Centrelink Covid payment: How to claim $750 if you’re forced to isolate

Thousands of Australians forced to isolate with Covid-19 without sick leave will be able to claim up to $750 in relief payments.

The one-off payment can be claimed through Centrelink from 8 am on Wednesday, with a $450 or $750 payment available to those eligible.

The federal government announced this week the pandemic payments would be extended until the end of September amid an uptick in Covid cases.

The scheme expired on June 30 due to pressures on the federal budget but was reinstated after warnings the number of people infected would continue to climb.

Who is eligible? 

The one-off payment is available to those who can’t work because they are isolating, due to being infected with Covid or having been deemed a close contact. 

Those who care for a person under the age of 16 who becomes a close contact, care for someone with Covid-19, or care for someone with a disability or severe medical condition who has to self-isolate as a close contact, are also eligible. 

Government Services Minister Bill Shorten said employees will have to show they aren’t able to financially cover the impact of being off work to be eligible. 

‘If you have sick leave, you have to use your sick leave first but I stress, not your holiday leave,’ Mr Shorten told the Seven Network’s Sunrise program on Tuesday. 

‘Also, if you have more than $10,000 in the bank … so it’s not a means test but if you’ve got liquid assets, then you are not eligible.’ 

This means workers will need to use their sick leave before claiming the payment.  

The one-off payment is available to those who can’t work because they are isolating, due to being infected with Covid or having been deemed a close contact (stock image)

How much can be claimed? 

If eight hours of work was lost during a seven-day work period that person will be eligible for a $450 payment. 

If 20 hours of work was lost during a seven-day period that person will be able to claim the $750 payment. 

If a couple both lost work while they were in isolation, each will be available for the payments, however separate claims must be lodged. 

When can the payment be claimed? 

The one-off payments can be claimed through Centrelink from 8am on Wednesday. 

The applications must be lodged within 14 days of the first day of a person’s seven-day isolation period. 

The payment can still be claimed if a person was eligible during the period when the scheme wasn’t running, with payments to be backdated to July 1. 

The scheme is set to end on September 30 with Treasurer Jim Chalmers stating the government is ‘flexible’ on a possible extension. 

The one-off Covid relief payments for those who lost work while isolating with Covid-19 can be claimed through Centrelink from 8am on Wednesday (stock image)

How do I make a claim?

Claims can be made through the MyGov portal which must be linked to Centrelink. 

Users will be asked to prove their identity to ensure they haven’t claimed the one-off payment before. 

Who isn’t eligible for the payment?

Those who are already receiving income support payments such as AUSTUDY, Jobseeker, Age Pension or Youth Allowance. 

People receiving parental leave or Dad and Partner Pay also can’t claim the payment. 

Those who have received a seperate government benefit during their isolation period may also be ineligible. 

A positive RAT or PCR test or a direction from a health official to isolate will need to be provided in order to claim the payment (pictured, pedestrians at Melbourne’s St Kilda beach)

What proof needs to be provided? 

A positive RAT or PCR test will need to be provided in order to claim the payment. 

The RAT will need to be registered with a state or territory health authority. 

Those applying for the payment as a carer or a close contact can use proof of a direction from a health official to isolate as evidence.