Support if you can’t earn an income because of COVID-19 isolation measures
Pandemic Leave Disaster PaymentLast Updated: 07 April 2022
Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment
Apply at any time.
What you get?
Payment amounts vary.
Who is this for?
People who need to self-isolate, quarantine or care for a close contact or someone with COVID-19.
Overview
Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment is a lump sum payment to help you during the time you can't work and earn income because you have to:
- self-isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19
- you're caring for someone who has to self-isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19.
What are the eligibility criteria?
You may be eligible for this payment if 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 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 must be living in the same household as the person with disability or a severe medical condition.
You must also meet all the following:
- you’re at least 17 years old and live in Australia
- 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 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 no sick leave entitlements, including pandemic sick leave, personal leave or leave to care for another person
- you have liquid assets of less than $10,000 on the first day of the period you’re claiming for.
How do you apply?
You can claim over the phone with Services Australia. You must make a new claim for each period of self-isolation or quarantine that you are required to serve.
Find out more about eligibility and how to apply on the Services Australia website.