[NSW] COVID-19 Disaster Payment

Homr on 13/07/2021 - 18:29
Last edited 13/07/2021 - 19:22 by 1 other user

Hey Bargainerz

Scomo has just announced an updated NSW COVID disaster payment package

COVID-19 Disaster Payment will increase from $500 to $600 per week if a person has lost 20 hours or more of work a week, or $325 to $375 each week if a person has lost between eight and 20 hours of work.

It will become a recurring payment for approved recipients for as long as the Commonwealth declared hotspot and lockdown restrictions remain in place.

People will be eligible for the payment even if they are still working, provided they have lost more than eight hours or a full day of work.

Now my question is, hypothetically, if my work hours get reduced from 38 hours to 30 hours, I'm eligible for the $375 pay per week? Will my annual leave balance have be taken into account? I'm sure I've read that your annual leave balance must be 0 from earlier articles but I can't seem to find it now.

$375 per day is pretty good….

I'm also confused with this statement "People will be eligible for the payment even if they are still working, provided they have lost more than eight hours or a full day of work."

A full day of work is 7.6 hours, so is it 8 hrs or 7.6 hours?

Thank you all

Financial COVID-19

Comments

  • Drakesy on 13/07/2021 - 18:45
    +20

    Meanwhile WA gets nothing for doing the right thing and locking down early.
    Basically Scomo patting Gladys on the back for inaction.

    • Brodo Faggins on 13/07/2021 - 20:01
      +3

      don't talk to me about gladys that gargoyle!!

      taking her sweet time to make a move as if the signs aren't clear enough.

      could've easily contained in bondi area before it spread but she was (and still is) very glacier to implement things.

      throw in miscommunication and confusing rules - maybe the size of her nose is affecting the oxygen supply going to her brain somehow.

      would rather be locked down swiftly instead.

      • bemybubble on 13/07/2021 - 20:42
        -2

        I wish Victoria handled things like NSW. Better track record. Quick to forget how well the handled previous outbreaks…

        And yes I know the above comment is contentious. Let the negs roll :D

        • this is us on 13/07/2021 - 20:55
          +1

          I agree.

          Vic's management has been disastrous but apparently some people fantasise the past, particularly when the event happened somewhere else.

          I won't discuss further but take my up vote just in case.

        • djones145 on 14/07/2021 - 08:24
          +4

          this is a hold my beer moment or like in cricket, don't blame the pitch until both sides have batted

          see how long and what happens with this outbreak then call who did better

          gold standard comments mean Jack all now

        • [Deactivated] on 14/07/2021 - 08:59
          +10

          Berejiklistan and Scovid let in the Plaguy Princess and let 1000's of passengers debark into the middle of Sydney 4 months after the global outbreak. Not at all well handled there.

          When the Bondi/Eastern suburbs cluster started she still allowed residents to go around metropolitan Sydney (probably cause of her mate Pork Bruzillaro lived there), but at christmas time last year she locked down the northern beaches for 2 weeks when there were less cases. Now there are no cases on the northern beaches we are still under the same rules as the rest of Sydney.

          She and her Gestapo need to be voted out next election.

          • bemybubble on 14/07/2021 - 10:37

            @[Deactivated]: Out of curiosity. You in nsw??

            • [Deactivated] on 14/07/2021 - 11:27
              +2

              @bemybubble: yes, northern beaches
              annoying that it takes 2 days to call region based lockdown at christmas, but when your mates are involved in a region of high cases you wait 2 weeks to call lockdown, by that time its too late and everyone suffers.
              Now that there are regions with no cases after 2 weeks they cannot be allowed free movement within the region is just terrible management. I would still wear a mask until restrictions lift, but going out with the family would be nice.

              • bemybubble on 14/07/2021 - 11:46
                -3

                @[Deactivated]: Being a Victorian it’s interesting to see others take. To be honest mate we’d love to be governed the way you guys have been. Victoria has been an absolute disaster in comparison…

                • ThithLord on 16/07/2021 - 08:20

                  @bemybubble: lol ah yes, getting 700+ cases down to zero cases a day just reeks of disastrous management.

                  • bemybubble on 16/07/2021 - 08:31
                    +1

                    @ThithLord: Lol ah yes, getting to 700+ cases to begin with reeks of disastrous management.

