COVID-19 Financial Support
On this page you will find information about the government’s financial support response to COVID-19.
The government has announced changes to financial support payments. The information below has been sourced from the Services Australia website.
If you or your family have been affected by COVID-19, you can apply for payments from the government.
Some payments will be affected by the changes
There are many changes to claims due to COVID-19. The changes include:
Pausing a range of debt raising and recovery activities
Documentation required for making a claim has been reduced
Amount a partner can earn increased for JobSeeker eligibility
Suspension of mutual obligation requirements for a range of benefit recipients, as well as participation requirements for Disability Support Pension.
Removed waiting periods for liquid asset test and newly arrived residents
Payments affected by the start of JobSeeker on 20th March 2020 include: Newstart allowance, sickness allowance, wife pension, Widow B pension and Bereavement allowance. How each of these payments are affected depends on your personal situation but you can find get more information from the JobSeeker changes website.
To be eligible for JobSeeker payments, you will need:
to be between 22 and Age Pension age
income under the test limits
to meet residence rules
Confused about the difference between JobSeeker and JobKeeper?
It depends on whether you are already in a job or not and they each differ in payment amounts. The JobSeeker payment is about $1100 per fortnight, supplemented with $550 coronavirus supplement for 6 months from from April 27. JobKeeper is paid at a flat rate of $1500 per fortnight for 6 months from March 30. Speak to your employer about JobKeeper payments and to Centrelink about JobSeeker payments.
Some people will receive additional crisis payments
If you are affected by COVID-19, you may be eligible for the $550 Coronavirus supplement. Payments to eligible recipients will begin late April 2020 and continue for up to 6 months. You’ll automatically get the supplement if you’re getting 1 of the following payments:
JobSeeker Payment
Partner Allowance
Widow Allowance
Sickness Allowance
Wife Pension
Youth Allowance
Austudy
ABSTUDY
Parenting Payment
Farm Household Allowance
Special Benefit
If you are not eligible for the Coronavirus supplement, you may be entitled to a one off $750 Economic Stimulus payment. If you receive an eligible support payment, this one off amount will be paid to you automatically between 12 March 2020 and 13 April 2020. A second Economic Stimulus payment of $750 will be paid to eligible payment recipients in July 2020. If you are a recipient of an eligible payment, you do not need to do anything to receive the additional crisis payments. If you are not a recipient of financial support payments, you can register your intention to claim a payment.
Information for Individuals
Families: Families may be eligible for childcare subsidies and other benefits, depending on your circumstances.
JobSeeker: If you are between the ages of 22 and the Age pension, you may be eligible for benefits.
Older Australians: If you already receive the Age Pension, there will be no change to your pension. You will receive the $750 Economic Stimulus Payment.
Indigenous Australians: If you are from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background, there are payments and services for you.
You can also find information for organisations such as businesses, health professionals and community groups. This includes information for people who wish to volunteer to help their community. You can use the payment and service finder to help you find more information. Finally, check out the City of Sydney support for businesses page.
