Many working Australians don't have enough cash to survive the current crisis without government help, and 10 per cent of working households have less than $90 in the bank.

New analysis by the Grattan Institute estimates that the bottom 40 per cent of working households have the equivalent of three weeks' income or less in the bank. A quarter of all working households have less than a week's salary put aside for a rainy day - or a pandemic.

Sarah Shaweesh, owner of Khamsa Cafe in Newtown, which is offering free food to casual workers and freelancers. Credit:Roger Stonehouse

Even though higher income households have far more in the bank, they will also start to struggle if they are made redundant or temporarily stood down without pay. The research shows that about 40 per cent of the highest fifth of income earners have less than four week's salary in the bank.

Grattan economist Brendan Coates warned that working households - where at least one member is in work - will be the most vulnerable to the current crisis. Pensioners and those on government payments like Newstart were already doing it tough, but the crisis would not affect their cash flow.