Coronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus Act 2020 (22 of 2020)

Schedule 11   Additional support for income support recipients

Part 1   Main amendments

Social Security Act 1991

30   After section 645

Insert:

646 COVID-19 supplement

(1) If a person is receiving jobseeker payment, the rate of the person's jobseeker payment is increased by the amount of the COVID-19 supplement. The increase begins on 27 April 2020.

Cessation of supplement

(2) This section ceases to apply at the end of:

(a) the period (the initial period ) of 6 months beginning on the day on which this section commences, unless paragraph (b) applies; or

(b) if a period is extended under subsection (3) - the extended period.

(3) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, extend the initial period (or that period as extended one or more times under this subsection) by a period not exceeding 3 months. The Minister must be satisfied that the extension is in response to circumstances relating to the coronavirus known as COVID-19.

Amount of supplement

(4) For the period beginning on 27 April 2020 and ending at the end of the initial period, the amount of the COVID-19 supplement per fortnight is:

(a) $550, unless paragraph (b) applies; or

(b) if an amount is determined under subsection (5) - that amount.

(5) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, determine an amount for the purposes of paragraph (4)(b).

(6) For any extension period, the amount of the COVID-19 supplement is to be worked out in accordance with a determination under subsection (7).

(7) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, make a determination for the purposes of subsection (6).

(8) Without limiting subsection (7), the determination may provide that the amount of COVID-19 supplement per fortnight is nil for specified persons.