$1500 Support Payment for Victorian Workers Affected by Melbourne Lockdown; Everything You Need To Know
Australian governments recently released a new policy which provides $1500 support payment for migrants affected by the latest stage-four lockdown in Victoria. How this support fund works, and who is eligible for it?
The new and tough stage-four restrictions have just been introduced across metropolitan Melbourne from Sunday 2nd August for six weeks. Melbourne residents have started six weeks of a strict lockdown, including an 8 pm – 5 am curfew and no travel more than 5 km from home for shopping or exercise.
What if you can’t work from home or don’t have sick leave? Did your employer send you home because you felt unwell? Do you have enough saving for yourself or even your family for the next couple of months? In this difficult time, you must be wondering, is there any incentive that the Australian government could give?
Due to growing pandemic disaster in regional Victoria which is on stage 4, Prime Minister, Scott Morrison has announced an incentive of fortnight payments for Victorians who need to self-isolate but don’t have sick leave. It’s a one-off, $1,500 payment for people who’ll lose their income when ordered to self-quarantine because they have tested positive for coronavirus, or are a close contact of a confirmed case.
Why do they do this? It is to stop people from going to work because they fear losing their jobs while they are sick. It is a support for workers who could not access sick leave or work from home. We usually do not hear that people have been told not to go to work; however, that is what we all have to do in order to stop the spread of this wildly infectious virus.
Important: You don’t need to be a citizen or permanent resident to be eligible for this $1500 support payment. People on short term visas are now eligible to apply.
Many migrants are working currently in Victoria, including people on Temporary Protection Visas, Temporary Working Visas, and any other type of visas that have been worried because they are not able to go to work. This financial help of $1500 during the COVID 19 Pandemic, can reduce their pain through a quarantine period. This also includes workers that are also casual, part-time, fixed-term, and self-employed.
Who’s eligible for the $1500 Support Payment for Worker Affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
To be eligible, you need to have the following circumstances:
- You have been instructed by the Department of Health and Human Services to self-isolate or quarantine at home because you are either diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19) or a close contact of a confirmed case.
- You have been instructed by the Department of Health and Human Services that a child aged under 16 in your care needs to self-isolate or quarantine at home because they are either diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19) or a close contact of a confirmed case.
- You must not be receiving any income, earnings or sick leave from work.
- You are 17 years and over and live in Victoria.
- You must not be receiving the JobKeeper payment or other forms of Australian Government income support.
How to apply for the $1500 support payment?
The application for this support will be online via a link provided by the Department of Health and Human Services and administered by the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions. All questions in the application need to be completed to ensure timely assessment and grant payment.
There is ongoing discussion that disaster payment should be available across Australia, which can stop what’s happened in Victoria from happening in New South Wales or Queensland or anywhere else. However, we are still awaiting confirmation on this topic.
NSW recorded 13 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday – four of which were returned travellers from overseas or Victoria and one with no known source. There is not much clear information on further restrictions or further payments being issued in other regions. With the regulations changing on a daily basis, we understand that many foreigners are feeling uncertain about their future in Australia. Some of them are unsure if they should stay and extend their visas or should return home. We are here for you to answer any questions you may have and advise you how to maintain your visa status in these hard times.
We are here in this difficult time.
There is still unclear information about what will be done in the future. We are still waiting for updates in the upcoming weeks regarding the process. We understand that applying for a visa to Australia is certainly very complex. We at ONE derland Consulting will help you to understand what you have to do and also advise you the options based on your circumstances.
We have a one-decade of experience dealing with many different types of visas. As a registered Australian migration agent with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA), we are regulated in our professional practice and bound by the Code of Conduct. Click here to access the copy.
Take the first leap and get in touch with us. Contact us through email at [email protected] or via phone at 08 9477 5831 (Perth), 02 9188 2065 (Sydney) or 03 9088 4114 (Melbourne).
