Coronavirus Relief for Unemployed Workers: How to Find Help

| 5 min read Financial Assistance

As the pandemic wages on, more and more Australians are questioning whether further coronavirus relief for unemployed workers will be available and if it will continue into 2021. Back when COVID-19 started, it was hard to imagine just how big the economic losses would be. In April, 1.4 million Australians were forced out of work and that number, while stabilising, is still very high.

With no definitive end in sight, many are wondering how they will be able to pay for basic expenses. Thankfully, the government is actively helping with coronavirus relief for unemployed workers — and so are thousands of individuals through online fundraising. So, in this article, we outline where to find it.

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Coronavirus relief for unemployed workers through the government 

Back in March 2020, the Australian Federal Government announced a stimulus package to help Australians facing loss of work due to the coronavirus. The $130 billion wage subsidy program was created to help bridge the gap for those looking for work and to complement state efforts to combat coronavirus-related hardships and cover cost of living expenses.

JobSeeker payments for the unemployed, now in its second phase, will see eligible recipients take home an extra $250 per fortnight as a Coronavirus Supplement until 31 December 2020, so long as they’re eligible for standard JobSeeker payments in the first instance.

The JobKeeper payment, created specifically in response to COVID-19, aims to ensure that employers remain connected to their employees via two payment tiers that will be available until 21 March 2021 for eligible businesses with demonstrable GST turnover that has decreased.

Coronavirus relief for unemployed workers: who qualifies for unemployment?

According to Services Australia, anyone who is unemployed due to no fault of their own is eligible for benefits of some kind. In most cases, the criteria covers anyone who is unable to work due to lack of available roles and forced closure of businesses across multiple industries. This means that people who lost their jobs due to coronavirus-related hardships will be able to receive unemployment benefits. Freelancers, contractors and the self-employed are eligible for coronavirus relief for unemployed workers, too.

Specific unemployment benefits to help with cost of living

As more jobs are threatened because of the global health crisis, it is important to save money where possible. If you’re currently unemployed, you’re no doubt facing difficult decisions as unexpected expenses arise with no steady income to pay them.

To help, most Australian mortgage lenders are offering coronavirus relief and mortgage support policies. Many have allowed homeowners to completely pause or reduce mortgage payments for three to six months, and some are still open to discussions if proof of financial hardship related to the coronavirus can be supplied. Several companies and organisations are taking it upon themselves to help those affected by the pandemic, too, with the details of these companies and industries listed in our article Where to Find Financial Help During Coronavirus.

Online fundraising for people unemployed due to coronavirus 

In times of crisis, communities come together and support one another. Crowdfunding is a valuable way to offer financial assistance to those who need it. It has numerous benefits, including:

  • No application process
  • No long wait periods before funds are received

When savings are tight and your income is dwindling, crowdfunding can offer immediate relief. Unlike state and federal payments, which can take three to four weeks to arrive, crowdfunding platforms will send your donations within days, which gives you the ability to pay existing expenses right away.

Finding financial support through fundraising for coronavirus

Communities near and far are coming together to support one another and offer financial support to laid-off workers. Although some people are confined to their homes because of lockdowns or suspected infection, they can still begin fundraising for coronavirus.  Through a simple online fundraiser, anyone has the power to offer financial support to those in need.

Examples of coronavirus unemployment relief fundraisers on GoFundMe

Countless people have come to GoFundMe, the #1 leader in fundraising online, to start creating coronavirus relief for unemployed workers. Community members are already rallying together to raise funds.

Here are just two of the many inspirational fundraisers on GoFundMe:

Get unemployment relief during the coronavirus outbreak

If eligible, you should apply for unemployment benefits through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website. Keep up-to-date with the COVID-19 facts you should know here. But to compliment your efforts, consider setting up an unemployment relief fundraiser on GoFundMe for quick financial help. Know that even in isolation, you are not alone. We make it easy to create fundraisers within minutes — all you need to do is tell your story. People are listening.

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Written by nicola