Step by step: How to claim $500 per child payment
New South Wales parents are set to get a $500 payment for each primary school child to help with before- and after-school-care costs, as students return to the classroom this week.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet will announce the $155 million program to support parents and the out-of-school-hours-care industry today.
Catholic school children return to school today, with state school pupils starting the year on Tuesday.
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So, how can you get your hands on the new payment?
Here is a step-by-step guide.
How to access new $500 payment
Parents will be able to apply for the voucher through Service NSW, either through the website or on the app.
The $500 vouchers will be made available in the same way as the NSW Dine and Discover program, which provided $25 vouchers for food and activities.
Aussie parents should be able to log onto the Service NSW app and apply for the voucher from February.
Extra boost for businesses
It’s not just parents who can expect a payment boost. The NSW government also announced a $1 billion support package for businesses hit by Omicron.
NSW Treasurer Matt Kean was scathing about the Federal Government's refusal to provide any further support for small businesses, which have been hard hit by the emergence of Omicron.
"This is not the time for austerity," he told ABC Radio National this morning.
"I think it's time for the Commonwealth to step up rather than stepping aside."
Restaurants, tourism operators, hairdressers and beauty salons were struggling and desperately needed support from the federal as well as the state government, he said.
The NSW financial package includes a payment of up to $5,000 per week, or 20 per cent of payroll, for businesses with a turnover between $75,000 and $50 million who have suffered a 40 per cent downturn in January, and are expected to do the same in February.
The government has extended the Small Business Fees and Charges rebate program to $3,000, which can include 50 per cent of the costs incurred to get rapid antigen tests for the workplace.
- With AAP
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