In partnership with Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation, ABFnsw has established an emergency reLief fund to meet the demands of the Covid-19 epidemic.
We are in uncharted waters, with the COVID-19 crisis throwing thousands of actors, creatives, technicians, stage managers and mechanists out of work. We know many of our colleagues are having difficulty making ends meet in what is now an open-ended crisis. If you work in the creative arts, please be assured that Actors Benevolent Fund is there for you.
We have prepared a special rapid response program which offers a number of ways we can provide emergency help to get our colleagues through this difficult time. The COVID-19 EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE GRANT offers relief to meet medical (including mental health costs), pharmaceutical and household expenses. This may include vehicle registration, payment for utilities and providing vouchers for food and fuel. The application form is on this website and is open to members of our industry of all ages and levels of experience.
There is Government assistance available through the JobSeeker and JobKeeper programs and, if eligible, we ask that you make that your first option. ABF is offering additional financial help in urgent situations.
Please note that all our current assistance programs are still available on our web site so please check them for the best to suit your situation.
We will get through this together.
Application for Emergency Assistance
Some useful advice when applying to Centrelink
- Do not go into offices if it can be avoided. Staffing has had to be reduced to accomodate social distancing measures.
- Use the http://my.gov.au/ website.
- If you cannot get through today, they will allow you to register an "intent to claim" that can be backdated to today.
- If you do not already have a CRN (customer reference number), you can now apply for one online or over the phone.
- Call centre hours are from 8am to 8pm AEST
- The Coronavirus Supplement of $550 per fortnight is available until 24 September 2020. It’s been extended until until 31 December 2020 at a rate of $250 per fortnight.
- From 25 September 2020 the income free area for JobSeeker Payment increases to $300 per fortnight. This means you can earn more but still get the maximum payment rates.
- From 28 September 2020, JobKeeper Payment will reduce from $1,500 to $1,200 per fortnight. This rate reduces to $1,000 per fortnight from 4 January 2021.
The Covid 19 Emergency Assistance is partnered by 