Over the past month due to lockdowns in various states, there have been a number of grants and support payments announced by federal and state governments. Below is a list of some of the more common assistance packages being provided as well as extensions to other grants.
Covid-19 Disaster Payment
This payment is available to workers adversely affected by state lockdowns. Eligibility is dependent on your location and your individual work circumstances.
For Victoria, support is available if you couldn’t work due to the lockdown between 16th July and 27th July 2021.
To get the payment, you need to meet all eligibility rules that apply.
This includes all of these rules:
- you’re an Australian resident or hold a visa that gives you the right to work in Australia
- you’re 17 years or older
- you didn’t get an income support payment, ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Dad and Partner Pay or Parental Leave Pay during the payment period.
- you didn’t get the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment, a state or territory pandemic payment or a state small business payment for the same period
- you lost income and didn’t have any appropriate paid leave entitlements.
You also need to have met these rules between 16 and 27 July 2021:
- you lived in, worked from or visited a Commonwealth-declared COVID-19 hotspot that is subject to a state restricted movement order, or you lived in or worked from other areas of Victoria
- you were unable to earn your usual income of 8 hours or more or a full day’s work because you were in the COVID-19 hotspot and were subject to restricted movement, or you lived or worked from other areas of Victoria.
How much you get depends on your location , the period and the number of hours of work lost.
The table below sets out the payment amounts:
| Period data range | Amount if you lost less than 20 hours work that week | Amount if you lost 20 hours or more that week |
| 16 July to 22 July 2021 | $375 | $600 |
| 23 July to 27 July 2021 | $375 | $600 |
Application for the disaster payment is made through centrelink. Details on how to claim canbe found below.
Further details on eligibility can be found below.
For details on eligibility for other states, this can be found below.
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/covid-19-disaster-payment
Victorian Government – Business Costs Assistance Program Round 2 Extension
The Victorian Government announced an extension to the business costs assistance program announced in June. The program allows businesses that had not previously applied for the program in June, or have since become eligible, to apply for the grant.
An amount of $4800 is available to eligible businesses.
To be eligible for the Program, a business must:
- Be located within Victoria; and
- Be registered as operating in an eligible industry sector; and
- Have incurred direct costs as a result of the July COVID-19 Restrictions and the business cannot predominantly operate remotely; and
- Have an annual Victorian payroll of up to $10 million in 2019-20 on an ungrouped basis; and
- Be registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) on 15 July 2021; and
- Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN on and from 15 July 2021; and
- Be registered with the responsible Federal or State regulator.
For employing businesses only:
- Be registered with WorkSafe Victoria; and
- Attest that the business is supporting its workers to access any paid leave entitlements, or that if a person can work from home, to work from home during the July COVID-19 Restrictions, and supporting their casual workers, where possible.
A list of the eligible industries can be found here:
Further information and applications can be made below. Applications close 13 August 2021.
Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 July Extension
The extension of the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 program provides businesses holding an eligible liquor licence and food certificate with a grant up to $7,200 per premises.
Applications for the grant close on 13 August 2021. Further information and applications can be made below:
https://business.vic.gov.au/grants-and-programs/licensed-hospitality-venue-fund-2021-july-extension
JobSaver – New South Wales
JobSaver will provide cash flow support to impacted businesses in NSW.
Eligible businesses and not-for-profit organisations with employees can receive fortnightly payments backdated to cover costs incurred from week 4 of the Greater Sydney lockdown (from 18 July 2021 onwards).
The payment will be equivalent to 40% of the weekly payroll for work performed in NSW:
- minimum payment will be $1,500 per week
- maximum payment will be $10,000 per week.
Non-employing businesses, such as sole traders, may be eligible to receive a payment of $1,000 per week.
Further details on this program can be found below.
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/jobsaver-payment
Support for other States
There are a number of various grants available in other states for business affected by Covid. PLease search for grants and funding on your state governments website for more details.
