The Australian Government and State Governments are offering financial support for Uber and rideshare drivers affected by COVID-19 restrictions. In other words,
If you’ve lost earnings due to COVID-19 restrictions, you can apply for lump sum support payments, which allow you to continue driving while earnings increase.
What support options are available?
You can apply for different COVID-19 support payments from the Federal Government and/or your State Government. Check below which ones are you eligible for:
Before submitting your application, we recommend consulting a tax professional such as rideshare specialists Rideshare TAX or DriveTax.
1. Federal Government – COVID-19 Disaster Payment
The Australian Government is offering up to $750 per week of financial support for workers whose earnings have been affected by a state public health order. These include lockdowns, hotspots, or periods of restricted movement.
This is a lump-sum payment that you can claim through Centrelink, via myGov.
Important: You can get this payment even if you’re eligible on only one day of any event period. Also, if you have a partner, you can both claim this payment, even if you don’t live in the same household – you’ll simply need to make separate claims.
Am I eligible for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment?
To get financial support as an on-demand driver, you must meet all of the general eligibility criteria:
- Australian resident or visa holder with the right to work in Australia (check yours in the Department of Home Affairs VEVO system)
- Not a beneficiary of ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Dad and Partner Pay, or Parental Leave Pay
- Not a beneficiary of the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment, a State government pandemic grant, or a state small business payment for the same period
- Lost income and don’t have any appropriate paid leave entitlements
Furthermore, there are state-specific criteria that you must meet in order to be eligible for COVID-19 Disaster Payment:
- Australian Capital Territory eligibility criteria
- New South Wales eligibility criteria
- Queensland eligibility criteria
- South Australia eligibility criteria
- Victoria eligibility criteria
How do I claim COVID-19 Disaster Payment?
- If you’re an Australian resident, you must claim your payment online. For this, you need a myGov account linked to a Centrelink account
- If you’re an eligible working visa holder, you must call the Government’s Emergency Information Line on 180 22 66 to claim your support payment
For information in your native language about payments and services you can also call the Multilingual Phone Service on 131 202
Once your claim for COVID-19 Disaster Payment is granted, payments are automatic. However, this is only if lockdown continues without a break or any changes in your circumstances that might affect your eligibility.
Automatic payments will also stop when a state or territory reaches 70% double dose vaccination rates for people 16 years or older. If your income remains affected by movement restrictions, you’ll need to reapply for the payment each week.
How much COVID-19 Disaster Payment can I claim?
The COVID-19 Disaster Payments will be gradually reduced as the vaccination rates grow.
- The first week after a state or territory reaches 80% double dose vaccination rates, COVID-19 Disaster Payment will be:
- $450 if you’re not getting an eligible Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) payment
- $100 if you’re getting an eligible Centrelink or DVA payment.
- The second week after a state or territory reaches 80% double dose vaccination rates, COVID-19 Disaster Payment will:
- be $320 if you’re not getting an eligible Centrelink or DVA payment
- end if you’re getting an eligible Centrelink or DVA payment.
After this period, there will be no more applications for CDP even if your area is affected by movement restrictions.
Until then, the amounts you can claim depend on your location and the time period your income was affected.
Jump to your state
Australian Capital Territory
*The COVID-19 Disaster Payment is $200 each week if you get an eligible income support payment via Centrelink. You’ll get this amount on top of your regular payment.
New South Wales
First and second NSW periods
*You must have less than $10,000 in liquid assets if you’re claiming for the 4 – 10 July period. Liquid assets are any funds readily available to you in cash or savings, or assets that can easily be changed into cash (e.g. money loaned to other people).
From the third NSW period onwards
There are different amounts you can claim depending on whether or not you’re already receiving another Centrelink payment.
1. If you’re NOT receiving another Centrelink payment
*A full day of your usual work is what you were scheduled to work but could not because of a restricted movement order. This includes not being able to attend a full-time, part-time, or casual shift of less than 8 hours.
2. If you ARE receiving another Centrelink payment
*The COVID-19 Disaster Payment is $200 each week if you get an eligible income support payment via Centrelink. You’ll get this amount on top of your regular payment.
Queensland
*There may be different locations where COVID-19 lockdowns, hotspots, or movement restrictions apply in Queensland. You may need to reach out to Services Australia and let them know which Local Government Area you lived in, worked from or visited.
** The COVID-19 Disaster Payment is $200 each week if you get an eligible income support payment via Centrelink. You’ll get this amount on top of your regular payment.
South Australia
*There may be different locations where COVID-19 lockdowns, hotspots, or movement restrictions apply in South Australia. You may need to reach out to Services Australia and let them know which Local Government Area you lived in, worked from or visited.
Victoria
*There may be different locations where COVID-19 lockdowns, hotspots, or movement restrictions apply in Victoria. You may need to reach out to Services Australia and let them know which Local Government Area you lived in, worked from or visited.
**The COVID-19 Disaster Payment is $200 each week if you get an eligible income support payment via Centrelink. You’ll get this amount on top of your regular payment.
2. State Government grants
The NSW and SA Governments are also offering financial support to small business owners impacted by COVID-19, such as Uber drivers.
New South Wales
The NSW Government is offering a 2021 COVID-19 business grant to businesses including on-demand drivers if:
- you can demonstrate your business was operating in NSW as of June 1st
- you’ve had an aggregated annual turnover of $75,000 or more for the previous tax year (July 1st, 2019 – June 30th, 2020)
- you have business costs for which there is no other government support available
There are three different grant amounts on the decline in turnover that you’ve experienced over a minimum 2-week period from 26 June 2021 to 17 July 2021, compared to the same period in 2019:
- $7,500 for a decline of 30% or more
- $10,500 for a decline of 50% or more
- $15,000 for a decline of 70% or more.
Visit the COVID-19 business grant application page for more information
South Australia
The Government of South Australia also announced a Business Support Package for small and medium enterprises to help cover ongoing operating costs until the restrictions ease.
The support package includes a $1,000 cash grant for small businesses who don’t employ staff and sole traders, such as on-demand drivers.
To be eligible for the one-off $1,000 emergency cash grant, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be located within South Australia
- Have an annual turnover of $75,000 or more in 2020-21 or 2019-20, and be registered for GST
- Experienced at least a 30% reduction (compared to the week prior) in turnover due to the restricted trading conditions
The payments will be paid in arrears for the lockdown and you can apply through myGOV from Wednesday, 28 July.


About Splend
At Splend we help on-demand drivers thrive. As a result, we continue to help our members through the COVID-19 lockdowns. Our dedicated Member Success Representatives and Member Care Team are on standby to answer any questions you might have.
During the pandemic, our Member Support Centres will operate strictly by appointment only. Simply give us a call on 1800 775 363 and make an appointment, so we can ensure the safest conditions for your visit.