This is my latest update to provide you with information about the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on our community.
COVID-19 Disaster Payment update
The Federal Government is expanding the national COVID-19 Disaster Payment to support workers losing hours due to the lockdown or public health orders.
Eligibility
Eligible workers losing 20 hours or more of work will now receive a payment of $750 per week. Workers losing between 8 and less than 20 hours, or a full day of work, will get a payment of $450 per week.
These payments are for those in a delcared Commonwealth Hotspot. It will be available from day one of any potential lockdown in the future, with claims made from day eight in arrears for the previous seven days. A weekly payment will then be made for the duration of the hotspot declaration.
Please note there are no liquid assets test applied to eligibility for these payments. Workers also aren’t required to run down personal annual leave to be eligible.
When it starts
The new national payment rate starts for payments processed the week commencing 2 August.
These payments will be automatically updated if you are already in the Services Australia system.
For those workers receiving Centrelink payments
If you are receiving income support such as a Centrelink payment and have lost more than 8 hours of work and meet the other eligibility requirements for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment, you will now receive an additional weekly payment of $200.
How to claim the COVID-19 Disaster Payment
Claiming this payment must be done through Services Australia and myGov and will be a separate stand-alone payment.
More information about the COVID-19 Disaster Payment can be found via Services Australia at:
Randwick City Council local business support update
Randwick City Council is offering rebates and fee waivers for businesses in the Randwick local government area (LGA).
The Council is waiving a range of fees and charges for eligible local businesses that includes:
- Interest on overdue fees and charges (on application) from July to October;
- Outdoor dining and footpath fees from July to October;
- Environment Health Inspection fees, A-frame advertising and Fire Safety Inspection fees from July to October; and
- Development Application fees for small business, for the duration of the lockdown period.
Council is also offering a 100 per cent rental rebate to business tenants in the LGA that have been required to close due to the lockdown and 50 per cent rental rebate to tenants that have remained open but suffered a loss of turnover due to the lockdown.
More information about the Randwick City Council support for local businesses can be found at:
My staff and I are here to help you. Please call my office on 9349 6007, email matt.thistlethwaite.mp@aph.gov.au or reach me via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
