Economic Support Payments

Legislative Authority

Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Part IIIH and Part IIIJ)
 

Stated Purpose/Intent

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government announced two $750 Economic Stimulus Payments to be paid to recipients of certain benefits from Services Australia and DVA.

In the 2020-21 October Budget, the Government announced two additional Economic Support Payments of $250.

Eligibility - first and second Economic Support Payments

A person must be an Australian resident and receiving one of the following underlying payments at any time during the test period of 12 March to 13 April 2020 for the first payment, and on the test date of 10 July 2020 for the second payment:

• Service Pension, Partner Service Pension, Income Support Supplement or Veteran Payment
• Disability Pension (separate to the $6.20 fortnightly payment)
• Special Rate Disability Pension
• Permanent Impairment compensation*
• War Widow(er)’s Pension or Wholly Dependent Partner payment*
• Gold Cards, Commonwealth Seniors Health Cards and Pensioner Concession Cards
• DVA Education Schemes, where recipients are aged 16 and over
• Age or Wife Pension paid by DVA

*including lump sum payments taken in the past.

Eligibility - Additional Economic Support Payments

A person must be an Australian resident and receiving one of the following benefits on the test date of 27 November 2020 to receive the additional Economic Support Payment 2020, and/or on the test date of 26 February 2021 to receive the additional Economic Support Payment 2021:

• Service Pension, Partner Service Pension, Income Support Supplement or Veteran Payment
• Disability Pension (separate to the $6.20 fortnightly payment)
• Special Rate Disability Pension
• Permanent Impairment compensation*
• War Widow(er)’s Pension or Wholly Dependent Partner payment*
• Gold Cards, Commonwealth Seniors Health Cards and Pensioner Concession Cards
• Age Pension paid by DVA

*including lump sum payments taken in the past.

Notes

1. Those in receipt of Coronavirus Supplement for a period inclusive of 10 July 2020 are not eligible for the second Economic Support Payment.

2. A person may receive only one Economic Support Payment in respect of the 12 March ‑ 13 April 2020 test period, and only one Economic Support Payment in respect of the 10 July test date.

3. Those in receipt of a working age income support payment (such as JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance), or an education scheme such as the Veterans’ Children Education Scheme, the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme, or ABSTUDY, for a period covering the test dates of 27 November 2020 or 26 February 2021, are not eligible to receive the additional Economic Support Payments.

4. A person may receive only one additional Economic Support Payment 2020 and one additional Economic Support Payment 2021.

5. Those temporarily overseas during the test period or on the test date may still receive the Economic Support Payments, as long as they do not hold residency status in another country.

Date of Introduction

The first Economic Support Payment of $750 per person was announced on 12 March 2020, with payments commencing on 31 March 2020.

The second Economic Support Payment of $750 per person was announced on 22 March 2020, with payments commencing from mid-July 2020.

The additional Economic Support Payments were announced on 6 October 2020 as part of the 2020-21 Budget, with payments commencing from early December 2020 and early March 2021.

Original Purpose/Intent

The Government announced the Economic Support Payments as part of its stimulus packages to address the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.