The rise of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant and recent opening of state borders has caused widespread uncertainty for those heading back to work following the Christmas break. The Australian and Queensland government has made a pandemic leave disaster payment available for eligible workers that are affected by the outbreak. The lump sum payment of $750 aims to support those who can’t work and earn income for each 7-day period due to having to self-isolate/quarantine due to COVID-19 and/or having to care for someone who has to isolate due to the virus. The introduction of Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) and alterations to has resulted in variances in requirements necessary to receive the payment, these are detailed below:
Claiming for periods on or before 17 January 2022
- you have coronavirus (COVID-19), for isolation periods starting before 10 January 2022, you must have been directly informed that 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.
From Monday 10 January 2022, Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
results are accepted: However, individuals will need to have either:
- advice of a positive test from a testing clinic or health professional
- evidence you’ve registered a positive result from a home-administered RAT with your state health authority
Claiming for periods starting from 18 January 2022 onwards
- 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.
Individuals claiming the payment must also meet both of the following requirements to be
eligible:
- you’ve lost at least 8 hours or a full day’s work
- You have liquid assets of less than $10,000 on the first day of the period you’re claiming for. (liquid assets are any funds readily available to you in cash or savings, or assets that can easily be changed into cash)
Author
Jordan Chadwick