                    • ThithLord on 16/07/2021 - 08:47

                      @bemybubble: Glad to see you're concerned about those cases that are squarely at the hand of NSW's Plague Ship from March 2020.

      • parcus on 13/07/2021 - 23:36
        -2

        Honestly, can't really see that much fault in NSW's response given how past outbreaks in the state have went. For a point of comparison, you do realise during Victoria's 2nd wave they didn't go to a full city-wide lockdown until they had 191 cases in a day? That was the 7th July, over a month after the initial quarantine leak and a whole heap of ineffective restrictions in between.

        Northern beaches outbreak was a textbook case study they probably tried to emulate, and a localised lockdown in the eastern suburbs probably would've worked this time if it weren't for that birthday party in the south-west where almost everyone ended up getting infected by someone exposed to the bondi cluster, and of course spreading it to their households and onwards.

        • Ghost47 on 14/07/2021 - 10:21
          +6

          Whilst I do agree that Gladys most likely did what she did because of how NSW has handled the pandemic up to now, she shouldn’t have really expected a similar outcome because the Delta variant is twice as contagious as the Alpha variant which circulated last year. It’s as if the science was completely ignored, and every time she says “we listen to the health advice” in the pressers I start to think either she’s trying to throw the CHO under the bus or the advice is actually bad.

          Also I wouldn’t say everything has been handled well especially with how she’s sent cops out to SW Sydney whereas there’s nothing like that in the eastern suburbs, but that just goes to show the divide between the rich and the poor in Sydney. Her softly softly approach is just too weak and now cases are going up exponentially, I predict this “lockdown” will go in until at least the start of September, but I’ll be happy to be wrong.

          • ThithLord on 14/07/2021 - 10:24
            +7

            @Ghost47:

            It’s as if the science was completely ignored, and every time she says “we listen to the health advice” in the pressers I start to think either she’s trying to throw the CHO under the bus or the advice is actually bad.

            Mate, the NSW Government are only listening to business advice and they've admitted this, albeit without meaning to.

            Check out Michael West's 6min video on the topic they posted yesterday. Eye-opening stuff. I recommend you subscribe to MW; fantastic investigative journalists that Australia desperately needs.

            • petry on 14/07/2021 - 10:42
              +6

              @ThithLord: gladys made a coalition policy decision. Full stop.

              full stop to all those living in non coalition states as a result.

              now those states have to pay NSW for a stupid decision and the sleazy nsw government. stupid political decisions are no longer punished because the media and annonymous paid influencers lobby to deflect blame.

              • ThithLord on 14/07/2021 - 10:46
                +5

                @petry: Yep. And now Scomo is pork-barrelling an entire State. You have to marvel at their evil-genius manoeuvres, hey?

                • petry on 14/07/2021 - 11:08
                  +5

                  @ThithLord: its an entire country, and its being militarised domestically because the coalition was too cheap to buy pfizer, and then too arrogant to beg for it.

                  happier to let australians die…and all the media defend it.

    • HeWhoKnows on 14/07/2021 - 19:30
      -8

      Gladys is not draconian like the others
      And NSW loves her for this.
      She always goes for the minimum restrictions that health advises and its worked a treat for NSW.
      The wonderful track and trace system NSW implemented early on has saved us for lock downs on many occasions.
      Hence its been business as usual in NSW for the most part whilst other states came to a stand still.

      And even this time Gladys waited until she was sure that there was no other option but a lock down.

      Nobody could foresee how quickly this delta strain would spread across Sydney, NSW and into other states.

      Another problem is that most people are asymptomatic so many don't know they are infected and so don't see the need to get tested.

      Now this could be because many people already have developed some (natural) immunity to COVID19 whether they have been vaccinated or not, and so the symptoms fail to show.

      Cant blame Gladys for that.

      Unlike Dictator Dan who looked for any reason the keep the lock down going in VIC and furthermore to lock up innocent Victorians, Gladys is looking to lift the lock down as soon as possible.

      And unlike Dictator Dan who could not explain or justify the harsh and lengthy VIC lock down, Gladys has laid the cards on the table for all to know the prerequisites for lifting the lock down.

      So if you live in NSW be very glad you've got a "conservative" leader running the state rather than a power hungry, draconian, Communist dictator.

      • Drakesy on 14/07/2021 - 19:49
        +2

        Gladys had the power of hindsight and chose to ignore it though.
        You dont see wa waiting until cases hit double digits to lockdown.

