The Federal Government has agreed to support Canberrans unable to earn an income while self-isolating or in quarantine due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Announced by Senator Zed Seselja, affected Canberrans may now be eligible for the $1,500 disaster payment.
Senator Seselja said that following an agreement with the Territory Government, workers in the ACT could now access the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment arrangements already in place with Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Tasmania, Western Australia, and Queensland.
“To date, more than $17.6 million has been paid in Pandemic Leave Disaster Payments, with over 11,700 claims granted nationwide since 6 August,” Senator Seselja said.
“As is the case in other States, workers in the ACT won’t be eligible for the payment if they are receiving income, earnings or salary maintenance from work, receiving JobKeeper Payment or other forms of Federal or State Government income support,” he said.
The Senator said a person may be eligible for the $1,500 payment if they’d been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine; were caring for someone with COVID-19; were a parent or guardian of a child aged 16 or under who’d been instructed to self-isolate; and they’d used all appropriate leave entitlements, including any special pandemic leave.
“The payment can be claimed again if health officials should extend the self-isolation or quarantine period longer than 14 days,” he said.
Senator Seselja said the fastest and easiest way to make a claim was over the phone by calling 180 22 66.
Further information on the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment can be accessed on Services Australia’s website at this PS News link.
