This was a lump sum payment to help workers who were unable to earn income due to a COVID-19 state or territory public health order. This may have involved a lockdown, hotspot or movement restrictions.
Claiming periods have closed and the COVID-19 Disaster Payment is no longer available. If you need financial support, test your eligibility for an income support payment. Use our Payment and Service Finder to see what payments and services you may be able to get.
The COVID-19 Disaster Payment was available in these areas:
How it worked
Workers who were unable to work or lost work due to state or territory COVID-19 public health orders were entitled to a lump sum payment between $200 and $750.
The lump sum payment depended on varying circumstances, with 3 rates:
- $200 per week for those who get an eligible income support payment and lost 8 or more hours of work per week or a full day of their usual hours per week.
- $450 for those who lost at least 8, but less than 20 hours, or a full day of work for that week
- $750 for those who lost 20 hours or more of work
Eligibility rules were based on your location and circumstances. To access the lump sum payment, worker must be:
- be 17 years or older
- be an Australian resident or hold a visa that gives you the right to work in Australia
- live or work in, or have visited, an area subject to a state or territory public health order
- be unable to work and have lost income because of the lockdown
- not be receiving a state pandemic payment, Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment- external site, or a state small business payment for the same period
- not have pandemic-related leave entitlements
Follow the link below to learn more:
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/covid-19-disaster-payment
Other financial support services
If you need financial support now, test your eligibility for an income support payment. Use the Centrelink Payment and Service Finder to see what payments and services you may be able to get.
