Covid-19 Short-Term Absence Payment
Posted on 16 Feb 2021
A new Covid-19 Short-Term Absence Payment (STAP) to support employers and self-employed workers is now available. This payment is available to employers for employees, and self-employed workers who:
- need to miss work to stay home while waiting on a Covid test result, and
- cannot work from home
There is a one-off payment of $350 for each eligible worker while they are staying home waiting for test results. This is regardless of whether they're working full or part-time. You can only apply for it once, for each eligible worker, in any 30-day period (unless a health official or doctor tells the worker to get another test). Your worker and your business must be eligible. See the criteria here. You can't be getting any other leave support or Covid-19 subsidy at the same time. For employers: GST is not payable on this payment. Read How to pay the COVID-19 Short-Term Absence Payment to your workers, and manage GST and tax around this. If you would like more information or to discuss which option may be right for you please call our office and speak to one of our team who will be happy to help. To read more information about the Short-Term Absence Payment visit the Work and Income website.
