Test isolation payments to finish after more than 18 months

Feb 28, 2022

Scrapped: Isolation payments for people who need to isolate following PCR tests have been scrapped by the Victorian Government. Photo by None

The Victorian Government is scrapping payments to people isolating following a PCR test.

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Victorian Industry Support and Recovery Minister Martin Pakula announced that the Victorian Government’s test isolation payment was closing due to rapid antigen testing reducing the need to isolate while waiting for results.

Claims submitted before 9am on Wednesday, March 9, will be assessed, but applicants must have taken a PCR test on or before Tuesday, March 1, to be eligible to apply.

More than 30 million free rapid tests have been distributed to testing centres, to schools and early childcare facilities and to critical workforces such as health services, aged care and food supply.

The isolation payment started in July 2020 to support workers to stay home from work while waiting for the results of a PCR test.

The program paid $450 to eligible workers who were required to quarantine while waiting for test results.

Since the program opened, more than 1.2 million payments have been approved – at a cost of more than $545 million.

Mr Pakula said demand for the program had reduced dramatically as RATs have become more widely available, but said other support, including food relief, was still available to Victorians who were financially impacted by COVID-19.

The Federal Government’s pandemic leave disaster payment is available for people who have to self-isolate, quarantine or need to care for someone who has to self-isolate or quarantine.