Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment
As per services Australia, The 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 must self-isolate or quarantine due
Who Can Get it?
- you have coronavirus (COVID-19), for isolation periods starting before 10 January 2022, you must have been directly informed you have COVID-19 by a health official
- you’re informed by a health official that you’re a close contact with a person who has COVID-19
- you care for a child, 16 years or under, who has COVID-19
- you’re informed by a health official that a child you care for who is 16 years or under, is a close contact with 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 also meet all of the following:
- you’re at least 17 years old and live in Queensland
- 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 go to work and earn an income because you have to self-isolate, quarantine or care for someone who has to self-isolate or quarantine
- you have no sick leave entitlements, including pandemic sick leave, personal leave or leave to care for another person.
Who Cannot Get it?
Not everyone who is self-isolating or in quarantine can get the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment.
You won’t be eligible if, during your isolation period, you 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
- a Queensland Hardship Payment
- the COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
If you’re a confirmed close contact of a COVID-19 case, a health official must direct you by a letter, email, phone, or SMS to self-isolate or quarantine.
You can’t get this payment if you decide to self-isolate without a health official directing you to. For example, if you were in the same location as a confirmed COVID-19 case, but haven’t been officially directed to self-isolate or quarantine.
How much can you get?
There are different payment amounts depending on which period you claim for. The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment – Queensland is taxable income. This means you’ll need to include it in your income tax return for the relevant financial year.
If your claim is for a self-isolation or quarantine period beginning 9 December 2021 until 17 January 2022 , you can get up to $750 for each 7 day period you’ve been told to self-isolate or quarantine, or are caring for someone who has COVID-19.
If your claim is for a self-isolation or quarantine period beginning on or before 8 December 2021 you can get up to 1,500 for each 14 day period you’ve been told to self-isolate or quarantine, or are caring for someone who has COVID-19
How to Claim?
If your claim is for a period which begins on any day from 9 December 2021 until 17 January 2022, you need to claim using the Claim for Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment form.
If your claim is for a period 8 December 2021 or earlier, you need to call Serviced Australia on 180 22 66.
Sources
Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment – Queensland – Services Australia
*** Please see Seervices Australia for more details***