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Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment - COVID 19 support for international farm workers.

Fruit Growers Tasmania | Tuesday, 22 March 2022, 10.00am

Services Australia has support available for people who cannot work and earn income if they or someone they are caring for has to self-isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19.

It’s called the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment (PLDP) and is available for farmworkers with temporary work visas if they meet all the points below:

• Are at least 17 years old and live in Australia
• Are an Australian resident or hold a visa that gives them the right to work in Australia
• Are living in Australia during the self-isolation, quarantine or caring period
• Are living in Australia at the time of the claim
• Are unable to work and lost at least 8 hours or a full day of work in a 7 day period of self-isolation, quarantine or caring
• Have no sick leave entitlements, including pandemic sick leave, personal leave or leave to care for another person
• Have liquid assets of less than $10,000 on the first day of the period they are claiming for. Liquid assets are funds readily available in cash, savings, or assets that can easily be changed into cash. For example, money loaned to other people.

Let your employees know that temporary visa holders who meet these rules can call Services Australia on 180 22 66 to claim. They can ask for an interpreter, and Services Australia will provide one for free.

Here are some points to remember:

•  Employees must make a claim for the first day of their isolation or caring period.
• They can make a new claim if their isolation or caring period is longer than 7 days.
• They must make their claim within 14 days of the start of each 7 day period of self-isolation, quarantine or caring.
• They must submit their own claim and can’t ask someone to submit it for them.

Services Australia has a COVID-19 community page with resources to help. You can find an eKit with factsheets in 9 languages, including Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, Bislama, Pijin and Tuvaluan, about claiming PLDP. You can print and share them with your employees. There is more information at servicesaustralia.gov.au/pandemicleavedisasterpayment including the factsheet in 10 more languages.

Australian citizens and permanent residents can claim the PLDP online through their myGov account. If they don’t have one yet, they can set one up.

If you need more advice and support to help workers access the PLDP in Tasmania, email Services Australia at tas.community.engagement@servicesaustralia.gov.au.

Disclaimer

This information is correct as of 21 March 2022. Please check the Service Australia website for the most up to date information.