New federal government data shows 2.38 million people in Australia have been paid $13.31 billion in assistance through three programs including the Covid Disaster Payment, the $200 Income Support Payment for welfare recipients who have lost at least 8 hours of work and the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment for those forced to isolate or quarantine.More than 403,000 people have been paid a total of $451.9 million in Pandemic Leave Disaster Payments, with claims surging during January after cases skyrocketed. The Covid Disaster Payment, which was introduced in June last year, was accessed the most by Australians during lockdown with 5.89 million claims worth $12.59 billion paid out to more than two million people.Meanwhile, more than 183,000 people received $268.91 million by claiming the $200 Income Support Payment.Overall, NSW has had the lion’s share of the Covid Disaster Payments with more than one million people paid a total of $7.48 billion while the state was locked down between June and October.In Victoria, 745,000 residents received $4.45 billion and in the ACT 65,000 people claimed $344 million.More than 196,000 Queenslanders received $252.6 million in disaster payments, 86,000 South Australians claimed $48.2 million and 7500 Territorians were paid $6.9 million.It comes as NSW recorded 13,026 Covid cases and 27 deaths on Monday, while Victoria recorded 10,589 cases and eight deaths.People are required to isolate for at least seven days if they record a positive result or are deemed a close contact.While the Covid Disaster Payments and the $200 Income Support Payment have stopped, Australians are still eligible to receive the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment amid the skyrocketing case numbers.ACCESSING PANDEMIC LEAVE DISASTER PAYMENTThe payment provides $750 for every seven days a person is in isolation, quarantine or needs to care for a person with Covid.If someone needs the payment for longer than seven days they have to submit a new claim each week.The payment was initially $1500 for each 14-day period in isolation, but this was changed to a weekly support of $750 from December 9.For someone to be eligible they must be at least 17 years old and an Australian resident or hold a visa giving them the right to work in the country.They must also be unable to go to work and earn an income and have no sick leave entitlements, including pandemic sick leave, personal leave or carer’s leave.Couples can complete claims together and don’t need to fill out separate forms.The support is taxable, meaning people need to include it in their tax return.If a person gets the Family Tax Benefit or Child Care Subsidy they need to include the financial support in their family income estimate as taxable income.People who want to claim the payment should call 180 22 66 or visit the Services Australia website.
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