenue declines of more than 30 per cent will receive JobSaver payments of between $1500 and $100,000 a week.
The maximum weekly payment for businesses has been substantially increased from $10,000 to $100,000, with payments based on 40 per cent of their weekly NSW payroll.
The expanded program’s turnover cap has been increased from $50 million to $250 million.
Applications for JobSaver opened on Monday 25 July with more than 14,000 applications already received and almost $28 million approved for payment so far.
Payments are expected to start hitting bank accounts from 31 July.
Businesses can expect to receive funds in their accounts within five to ten business days from their approval date, and the arrangements announced today will be backdated, so businesses that have already received the first payment on previous settings will be topped up when their next payment is made.
Find out more about COVID-payments for business in NSW here.
Payments for businesses in VIC
A raft of federal-state business support was also unveiled for Victoria, grappling with pandemic-induced financial pain.
With a two-week lockdown now eased in Victoria, the governments agreed on $400 million in business support.
The state government will provide a total of $80 million to support landlords that offer rent relief to their tenants.
The Commercial Tenancies Relief Scheme in Victoria will be reinstated to provide rent relief to commercial tenants as well — the state government says there’ll be more detail on this “soon”.
Small business in VIC: If you’re a small business that has missed out on existing business support funds, there’ll be an $85 million pool of money set aside.
You’ll need to have a payroll of up to $10 million and have experienced a 70 per cent or greater reduction in revenue to be eligible for grants of up to $5,000.
Support for alpine businesses in VIC: With the winter season again crushed by an outbreak, $9,8 million has been set aside to deliver grants between $5,000 and $20,000 to 430 alpine-based businesses.
The funding also includes $5 million to support operators and management boards.
Find out more about COVID-payments for business in VIC here.