Victorian Five-Day Lockdown Support Packages (July 2021)

1. July 2021 Top-Up Payment (by Victorian Government)

This new payment package provides additional support to eligible small to medium businesses in sectors affected by the current restrictions in metropolitan and regional Victoria. Eligible businesses should include restaurants, cafes bars, event suppliers, tourism and accommodation providers and non-essential retailers.

To be eligible, businesses must have successfully applied for the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two (see eligibility requirements here) or the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 (see eligibility requirements here).

 Successful recipients of:

• the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two will receive an additional $2000; and
• the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 will receive an additional $3000.

Businesses that are ineligible for a grant under the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 are not eligible to receive the July 2021 Top-Up Payment.

 You do not need to apply for the July 2021 Top-Up Payment. Automatic payments will be made to eligible businesses and sole traders across the state to minimise delays in getting money into the pockets of businesses who need it now.

We understand the automatic payments are due to commence over the course of next week (ending Friday 23 July 2021) and should be processed automatically during July 2021.

2. COVID-19 Disaster Payments for Individuals (by Commonwealth Government)

The Commonwealth Government has agreed to fund income support payments (or COVID-19 Disaster Payments) from the first day of the current lockdown (ie. Thursday, 16 July 2021), for those who live and/or work in the areas declared as a Commonwealth Hotspot (see a full list of hotspots here).

Workers affected by the public health restrictions are now eligible for either:

• Payment of $600 for individuals that lose 20 hours or more of work during the period of the lockdown (ie. the five day period); or
• Payments of $375 for individuals that lose between 8 - 20 hours of work during the period of the lockdown (ie. the five day period).

There is no liquid assets test applied to these payments at any time. Payments will be made 7 days after the commencement of the lockdown (that is from Friday 23 July 2021) once applications have been submitted to via the Services Australia website here.

 Full details of the COVID-19 Disaster Payment for Victorians can be found on the Services Australia website – click here.

Please do not hesitate to contact your Lowe Lippmann Relationship Partner if you wish to discuss any of these matters further.