COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme

This means your employees:

• can't come into work because they are in one of the affected groups and have been told to self-isolate, and
• can't work from home.

The COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme is paid at the rate of:

• $600.00 a week for full-time workers who were working 20 hours or more a week.
• $359 a week for part-time workers who were working less than 20 hours a week.

To be eligible for a one-week payment of Leave Support Scheme your employee will have been advised to self-isolate for at least four consecutive calendar days.

If your employee needs to keep self-isolating for at least 11 calendar days or more and can’t work from home, you can apply for a second week payment of the Leave Support Scheme.

You can apply for third and subsequent Leave support payments for every further seven days of self-isolation.

See the Leave Support Scheme declaration for further details on eligibility criteria and obligations.

COVID-19 and health concerns

If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, you should call the dedicated COVID-19 Healthline for free on 0800 358 5453.

For any other health concerns call the general Healthline number on 0800 611 116 or talk to their doctor or health provider. Employers should encourage their employees to do this if they're unwell.

We also have the Short-Term Absence Payment available to employers to help pay employees who have to wait on a COVID-19 test result in line with Ministry of Health guidelines.

You cannot get more than one COVID-19 payment for the same employee at the same time from us.

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