Support if you can’t earn an income because of COVID-19 isolation measures

This program provides workers with a payment if they cannot earn an income because they have to self-isolate, quarantine or care for 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.