The quick guide to the latest government financial help for Hawkesbury during the lockdown

It’s called the NSW COVID-19 Support Package, is part federal and part state funded, and will give people who have been laid off from work or have had hours cut – and businesses which are suffering – a financial lifeline for the duration of the lockdown.

For individuals within a Commonwealth declared hotspot – which currently includes the Hawkesbury – the weekly COVID-19 Disaster Payment will be increased to $600 (from the current $500) and will apply if a person has lost 20 or more hours of work a week, or $375 if a person has lost between eight hours and less than 20 hours of work a week. This payment is administered by Services Australia.

In addition, a new business support payment, administered by Service NSW, will also be available to businesses with an annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million who can demonstrate a 30 per cent decline in turnover.

Eligible entities will be required to maintain their full time, part time and long-term casual staffing level as of 13 July 2021, with payments based on the level of an entity’s payroll.

For non-employing businesses, such as sole traders, the payment will be set at $1000 per week.

Liberal Senator for Western Sydney, Marise Payne, said the federal government’s approach was evolving to meet the challenges posed by the extended lockdowns.

“The COVID-19 Disaster Payment is recurring and easily claimed via Services Australia because the Morrison Government’s focus is on delivering targeted and timely support to local households,” Senator Payne said.

“Small and medium businesses can have confidence that they will be able to retain

Senator Marise Payne

their staff and maintain cash flow through the new business support payment, which our government is delivering on a 50/50 basis with the NSW Government.

“Affected households and businesses in the Hawkesbury should contact Services Australia or Service NSW to check their eligibility and make a claim.

“I welcome the additional measures announced by the NSW Government, which includes a new grant program for smaller micro businesses with turnover between $30,000 and $75,000.”

For information about the COVID-19 Disaster Payment, contact Services Australia at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/ or call 180 22 66.

Businesses can register their interest in the business support payment from 14 July 2021 through Service NSW. More information will be available on the Service NSW website later this week.

If you are already a Hawkesbury Post supporter, thank you! Our site is free, relying on our supporters to operate. Independent journalism is more important than ever, please consider contributing.

Click here to see how

Don’t pay so you can read it. Pay so everybody can read it!