What's in the second coronavirus stimulus package for you

By David Thornton

Published on March 23, 2020

Pensioners, carers and Newstart recipients are among about 5 million vulnerable Australians who will receive a second $750 payment.

The government yesterday announced a further $66 billion in economic stimulus, hot off the heels of the initial $17.6 billion package released last week. Like the first, this package targets households and small to medium sized businesses.

The government will provide a second $750 from July 13, 2020, for those receiving one of the below payments, or have an eligible concession card on July 10, 2020:

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Age Pension
Disability Support Pension
Carer Payment
Carer Allowance
Parenting Payment
Wife Pension
Widow B Pension
ABSTUDY (Living Allowance)
Austudy
Bereavement Allowance
Newstart Allowance
Youth Allowance
Partner Allowance
Sickness Allowance
Special Benefit
Widow Allowance
Farm Household Allowance
Family Tax Benefit A
Family Tax Benefit B
Double Orphan Pension.
You'll also get it if you hold one of the following cards:
Pensioner Concession Card
Commonwealth Seniors Card
DVA Gold Card.

Or if you get one of the following Department of Veterans' Affairs payments:

Veterans Service Pension
Veteran's Income Support Supplement
Veterans' Compensation payments
War Widow(er) Pension.

Moreover, those receiving one of the following payments will get an extra $550 a fortnight on top of their regular payments:

JobSeeker Payment
Youth Allowance for job seekers
Parenting Payment
Farm Household Allowance
Special Benefit.

Super and retirees

Those experiencing financial stress due to the coronavirus will be allowed to dip into their super - up to $10,000 in 2019-20 and a further $10,000 in 2020-21.

The drawdown rate for retirees has also been cut by 50% for 2019-20 and 2020-21.

Meanwhile, the deeming rate has been cut by a further 0.25%, consistent with last week's rate cut by the RBA. The lower deeming rate will now be 0.25% while the upper deeming rate will be 2.25%.

Small and medium businesses

The government will guarantee 50% of new loans issued by eligible lenders to small and medium-sized enterpises (SMEs), thereby guaranteeing up to $20 billion to support $40 billion in SME loans. It's also raising the threshold at which creditors can issue a statutory demand on a company.

Accessing payments

The payments will be automatically processed for those already receiving payments, so no need to set up anything further.

However, if you're signing up for payments for the first time, you'll need to set up a MyGov account, and link it to Centrelink.

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Comments

Kathy Smith

March 27, 2020 4.41pm

I became a widow last year. My husband and I were part pensioners based on our combined government pension income. When he died I got about $20,000 of his govt. pension taking me over the single pensioner limit re income, as I also received a part government pension as he had. The aged pension was taken away from me as I just went over the limit, but I live on about $35000 less each year and cost of apartment living is still the same. Expenses are very difficult to pay now. I don't appear to quality for any assistance at all. Is there something in the government handouts for widows (or widowers) living on their own? Am i likely to be eligible for other pension types now?

Dan Fitz

April 25, 2020 1.18am

Im so sorry to hear you lost your husband and that your going through financial hardship you poor woman ?? surely there should be some financial support for you from the government, I will be praying tonight for you I will pray into financial support for you?? God bless

Ann-Marie kennedy

April 18, 2020 5.52pm

I was wondering when do Australians that are on the payment that are supposes to be doubled. Also what benefits applies to the double payments. Thank you for reading my message I await for your reply. Ann-Marie Kennedy

Gavin Thompson

May 2, 2020 9.04pm

I am a single pensioner what will I get our of the stimulas package the 2 $750 is that all thanks mate tomo

mitchell lowe

June 22, 2020 4.48pm

yes that and your 6 monthly increase of $3 ==%004 that is what the govt seems appropiate to the disabled and those who look after them

Ugur Tezel

June 9, 2020 4.07pm

Newstart job search exc get double payment and age pensioner get some benefits but only disability pensioners who really need medicines operations all transportation specially single disability pensioners are they only get 2 times $750 and first one and the second one 4 mths gap is that what it is ? Is this government treat Ozzie disability pensioners like this and people not even work but attend couple times courses they not even Australian and never had good history if you look at the taxation office double payments but ohh yeah people migrants fake carriers everywhere fake robodept scandals and disability pensioners are sick and hardships and billions been ohhh sorry josh sorry your calculated wrong again and all that gambling areas pubs clubs are opens straight a way I hope they paying right amount off tax they the one should get fake robodepts not the disability pensioners ohh sorry josh's calculation is wrong or taxation is wrong we haven't seen this kind off system in Australia since 1940

Paul Brooke

June 26, 2020 10.40am

I don't think pensioners on the disability support pension or any other pensioners will get this second stimulas package because the government is in debt very strange???

Paul Brooke sydney

What's in the second coronavirus stimulus package for you