Providing proof of close contact a roadblock for workers trying to access the pandemic payment

William Brown estimates he lost about $1000 in work after isolating for a week as a close contact.  (Supplied: William Brown)

A Naracoorte man is unable to apply for the pandemic leave disaster payment because he does not have proof from SA Health that he was a close contact, despite his housemates testing positive to COVID-19.

The federal government's scheme allows eligible individuals to apply for a one-off payment of $750 if they were unable to work due to isolation rules.

For claim periods before January 10, applicants must have proof that they were contacted by a health official and directed to isolate.

The condition has prevented 22-year-old William Brown from accessing the payment.

His housemates tested positive to COVID-19, and Mr Brown entered isolation as a close contact from January 5 to January 12.

"They both had [COVID-19] but mine came back negative," he said.

"SA Health said that they would contact me. But [I] never received anything.

Mr Brown reached out to SA Health several times to receive documentation but was not successful. (Supplied: William Brown)

Mr Brown worked casually at a local hotel and did not have access to sick leave.

"I lost about six days of eight-hour days of work — so probably $900 to $1,000."

He said he tried several times to reach out to SA Health but didn't receive any proof.

"I sat on the phone for about an hour and couldn't end up getting onto them," Mr Brown said.

"I did get onto [SA Health] at one point and they just said that they'd had a hard time [contacting people], so some people have been missed, and they may or may not contact me.

Payments a 'lifeline'

Chief executive of the SA Council of Social Services Ross Womersley said workers can be left "high and dry" without pandemic payments.

Ross Womersley says there are increasing hurdles for people trying to access support payments.  (ABC News)

"They've been an incredibly important lifeline for people who otherwise would just not have any income whatsoever," he said.

Mr Womersley said changes needed to be made so it was as easy as possible for people to lodge payment applications. 

"What William's circumstances identify is that we've now shifted the way in which the pandemic is being managed," he said.

"There are new hurdles that people are having to go through and it's very complicated.

"William's case points to the fact that he can't get from SA Health ... that shows and demonstrates that he was a close contact.

"So, we need a new mechanism for making sure [close contacts] can be identified easily and quickly for people so that they can lodge their payment applications."

SA Health and the South Australian Treasurer have been contacted for comment.

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