COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme
Eligibility for the Leave Support Scheme ended on 15 August 2023. This was when the requirement to self-isolate due to COVID-19 ended. You can still apply if your employee (or you, if you're self-employed), started self-isolating before 13 August 2023.
Please refer to the WINZ website for more information.
This payment is for employers and self-employed people. It's to help pay employees who are self-isolating because of COVID-19 (or looking after someone who has COVID-19) and can't work from home.
Eligibility
You can apply for the Leave Support Scheme if your employees cannot work and either:
- have COVID-19
- are caring for a dependent who has COVID-19, or
- are at risk of severe illness from COVID-19, or have a household member who is, and have been advised by a medical practitioner to self-isolate.
The employee must be self-isolating for at least four consecutive days. This may include a day that they are not scheduled to work.
There’s no revenue test for this payment.
Rate
The Leave Support Scheme is paid at a flat rate of:
- $600 for workers who were working 20 hours or more a week (full-time)
- $359 for workers who were working less than 20 hours a week (part-time).
You can apply for casual workers and people who work variable hours. You and your employee need to agree in writing what their hours would usually be during this period to work out what rate you should apply for.
You may be able to get more than one Leave Support Payment if your employee must keep isolating.
- 4 to 10 days isolating = 1 payment
- 11 to 17 days isolating = 2 payments
- 18 to 24 days isolating = 3 payments
Application deadline
Applications for the COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme must be made within 8 weeks of your employee’s self-isolation period ending.
Obligations
- Before applying for this payment, you need to have a conversation and get your employee’s consent to information sharing.
- You must do your best to pay your employees at least 80% of their ordinary wages or salary. If it isn't possible, you need to pay at least the Leave Support Scheme payment rate.
More information and application can be found on the WINZ website.