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Provides a lump sum financial assistance to limit the financial hardship for eligible individuals who are unable to earn an income having been informed by a health official in the state they live and/or work to self-isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19.

Claimants are required to complete an application by telephone or by submitting a completed claim form by fax to Services Australia. The easiest way to claim is over the phone.

A claim will be assessed by Services Australia against the eligibility criteria before making payment and claimants will be notified by letter if their claim has been granted or rejected.

Where requested, a claimant may also need to provide evidence of meeting the eligibility criteria for the payment.

Services Australia makes every effort to process claims as quickly as possible. Depending on individual circumstances, payments can be released in real time to the claimant’s Australian bank account.

Provides a lump sum financial assistance to limit the financial hardship for eligible individuals who are unable to work and earn an income in an area under a state public health order for a lockdown that is greater than seven days and is a determined Commonwealth hotspot.

Under this initiative NSW residents aged 18 and over can receive four $25 vouchers to use at participating businesses, including:

• Two $25 vouchers to be used for eating in restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and clubs.
• Two $25 vouchers to be used for entertainment and recreation, including cultural institutions, live music and arts venues.

To receive the vouchers, residents need to have the Service NSW app and register for a MyServiceNSW account.

The NSW Government has compiled a guide to assist people with home loans who are owner-occupiers that are experiencing financial difficulties due to the impact of COVID-19.

The site includes information about

• Speaking to your lender
• Changing the terms of your homeloan
• Deffering payments
• What to do if you default on your home loan
• Debt agreements and bankruptcy
• Help with managing your finances
• Mental health support and legal advice

Evictions have been put on hold for commercial and residential tenancies in financial distress, who are unable to meet their commitments due to the impact of the coronavirus. Commercial tenants, landlords and financial institutions are encouraged to talk about short term agreements.

The Government has also announced a mandatory code of conduct for commercial tenancies to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) affected by the coronavirus.

The Australian Government is temporarily reducing superannuation minimum drawdown requirements for account-based pensions and similar products by 50 per cent for 2019-20 and 2020-21. This measure will benefit retirees holding these products by reducing the need to sell investment assets to fund minimum drawdown requirements.

The Government is reducing both the upper and lower social security deeming rates by a further 0.25 percentage points in addition to the 0.5 percentage point reduction to both rates announced on 12 March 2020.

The change reflects the low interest rate environment, reducing the income deemed to have been earned from interest on investments and savings allowing for an increase in social security payments.

HomeBuilder provides eligible owner-occupiers (including first home buyers) with a grant of $25,000 to build a new home or substantially renovate an existing home. HomeBuilder will assist the residential construction market by encouraging the commencement of new home builds and renovations.

The Australian Government has provided two separate $750 payments to social security, veteran and other income support recipients and eligible concession card holders. The first payment was made from 31 March 2020 and the second payment was made from 13 July 2020.

The Australian Government is temporarily expanding eligibility to income support payments and establishing a new, time-limited fortnightly Coronavirus supplement. This will be paid to both existing and new recipients of JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance Jobseeker, Parenting Payment, Farm Household Allowance and Special Benefits.

If you’re eligible for Child Care Subsidy you may be able to get extra help with the cost of approved child care under the temporary financial hardship subsidy.

The Government is allowing individuals affected by the Coronavirus to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation in 2019-20 and a further $10,000 in 2020-21. Individuals will not need to pay tax on amounts released and the money they withdraw will not affect Centrelink or Veterans’ Affairs payments.

Armidale Regional Council is offering immediate relief to ratepayers experiencing genuine financial hardship due to the Coronavirus pandemic by allowing a three month payment deferral period. Ratepayers and members of the community experiencing financial hardship due to loss of income who cannot make payments on other fees and charges, including water utility payments owed to Council can also apply for hardship and will be assessed on a case by case basis.