COVID-19 Short-Term Absence Payment application for employers

Before you apply for the COVID-19 Short-Term Absence Payment, we need you to check a few things.

This payment is for businesses, including self-employed people, to help pay their workers who cannot work from home while they wait for a COVID-19 test result.

Find out who can get the Short-Term Absence Payment

Information

You can only get this if your employee is waiting for a PCR test result. You can't get it if for a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), because the results are quick.

If your employee tests positive after doing a RAT you can apply for the Leave Support Scheme.

Before you apply, make sure:

  • the employees you’re applying for are waiting for the results of a COVID-19 PCR test taken within the last 8 weeks.
  • these employees need to stay home while waiting for COVID-19 PCR test results – there is information about assessment and testing for COVID-19 on the Ministry of Health website.
  • the employees cannot work from home and therefore need to miss work while waiting for the results.
  • you've checked the criteria on the 'Who can get the COVID-19 Short-Term Absence Payment' page and your business and your employees meet the criteria.
  • your business details match those held by Inland Revenue, especially your IRD number.
  • you're not currently getting a Short-Term Absence Payment for these employees, unless they’ve been advised by a health official or doctor to get another COVID-19 PCR test and to self-isolate while they wait for the result.
  • you've read the declaration and understand your obligations for this payment.
  • you know whether your employees usually work 20 hours or more a week, or less than 20 hours a week (this is their "employment type").
  • the information for your employees is correct, you've told your employees you're applying for them, and you have their consent to share their information.
linksPrivacy information for employees (PDF 104.56KB)

You can't get the Short-Term Absence Payment when you or your employee take a Rapid Antigen Test because the results are quick.

If you or your employee test positive, you will be able to apply for the Leave Support Scheme.

When you apply, you'll need to give us your:

  • business IRD number (this could include your partnership IRD number or company IRD number)
  • IRD customer name (this is the name that's linked to your business IRD number)
  • New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) if you have one – this is optional
  • business address
  • contact name, email address and mobile number
  • bank account number
  • employees' details (include full-time and part-time employees in the same application):
    • name
    • date of birth
    • IRD number
    • employment type (whether they're working 20 hours or more a week, or less than 20 hours a week).
Employer application