What kind of COVID-19 financial support is available for Victorians? 

Payment amount

Up to 38 hours a year of sick or carer’s pay at national minimum wage ($20.33 per hour)

Who can access this payment

If you are a Victorian worker who is a casual employee or self-employed and you are not able to work because you are ill or caring for someone, and are not entitled to paid leave.

Impact of other payments

You can’t claim the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment and the Sick Pay Guarantee at the same time.

Eligibility

You are eligible if you:  

• Are 15 years or over
• Are a casual employee or self-employed with no other employees (such as a sole trader or an independent contractor)
• Are not entitled to paid personal, sick or carer’s leave in any of your jobs
• Work physically in Victoria, no matter where you live
• Have the right to work in Australia
• Work in an eligible occupation (see below for list of occupations)
• On average, work at least 7.6 hours per week in an eligible occupation(s).

Eligible occupations are:

• Hospitality workers
• Food preparation assistants
• Food trades workers
• Sales support workers
• Sales assistants
• Other labourers who work in supermarket supply chains
• Aged and disability carers
• Cleaners and laundry workers
• Security officers and guards

See full list of eligible occupations on the Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee Guidelines website.

How to access

You can claim for a minimum of three hours and a maximum of 12 hours per day. You can claim all 38 hours in one application if you need to.

You must submit your claim within 60 days of the absence from work. Note that you cannot claim for any absences before you registered for the Sick Pay Guarantee.  Check your eligibility and register online via the Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee website.

Payment amount

$450 if you lost at least 8 hours or a full day’s pay, but less than 20 hours 

$750 if you lost 20 hours or more of work. 

Who can access this payment

If you work in a high-risk setting and can’t earn an income because you have COVID-19, and are not entitled to paid leave.

Impact of other payments

You can’t claim this payment if you have exceeded the claim limit. You can get this payment and the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment a combined total of three times in a six-month period. Read more about claim limits.

You won’t be eligible if you have received Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee or COVID-19 Test Isolation Payments in the claim period.

Eligibility

You are eligible if you:   

• Work in a high-risk setting 
• Are a casual employee or have no appropriate paid leave entitlements (including pandemic sick leave or personal leave) 
• Have lost at least 8 hours work, or a full day’s pay 
• Submit a claim within 14 days of the first day you can’t go to work 
• Are over 17 years old and live in Australia 
• An Australian resident or hold a working visa 
• Are living in Australian during the claim period, and when you submit your claim 
• Have liquid assets of less than $10,000 on the first day of the period you’re claiming for (e.g. cash, savings or assets that can be easily changed into cash) 
• Haven’t exceeded the claim limits. 

High risk settings are: 

• Aged care, including home care with close personal care and support services 
• Disability care, including home care with close personal care and support services 
• Aboriginal healthcare, including workers employed by National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (NACCHOs), community health care, Aboriginal drug and alcohol services and support services 
• Hospital care, including day hospitals and smaller facilities, paramedical, ambulance, patient transport and support. 

How to access

You must submit your claim within 14 days of the first day you can’t go to work.  

Apply via Service Australia.

Payment amount

$250 – one off payment

Who can access this payment

All Victorians households who visit the Victorian Energy Compare website or engage with an energy affordability service through one of our participating community outreach partners.

Impact of other payments

Households that have previously claimed in previous rounds are eligible for this new payment. The new round of payments opened on 24 March 2023 and is scheduled to run until 31 August 2023. 

The $250 payment is open to all Victorian households who use the Victorian Energy Compare website to compare their energy deal and seek out a better price. Only one bonus is available per household.  
 
To be eligible for the new $250 Power Saving Bonus, Victorian households will need to: 

• Have a recent residential electricity bill and be the account holder for that bill 
• Visit the Victorian Energy Compare website or engage with an energy affordability service through one of our participating community outreach partners. 

Concession recipients who have already received a $250 Power Saving Bonus payment through the previous program are eligible to apply for another $250 payment. 

How to access

The quickest way to submit an application for the $250 Power Saving Bonus will be through the Victorian Energy Compare website.

Victorians who do not have access to a computer or the internet can call the Victorian Energy Compare helpline (1800 000 832) or receive support from a community outreach partners. 

• Have a Health Care Card or Pension Card, or 
• Earn less than $70,000 (gross annual income) as a single, or $100,000 (gross annual income) as a couple or person with dependants, or 
• Have experienced family or domestic violence in the last 10 years, and 
• Show you can repay the loan. 

You can call Good Shepherd’s No Interest Loan team on 13 64 57 or find out more online.