The Federal Government will pay you a $750 Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment if you cannot earn an income because you or someone you’re caring for has to self-isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19.
Different rules apply for different claim periods.
Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment – before 18 January 2022
You have to self-isolate or quarantine for one of the following reasons:
you have coronavirus (COVID-19) - for isolation periods starting before 10 January 2022, you must have been directly informed you have COVID-19 by a health official
you’re informed by a health official that you’re a close contact with a person who has COVID-19
you care for a child, 16 years or under, who has COVID-19 and has been informed by a health official
you’re informed by a health official that a child you care for who is 16 years or under, is a close contact with a person who has COVID-19
you’re caring for someone who has COVID-19 and has been informed by a health official
you’re caring for someone with a disability or a severe medical condition who must self-isolate or quarantine because they’re a close contact of a person with COVID-19.
From Monday 10 January 2022, both Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) results will be accepted. You’ll need to have either:
advice of a positive test from a testing clinic or health professional
evidence you’ve registered a positive result from a home-administered RAT with your state health authority.
There are different payment amounts depending on which period you claim for.
If your claim is for a self-isolation or quarantine period beginning 9 December 2021 until 17 January 2022
You will receive $750 for each 7 day period you’ve been told to self-isolate or quarantine, or are caring for someone who has COVID-19. You must make a new claim for each 7 day period.
If your claim is for a self-isolation or quarantine beginning on or before 8 December 2021
You will receive $1,500 for each 14 day period you’ve been told to self-isolate or quarantine, or are caring for someone who has COVID-19.
Further eligibility requirements for the $750 COVID Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment include:
you’re at least 17 years old and live in NSW
you’re an Australian resident or hold a visa that gives you the right to work in Australia
you’re living in Australia during your self-isolation, quarantine or caring period
you’re living in Australia at the time of your claim
you’re unable to go to work and earn an income because you have to self-isolate, quarantine or care for someone who has to self-isolate or quarantine
you have no sick leave entitlements,including pandemic sick leave, personal leave or leave to care for another person.
You won’t be eligible if, during your isolation period, you got or will get:
any income, earnings or salary from paid work
any income support payments, ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Parental Leave Pay or Dad and Partner Pay
the NSW Test and Isolate payment
the COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
To claim the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment for periods before 18 January 2022 visit Services Australia - Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment Application before 18 January 2022
Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment – after 18 January 2022
You have to self-isolate or quarantine for one of the following reasons:
you have coronavirus (COVID-19)
you’re a close contact of a person who has COVID-19
a child you care for who is 16 years or under, is a close contact of a person who has COVID-19
you’re caring for someone who has COVID-19
you’re caring for someone with a disability or a severe medical condition who must self-isolate or quarantine because they’re a close contact of a person with COVID-19.
You’re a close contact if you either:
usually live with the person who has tested positive with COVID-19
have stayed in the same household for more than 4 hours with the person who has tested positive with COVID-19 during their infectious period.
An infectious period is up to 14 days before a person experiences symptoms of COVID-19.
You must also meet both of the following requirements to be eligible:
you’ve lost at least 8 hours or a full day’s work
you have liquid assets of less than $10,000 on the first day of the period you’re claiming for.
Liquid assets are any funds readily available to you in cash or savings, or assets that can easily be changed into cash. For example, money loaned to other people.
How much you get depends on the hours of work you lost.
For each 7 day period of self-isolation, quarantine or caring, if you are eligible you will receive:
$450 if you lost at least 8 hours or a full day’s work, and less than 20 hours of work
$750 if you lost 20 hours or more of work.
If you lost less than 8 hours or a full day’s work during the 7 day period of self-isolation, quarantine or caring, you won’t be eligible for this payment. A full day’s work is the hours you were scheduled to work or would usually work on a given day. This includes not being able to attend a full time, part time or casual shift of less than 8 hours.
Further eligibility requirements for the $750 COVID Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment include:
you’re at least 17 years old and live in NSW
you’re an Australian resident or hold a visa that gives you the right to work in Australia
you’re living in Australia during your self-isolation, quarantine or caring period
you’re living in Australia at the time of your claim
you’re unable to go to work and earn an income because you have to self-isolate, quarantine or care for someone who has to self-isolate or quarantine
you have no sick leave entitlements,including pandemic sick leave, personal leave or leave to care for another person.
You won’t be eligible if, during your isolation period, you got or will get:
any income, earnings or salary from paid work
any income support payments, ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Parental Leave Pay or Dad and Partner Pay
the NSW Test and Isolate payment
the COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
In addition if you are applying for the period after 18 January 2022 you must also meet the following:
you’re unable to work and lost at least 8 hours or a full day’s work in a 7 day period of self-isolation, quarantine or caring
you have liquid assets of less than $10,000 on the first day of the period you’re claiming for.
For further clarification and information please visit Services Australia - Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment.
To claim the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment from 18 January 2022 visit Services Australia - Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment Application after 18 January 2022
The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment – New South Wales is taxable income. This means you’ll need to include it in your income tax return for the relevant financial year.
If you receive Family Assistance or a Child Support Assessment, you will need to include in your family income estimate or adjusted taxable income via myGov or the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.
As always if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact your Client Manager.
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