Yahoo Finance How to claim your $1,000 flood disaster payment - and who's eligible
-
Residents in south-east Queensland and northern NSW have endured one of the worst floods in Australia’s history, and it’s not over yet.
If you have been impacted by the floods, you may be eligible for a $1,000 disaster payment from the Federal Government.
Also read: Floods cause supply chain mayhem; shortages expected for weeks
Also read: The 'rain bomb' explained: More like an atmospheric conveyor belt
Also read: Sydney floods: 200,000 ordered to evacuate as heavy rainfall lashes city
Here’s what you need to know, and how to apply.
What is the $1,000 flood Disaster Recovery Payment?
The Disaster Recovery Payment is a one-off lump sum payment from the Federal Government.
Eligible adults and children in flood-affected areas in Queensland and New South Wales can now claim $1,000 and $400 each, respectively.
The payment is to help those who have been seriously affected by the recent floods and does not cover any minor damage or inconvenience.
For example, you could be eligible if you have been seriously injured, are the immediate family member of an Australian citizen or resident who is missing, or if there has been major damage to your home.
Couples can individually claim the $1,000.
The support is currently only available to those in a handful of the worst-hit council areas, however, eligibility is expected to be expanded as more are affected by the emergency in coming days.
Who is eligible for the Disaster Recovery Payment?
To get it, you or a dependent child must;
Be an Australian resident or hold an eligible visa
Live or work in an eligible local government area (LGA)
Be 16 years or older at the time of the floods or getting a social security payment
Have been seriously affected by the storms and floods. For example, you were seriously injured, are the immediate family member of an Australian citizen or resident who died or is missing, or the flood caused major damage to your home.
QLD residents in the following LGAs in Queensland have until 1 September 2022 to claim a Disaster Recovery Payment;
Brisbane
Bundaberg
Fraser Coast
Gladstone
Gold Coast
Goondiwindi
Gympie
Ipswich
Lockyer Valley
Logan
Moreton Bay
Noosa
North Burnett
Redland
Scenic Rim
Somerset
South Burnett
Southern Downs
Sunshine Coast
Toowoomba
Western Downs.
Meanwhile, residents in the following NSW LGAs have until 28 August 2022 to make a claim;
Armidale
Ballina
Bellingen
Byron
Clarence Valley
Coffs Harbour
Glen Innes Severn
Hornsby
Kempsey
Kyogle
Lismore
Nambucca
Port Macquarie/Hastings
Richmond Valley
Tenterfield
The Hills
Tweed.
How to claim the Disaster Recovery Payment
You can check full eligibility criteria on the Services Australia website and can claim the Disaster Recovery Payment online through Centrelink.
To claim online, you need a myGov account linked to Centrelink and if you don’t have an account you’ll need to set it up online.
If you need help, call Services Australia 180 22 66, between Monday to Friday from 8am to 7pm and on weekends between 10am and 4pm.
Other financial assistance for flood victims - Disaster Recovery Allowance
There is also a Disaster Recovery Allowance payable for up to 13 weeks for people who have lost their income because of the floods.
It will only be available if you lost income as a direct result of storms and floods and earned less than the average Australian weekly income (currently $1,737.10 per week) in the weeks before you had the income loss.
If you’re eligible, you’ll get the maximum equivalent rate of JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance, depending on your personal circumstances.
Other financial assistance for QLD flood victims - Emergency Hardship Assistance Grant
The QLD government is also giving out personal hardship grants - of $180 per person to a maximum of $900 for a family of five or more.
The payment is available to people who live or are stranded in eligible LGAs, have suffered a hardship as a result of the floods and don’t have access to food, clothes, medical supplies or temporary accommodation.
Other financial assistance for QLD flood victims - Hardship Assistance Grant
This grant for $150 per person - up to $750 per family of 5 or more - supports people who lost services for more than five days.
To be eligible, you must be in a QLD financial disaster area, have confirmed loss of power, have lost essential services, be suffering hardship, and have no access to electricity, gas, water or sewerage systems.
Other financial assistance for QLD flood victims - Essential Household Contents Grant
If you are uninsured, or unable to claim insurance, you may be eligible for grants of up to $1,765 per person, and up to $5,300 for families, to help repair essential household contents, such as beds, linen and whitegoods, that have been lost or damaged in a disaster.
To be eligible, you must live in a disaster affected area where this grant is activated, be unable to claim on your insurance and qualify in an income test.
Other financial assistance for QLD flood victims - Structural Assistance Grant
If you’re uninsured, or unable to claim insurance, you might also be eligible for a one-off payment as a contribution towards repairs to your home to make it secure and safe.
Grants of up to $10,995 for single adults and up to $14,685 for couples/families are available for uninsured mortgage-holders who live in the affected areas and who meet an income test.
Other financial assistance for QLD flood victims - Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Grant
If you’re uninsured, or unable to claim insurance, you may be eligible for a grant to help you inspect ($200), repair ($2,400) and reconnect essential services that were damaged by a disaster.
Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to the free Fully Briefed daily newsletter.
