Q&A – Pandemic leave disaster payment

A: Your client may be eligible for the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment if she is unable to work and earn income because either themselves or someone they are caring for must self-isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19.

Your client will not be eligible if, during your isolation or caring period, they 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.

To this end if your client is receiving sick leave during the period they are required to isolate, then she will not be entitled to the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment.

In addition, your client must have liquid assets of less than $10,000 on the first day of the period they care claiming for. Liquid assets include any cash and other readily realisable assets. This relatively low threshold may disqualify many otherwise eligible clients.

If your client has less than $10,000 in liquid assets and does not receive any income or income support payments during this period, then she may be entitled to up to $750 for each 7 day period of self-isolation, quarantine or caring. 

How much she is entitled to will depend on the number of hours lost. The scaled Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment is as follows:

• Nil if she has lost less than 8 hours
• $450 if she lost at least 8 hours or a full day’s work, and less than 20 hours of work
• $750 if she lost 20 hours or more of work.

The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment should not be confused with the Covid-19 Disaster Payments which were payable to people who lost work due to a state public health order. This payment is no longer available.

For more information on the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment please see Services Australia.