        2 weeks later and its gone.
        Its amazing what you can do listening to science and not lobbyists

  • Neoika on 13/07/2021 - 18:58
    +1

    $600 or $375 are all taxable income. Most people will only pocket about $400 or $250 later. In terms of time, I think it is your own arrangement with employer.

    • Homr on 13/07/2021 - 18:59
      -1

      that's still good. Getting paid $250 for 1 day after tax

      • [Deactivated] on 13/07/2021 - 19:03
        +1

        Isn't it per week ?

        • Homr on 13/07/2021 - 19:05
          +1

          it depends on your situation. If my work hours get reduced from 38hours to 30 hours, I get paid 30 hours by my employer, and the 8hrs will be that $375 from the covid disaster relief package

          • Neoika on 13/07/2021 - 19:09

            @Homr: Just tell your employer that I can work 30.4 hrs, but only 30 hrs to be recorded.

            • Homr on 13/07/2021 - 19:09
              -6

              @Neoika: tempted

              and if anyone is below $97,500 salary. You are actually better off working 30hours and getting the $375

              Let say you are on $65,000, pretax

              Normal 38hours : $1250 per week ($250 * 5 days)
              With C19 Disaster payment: $1375 per week. ($250 * 4 + $375)

              • Zachary on 26/07/2021 - 13:38

                @Homr: what if u lost your job entirely?

  • JimmyF on 13/07/2021 - 19:01
    +8

    MS Paint diagram as required

    https://postimg.cc/JGYvpzRM

    • Drakesy on 13/07/2021 - 20:16
      +1

      Beautiful

  • Phlume on 13/07/2021 - 20:33

    What if I work full 40 hour week and contract Covid and have to isolate for a specified amount of time?

  • WreckTangle on 13/07/2021 - 20:39
    +4

    Last time they gave payments i know people that bought tvs and even a car, meanwhile i had to go to work. Its so wrong. Commonwealth govt OUT, NSW govt OUT.

    • grasstown on 14/07/2021 - 14:22

      Landlords foot the bill as well

      • Ghost47 on 14/07/2021 - 16:05
        +1

        Poor landlords, real estate is supposed to be a sure fire investment :(

        • grasstown on 14/07/2021 - 16:26
          +1

          They want to rid the middle class

          • lew380 on 14/07/2021 - 21:22

            @grasstown: And fleece the world for a supposed vacinne. Minting a few new pharmaceutical billionaires.

  • ass3ts on 13/07/2021 - 20:41
    -1

    How many here never claimed anything from Centrelink even when you were eligible to?

  • GourmetFoodie on 13/07/2021 - 21:11
    +11

    And the rest of us tax payers not from
    NSW are paying for Gladys’ dangerous political games.

  • Mr Icarus on 13/07/2021 - 21:39

    does anyone know if there are any restrictions on people claiming? I thought I saw something about a $10k limit on some kind of asset / money in the bank

    • Homr on 13/07/2021 - 21:49
      +2

      They have waived the 10k when lockdown reaches the 3rd week

      • Mr Icarus on 13/07/2021 - 21:53
        +1

        yeah I was just reading through that on the website / application process.

        COVID-19 Disaster Payment
        To get this payment you must meet the following:

        you're at least 17 years old
        you're an Australian resident or a holder of a visa class permitted to work in Australia
        you reside or work in, or were present in, a hotspot area that has also been placed under restricted movement / lockdown
        you are not able to work and therefore unable to earn any income as a result of a restricted movement / lockdown
        if you are claiming for a period prior to the third week of the restricted movement for your area, you have access to funds in cash or in savings of less than $10,000
        not receiving an income support payment (including if on nil rate) or a Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment for a period you claim this payment for
        exhausted all appropriate paid leave entitlements.

        • Homr on 13/07/2021 - 22:03
          -4

          "exhausted all appropriate paid leave entitlements."

          damn, that sucks then

          • resubaehtgnolhcs on 14/07/2021 - 00:26

            @Homr: Damn … you had it all worked out too!

          • AdosHouse on 14/07/2021 - 01:52
            +4

            @Homr: Really sucked for me last year.

            I had been saving my leave for a couple of years, and had to use it. Whereas my co-workers who constantly had time off got government money straight away.

