{"id":11735,"date":"2021-06-10T08:30:37","date_gmt":"2021-06-10T08:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=11735"},"modified":"2021-06-10T08:30:37","modified_gmt":"2021-06-10T08:30:37","slug":"new-covid-19-disaster-payment-available-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2021\/06\/10\/new-covid-19-disaster-payment-available-today\/","title":{"rendered":"New COVID-19 disaster payment available today"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eligible Victorians whose hours of work and income are significantly affected due to the state lockdown can now claim the COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
\nSince claiming opened at 8am today, thousands of claims have been successfully lodged and Services Australia has already started granting claims.
\nThis payment is for people who reside or work in a Commonwealth declared hotspot and can\u2019t attend work as a result of state imposed health restrictions lasting greater than a week.
\nEligible people, for the period 4 to 10 June, will receive $500 if they\u2019ve lost 20 hours or more of work, and $325 if they\u2019ve lost less than 20 hours of work. They must not have liquid assets of more than $10,000 or be in receipt of other payments.
\nMinister for Government Services, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, said Services Australia staff are urgently progressing claims from Victorians affected by the current lockdown restrictions in Greater Melbourne.
\n\u201cServices Australia staff are now processing COVID-19 Disaster Payment claims and prioritising payments and services to support Victorians through this current lockdown period,\u201d Minister Reynolds said.
\n\u201cOnce a claim has been lodged, using a Centrelink online account through myGov, customers do not need to do anything else.
\n\u201cWhen their claim is approved, customers should get their payment the next business day.
\n\u201cCustomers will receive an SMS when their claim is submitted. People don\u2019t need to call to check on their claim.
\n\u201cWe expect significant interest in this payment and ask that people be patient, especially during the first few days as Services Australia processes these claims for support.
\n\u201cPayments will also be backdated to the date someone first became eligible, rather than the date the claim was lodged.\u201d
\nPeople who can\u2019t make a claim online can call 180 22 66 for support. Phone lines are open 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
\nEligible visa holders will need to call Services Australia on 180 22 66 to claim.
\nFor more information on the COVID-19 Disaster Payment go to\u00a0servicesaustralia.gov.au\/covid19<\/a>
\nAdditional information<\/strong>
\nServices Australia will pay the COVID-19 Disaster Payment from the date of activation for an area where both of the following apply:<\/p>\n