Here's How To Find Out If You're Eligible For NSW's $1,500 Pandemic Relief Payment

Eligible workers can get the quarantine payment from today.

Workers in NSW are breathing a sigh of relief this morning as they become the second state to qualify for the Federal Government's paid pandemic leave scheme.

From today, eligible workers can apply for the payment of $1,500 if they are required to self-isolate for 14 days due to exposure from coronavirus but do not have enough leave or are not receiving JobKeeper or JobSeeker payments.

With NSW recording its first coronavirus death since mid-August and two new cases yesterday, it is clear that the payment is needed to keep workers safe.

Workers aged 17 and older who don’t have access to any leave entitlements will be eligible, and those who have been ordered to self-isolate from 17 September can prove a loss of income to get the payment.

Initially, Victoria was the only state receiving the payment due to their spikes in cases over the last few months. All states could apply for the payment, but so far, only VIC, NSW, WA and TAS have applied.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that workers who are out of leave entitlements will be given the payment so that the state doesn’t need to decide between getting by and public health.

"If you're someone who has a job and you don't have any leave left, you will be paid $1,500 for that fortnight you have to isolate," Ms Berejiklian said.

"We didn't want to declare a State of Emergency in NSW which is what the criteria was to get the pandemic leave.

"I wrote to the Prime Minister saying 'please can you support us in that way?' and he very gladly accepted."

While it seems like NSW might be a little late to the party, considering most states have things sort of under control, the payment is designed to be a safety net for those who are forced into quarantine so that we avoid a second (or third) wave of the pandemic.

Western Australia, for example, has applied for the scheme just in case of an outbreak but isn't currently eligible because they have zero community transmission.

If you think you might be eligible for the payment you can apply over the phone by calling Services Australia on 180-22-66.

Header Image: Mark Metcalfe / Stringer via Getty Images