Yahoo Finance Thousands more Aussies to get $1,500 Covid-19 payment
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that Tasmanians who need to self-isolate but don’t have sick leave will now be eligible to receive $1,500.
This follows yesterday’s announcement that South Australians would be eligible for the income support payment.
Victoria already has the $1,500 payments in place.
Speaking on Wednesday, Morrison said: “I can also announce today that we have reached an agreement with the Tasmanian Government and that is that the pandemic leave disaster payment will also be now made available in Tasmania after reaching that agreement with the Tasmanian Premier.
“We welcome that cooperation with [Tasmanian Premier] Peter Gutwein and the Tasmanian Governors, we're working with states and territories all around our country,” he added.
Tasmania already has an existing pandemic leave scheme in place, called “Pandemic Isolation Assistance Grants”, that affords a one-off payment of $250 per adult or $125 per child for low-income people required to self-isolate.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office, the payment is a lump sum designed to assist workers with their 14-day isolation period that applies from 22 August.
“If an individual is instructed by a health official to stay home from work, and has used up all their sick leave entitlements, including any special pandemic leave, they may be eligible to make a claim,” the statement said.
Also read: South Australia now eligible for $1,500 quarantine payments
Also read: $1,500 payments for Victorians
Parents or guardians of children under 16 who is a close contact may also be eligible for the payment.
But you can’t receive the payment if you’re receiving another kind of income support from the Government.
“Tasmanians workers are eligible for the payment if they are not receiving income, earnings or salary maintenance from work, receiving the JobKeeper Payment or other forms of Australian Government income support,” said the statement.
“The payment can be claimed again should an extended quarantine period longer than 14 days be instructed by health officials.”
The $1,500 payments currently in place for South Australians and Victorians are for casual or low-income earners only.
Morrison announced the payment alongside confirmation that the legislation for ‘JobKeeper 2.0’ would be set to pass Parliament today.
How to make your claim
Tasmanians wanting to claim this payment are advised to ring 180 22 66.
This is the “fastest and easiest way” to claim this payment, according to the Prime Minister’s office.
“Please do not visit a service centre.”
Visit Services Australia for more information on disaster payments.
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