Workers who lose their livelihoods because of coronavirus lockdowns will be eligible for up to $500 a week under a complex scheme aimed at helping Victorians.
The Prime Minister has announced that Victorians under financial pressure from the coronavirus lockdown will be offered federal government disaster payments worth up to $500, but complex rules will apply.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the new coronavirus disaster payments would be made on a week-to-week basis.
“Victorians just want to know that they are getting help next week,” he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
The details
People who usually work more than 20 hours a week will receive $500, while those employed for under 20 hours will be given $325.
To be eligible for the payments, workers will have to declare having less than $10,000 in liquid assets.
Welfare recipients including those on JobSeeker will not be able to access the payment.
Applications can be made through Services Australia from Tuesday.
The announcement comes after news that Melbourne will be remaining in lockdown for a further 7-days from 11:59pm 3 June, as the ‘kappa variant’ outbreak of COVID-19 continues to spread.
Restrictions however, have been eased for regional Victoria, from Thursday night.
Yesterday there were three local cases reported out of VIC, bringing the total to 63.
No local cases of COVID-19 have been detected in NSW after more than 18,000 people were tested following a scare on the south coast.
Source: AAP