Sick Pay Guarantee FAQs

1. What is the Sick Pay Guarantee?

The Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee is an Australian-first initiative giving Victorian casual and contract workers in certain jobs up to 38 hours a year of sick and carer’s pay. Payments are made at the national minimum wage.

The Sick Pay Guarantee is a pilot program. It will run for two years from 14 March 2022.

For more information see the Sick Pay Guarantee Program Guidelines.

2. Which jobs are included?

Jobs included in phase 1 of the Sick Pay Guarantee are:

• Hospitality
• Food trades or food preparation
• Supermarkets
• Retail
• Sales
• Aged and disability care
• Cleaning and laundry
• Security.

See the full list of eligible jobs.

You can check your eligibility and sign up through Service Victoria.

The Sick Pay Guarantee pilot focuses on the industries with some of the highest rates of casual and contract workers who do not have access to sick pay, whose work hours are often unpredictable and low paid, and where vulnerable groups are overrepresented, such as people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, women and young people.

A consultation process with workers, unions, business and industry groups was undertaken in 2021 to inform the design of the Sick Pay Guarantee. For more information see the Public Consultation Summary Report.

3. How do I sign up for the Sick Pay Guarantee?

You can sign up through Service Victoria. You must sign up before you can start making claims.

Learn more about how to sign up.

4. How do I claim sick and carer’s pay?

You can make a claim for sick and carer’s pay through Service Victoria. You must sign up before you can start making claims.

Learn more about how to make a claim.

5. Can I claim sick pay if I have COVID-19?

If you have COVID-19 and miss work you can claim through Sick Pay Guarantee if you are:

• Eligible for the Sick Pay Guarantee
• Unable to work your rostered shifts due to COVID-19
• Able to provide evidence to support your claim.

You can’t claim both the Sick Pay Guarantee and COVID-19 support payments for the same period. If you work in a high-risk setting and you meet the eligibility criteria you should claim the High-Risk Settings Pandemic Payment first.

The Sick Pay Guarantee is available only if you missed work. A positive RAT or PCR test is not sufficient proof of evidence to support your claim. You will need to provide a medical certificate or statutory declaration.

Find out what evidence you need to support your claim.

Find out about financial support available to people and businesses affected by COVID-19.

6. How much will I get paid?

The Sick Pay Guarantee provides casual and contract workers in certain jobs with up to 38 hours a year of sick and carer's pay.

Payments are made at the national minimum wage ($20.33 per hour for absences before 1 July 2022, $21.38 per hour for absences from 1 July 2022), regardless of whether you claim for a weekday, weekend or public holiday.

7. Do I have to pay the money back later?

No. This is a payment from the Victorian Government to help you take time off if you are sick or need to care for loved ones. You will not have to pay the money back.

The Sick Pay Guarantee is fully funded by the Victorian Government. There is no cost to you or your employer.

The payments are taxable if they are part of your income. Workers are encouraged to seek tax advice as it relates to their individual circumstances.

8. Can I claim sick pay on the same day that I sign up?

You must sign up to the Sick Pay Guarantee before you can make a claim .

After we approve your application (which can take up to five business days from when you sign up), you can start making claims.

You can backdate claims up to 60 days, but no earlier than the date you signed up. For example, if you signed up on 15 May 2022, the first date you can claim sick and carer’s pay for is 15 May 2022.

Learn more about how to make a claim.

9. How many hours can I claim at a time?

You can claim for a minimum of three hours and a maximum of 12 hours per day.

You can claim all 38 hours in one application if you need to, but you must claim within 60 days of being absent from work.

Learn more about how to make a claim.

10. What is an anniversary date and how does it work?

Your anniversary date is one year after the date you signed up to join the Sick Pay Guarantee. For example, if you’re eligible for Sick Pay Guarantee payments and signed up on 20 March 2022, your anniversary date is 20 March 2023.

On your anniversary date, your claimable hours balance resets to 38 hours. Your first year’s unclaimed hours do not carry over.

You can claim up to 38 hours per year.

To find your anniversary date and claimable hours balance, log in to your Service Victoria account.

11. What is the difference between a contract worker and a casual worker?

Contractors have different rights and obligations to casual employees. This is because they provide services to another person or business, as opposed to being employed by that person or business.

Learn more about casual and contract workers.

12. I'm under 18 and don't have two forms of ID. Can I still sign up?

Yes. If you’re aged over 15 and under 18 and you don’t have two forms of ID, you can sign up with one form of ID.

To continue your application in Service Victoria without a second ID document, select the button: "I don't have this" in the "Choose your ID" screen.

Learn more about ID and proof of work documents.

13. I’m not an Australian citizen or permanent resident. Can I still sign up?

Yes. If you meet the eligibility requirements, including having the right to work in Australia, you can sign up.

If you’re not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and don’t have two forms of ID, provide the one form of ID you have.

During the online application in Service Victoria, we will ask you to provide two ID documents. In the second “Choose your ID” screen you can select “I don’t have this”.

Learn more about ID and proof of work documents.

14. How do I get help?

To get help, you can:

• contact us
• call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask for the Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee hotline
• read the information in languages other than English
• contact your local neighbourhood house or visit nhvic.org.au.