If you have lost your home, property or business to a natural disaster, the Federal/State and territory Government can provide support where natural disasters have been declared.
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Visit the National Emergency Management Agency website for links to state or territory disaster recovery websites. Disaster assistance payments may be available in officially declared disaster events.
The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) is a one-off non-means tested payment of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per child, while the Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) provides short-term income support for up to 13 weeks to eligible individuals.
Contact your insurance company as soon as you can, ideally within 24 hours. Most insurers have emergency hotlines and may offer emergency cash advances within days or temporary accommodation funds if your home is uninhabitable.
Major Australian banks have hardship teams that can pause loan repayments, waive fees or temporarily extend credit. Don’t wait until you’ve missed a payment – early communication protects your credit rating and opens doors to assistance.
Also, for those looking to donate to disaster relief funds, only make donations for disaster relief to reputable charities as scammers often impersonate well-known charities through door-knocking or cold-calling and create fake websites and social media pages to deceive you in the wake of a disaster. You can verify a charity’s registration on the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission website, and report suspected scams to Scamwatch.
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