Disability workers who deliver close personal support to NDIS participants and contract Covid but don’t have leave entitlements will be eligible for financial assistance through their employer following the introduction of a new disability workforce payment.
Available funding will be at a flat rate of $450 per worker where the worker has lost at least eight hours but less than 20 hours of work, and $750 per worker where the worker has lost more than 20 hours of work.
NDIS Minister Bill Shorten said the disability worker leave grant replaces the High-Risk Settings Pandemic Payment and matches funding available to aged care workers.
“This grant recognises the inherent risks to NDIS participants who receive close personal supports including in disability accommodation settings and reduces the incentive for workers to continue to provide those supports if they contract Covid,” he said.
The payment will provide support towards the costs associated with leave from April 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. Workers can seek payment from their employer who will obtain reimbursement through the new grant program. Grants will be made to individuals where they operate as a sole trader or partnership.
This reimbursement will be available to registered and unregistered NDIS providers, including sole traders in three-month blocks from early Q2 2023.
Workers who are sick must get tested for Covid, register the positive case with their state or territory and retain evidence of their illness.
For more information, go to: www.dss.gov.au/covidleavegrant