Huge Covid-19 support package announced for companies and workers in New South Wales

Locked down Sydney workers are handed $600-a-week and small businesses get 40% of their wage bills covered in huge new support package

  • Federal government will increase the $500 lockdown support to $600 a week
  • The $325 amount for those who lose fewer than 20 hours will increase to $375 
  • NSW and federal government will jointly fund JobKeeper-style business relief 

Sydney workers can claim up to $600 a week and businesses will get 40 per cent of their wage bills covered under a new support package announced by the Commonwealth and the New South Wales government.

The Covid-19 disaster payment has been increased to allow residents who lose 20 hours a week to claim $600 a week, up from $500, and those who lose between eight and 20 hours can claim $375, up from $325. 

The payment will become recurring during the lockdown, meaning workers do not need to apply every week. 

A new small and medium business support payment will be available to companies and charities with an annual turnover between $75,000 and $50million.

Residents in Sydney are only allowed to exercise in groups of two. Pictured: Elizabeth Bay in the city on Tuesday morning

They payment will be 40 per cent of a company’s weekly wage bill per week, up to a maximum of $10,000.

It will be available to companies whose turnover is 30 per cent lower than an equivalent two week period in 2019. 

To receive the payment, companies must not sack any full time, part time and long-term staff who are currently employed.

For non-employing businesses, such as sole traders, the payment will be set at $1,000 per week. 

Police are pictured in Fairfield, the centre of Sydney's outbreak, on Tuesday morning

Police are pictured in Fairfield, the centre of Sydney’s outbreak, on Tuesday morning 

Shoppers make a purchase at a local fish market along Chapel Road in Bankstown in western Sydney as lockdown entered its fourteenth day on Friday

Shoppers make a purchase at a local fish market along Chapel Road in Bankstown in western Sydney as lockdown entered its fourteenth day on Friday

Before Tuesday, the pandemic disaster payment was $500 for anyone who loses more than 20 hours of work. Pictured: A runner in Sydney on Tuesday morning

Before Tuesday, the pandemic disaster payment was $500 for anyone who loses more than 20 hours of work. Pictured: A runner in Sydney on Tuesday morning

How to claim the $500 lockdown payment if you lose work 

Sydney residents who lose more than 20 hours of work a week can claim a $500 disaster payment from the federal government, and those who lose less than 20 hours can claim $325. 

To claim the cash you’ll need a Centrelink online account linked to your myGov. It’s easy to set these up.

Once you’re logged in, you will be asked a few questions about your situation to see if you’re eligible.

Officials need to know if you lived or worked in a Covid-19 hotspot that’s under lockdown or restricted movement.

Once you’ve completed your claim, hit submit and officials will process it for you.

You don’t need to call them, they’ll send you an SMS when you successfully submit your claim.

If you are eligible, officials will make a payment into your bank account and send you a letter with the details.

For more information click here 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk