Page 1001 - Week 03 - Thursday, 7 April 2022
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COVID-19 Hardship Payments
(a) what was is the purpose of the grant program?
The Hardship Payments provide financial support for eligible Canberra workers who are unable to work as a result of complying with public health orders and guidelines (including the requirement to isolate while waiting on COVID-19 test results).
(b) how much money was budgeted for the grant program in (i) 2016-17, (ii) 2017-18, (iii) 2018-19, (iv) 2019-20, (v) 2020-21, and (vi) 2021-22?
The Hardship Payments are funded from the CMTEDD Hardship Fund that has a budget of $750,000, with a funding profile of $436,000 in 2020-21 and $314,000 in 2021-22.
(c) how much money was expended under the grant program in (i) 2016-17, (ii) 2017-18, (iii) 2018-19, (iv) 2019-20, (v) 2020-21, and (vi) 2021-22?
The amount expended on Hardship Payments (excluding administration costs) under the program was $12,690 in 2020-21 and $80,967 in 2021-22 up to 28/02/2022.
(d) was the program accounted for as an expense on behalf of the Territory (“administered” within the meaning of Australian accounting standard AASB 1050)?
No. The Hardship Fund is Controlled Recurrent Payments.
(e) how many applications were received for grants under the program in (i) 2016-17, (ii) 2017-18, (iii) 2018-19, (iv) 2019-20, (v) 2020-21, and (vi) 2021-22?
The number of Hardship Payment applications received was 92 in 2020-21 and 1,221 in 2021-22 up to 28/02/2022.
(f) who decided, approved or rejected applications for grants?
Applications were approved or rejected at the Executive Branch Manager or Senior Director level within Finance and Budget Group, Expenditure Review Branch. The Executive Group Manager, Finance and Budget provided a review function when required.
(g) what percentage of applicants were approved in (i) 2016-17, (ii) 2017-18, (iii) 2018-19, (iv) 2019-20, (v) 2020-21, and (vi) 2021-22?
The percentage of Hardship Payment applicants that were approved was 54 per cent in 2020-21 and 24 per cent in 2021-22 up to 28/02/2022.
(h) what percentage of applicants were rejected in (i) 2016-17, (ii) 2017-18, (iii) 2018-19, (iv) 2019-20, (v) 2020-21, and (vi) 2021-22?
The percentage of Hardship Payment applicants that were rejected in 2020-21 was 45 per cent. In 2021-22, 53 per cent were rejected for not meeting eligibility requirements, while a further 21 per cent were assessed as likely being eligible for Commonwealth COVID-19 support payments in 2021-22 (including the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment and COVID-19 Disaster Payment) and as result were referred to Services Australia for financial support. The Hardship Payment was not available for people who could access Australian Government COVID-19 support payments.
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