  • morse on 14/07/2021 - 03:50
    +4

    Maybe, theoretically you could do this, but that’s not what these payments are for. If you employer is paying you for 38hrs, do they not need you to work those 38hrs? (not 30). Does your employer genuinely only need 30hrs from you instead of 38 because of the lockdown?

    These payments are there to support people who have genuinely lost work and income, not for people who want to work less and get paid marginally more. If you or your employer abuse this, the gov will be less likely to offer similar schemes in the future to those who really need it.

    Don’t forget this is not free money, we’re paying for it through our taxes.

    • letmesee on 14/07/2021 - 13:27
      +1

      Not if a big donating and advertising companies like Harvey Norman abuse it. Then it's nothing to see here, just a struggling retail business. It's already a shambles of a system and ready to be abused, because its been planned and been given the go ahead within a few days. it's not like the Federal and State governments had reason to believe that this situation could occur, so can't blame them for not forward planning these scenarios. But hey, at least I've got my health, (*for now).

      • resubaehtgnolhcs on 14/07/2021 - 13:47
        +1

        I am yet to see a Government scheme that isn't abused … remember the roof insulation, solar panels, education colleges, NDIS, childcare rebates … the list goes on!

  • ThithLord on 14/07/2021 - 09:36
    +2

    Scott Morrison pork-barrelling an entire State. Obligatory You did it. You Crazy son of a b^tch, you did it

  • OzHunterNSW on 14/07/2021 - 15:09

    Your entire thought pattern is confused…

    If you are "working" then this does not apply to you. The benefit is only for those who have "completely" lost work.

    Where are you getting the $300+ per day?

    Why would you care if your hours are reduced to 30h? You are STILL WORKING!

    • Homr on 14/07/2021 - 15:12
      +1

      no its not, it hours reduced.

      In the 11am press conference this morning, one of the journalist asked "If employees volunteer to have their hours reduced, will they still be eligible for the disaster payment"

      Glady's response was "yes absolutely"

      • morse on 14/07/2021 - 15:43

        There might be legitimate need for someone to volunteer to reduce their hours, eg needing to look after/home school kids.

        Anyone thinking of doing this just to game the system and not out of genuine need should consider the implications for their long term employment. If it becomes apparent the employer can do with those extra hours, they might just find it’s a permanent arrangement without the extra pay.

        Given people need to have exhausted other leave and have less than $10k behind them, hopefully it will help only those who actually need it to access it.

  • abc on 15/07/2021 - 22:54
    +2

    Another extremely confusing government policy made up on the run.

    However does anyone know if you are still eligible if not working and not in receipt of any other payments? Say if you lost your job before the lockdown. You are not employed by anyone but essentially have still lost your work hours?

    • Neoika on 24/07/2021 - 14:47

      Jobseeker around $300/wk. Some losing all part-time work claim $375/wk taxable income, which may not be better than jobseeker payment in the end.

  • Homr on 28/07/2021 - 13:19

    well this has aged well bargainers. Payments up from $375 and $600 to $450 and $750

  • AndyRates on 05/08/2021 - 18:05

    Did anyone get hit by $10 bank charge upon receiving disaster payment?

  • Benjkmv on 28/08/2021 - 08:14

    I am already working full time and doing some extra work of food delivery services from Menulog. I have now stopped doing Menulog because of lockdown, would I still be eligible for COVID disaster payment? I haven’t claimed this as of now and just checking if this is something I can.

    • abc on 28/08/2021 - 12:46

      Depends if you worked 8 hours or more a week doing Menulog? Do you have an ABN for it?

      • Benjkmv on 28/08/2021 - 12:53

        Thanks for your reply.

        Yes I have an ABN as sole trader and was working more than 8hrs in a week. Anyway talking to my friend he told that I will not be able to do it as I can still choose to do delivery, it’s just that I am not doing it. Menulog services are still open during lockdown so technically it hasn’t been impacted. That was my reason in The first place for not claiming the amount.

        • Homr on 29/08/2021 - 09:46

          The reduction of hours must be enforce by your employer, you can't volunteer to reduce your hours. If menulog told you that we can only give you less hours than before prelockdown, then you are eligible to claim.

          Or just follow the ozbargain spirit, claim now think later

  • AndyRates on 28/08/2021 - 17:20

    does anyone know if this payment is extended to september as well?

    • Homr on 28/08/2021 - 19:41

      not yet, NSW lockdown ends 30th September

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