Assistance Available

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED:

Date Announced:  Sunday 21st March 2021

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP)

• A non-means tested payment of $1000 for eligible adults and $400 for eligible children.
• The AGDRP is available to people whose homes have been lost or directly damaged, and people who have been seriously injured, or are an immediate family member of someone who has lost their life.
• The AGDRP has been activated in the local government areas of Armidale, Bellingen, Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Camden, Campbelltown, Canterbury Bankstown, Central Coast, Cessnock , Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Cumberland, Dungog Shire, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Inner West, Kempsey, Ku-ring-gai, Lake Macquarie , Liverpool, Maitland, Mid Coast, Nambucca, Newcastle, Northern Beaches, Parramatta, Penrith, Port Macquarie-Hastings , Port Stephens, Sutherland, Tenterfield, The Hills and Wollondilly

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA)

• A short-term income support payment to assist individuals who have experienced a loss of income as a direct result of the storms and floods.
• The DRA has been activated in the local government areas of Armidale, Bellingen, Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Camden, Campbelltown, Canterbury Bankstown, Central Coast, Cessnock , Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Cumberland, Dungog Shire, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Inner West, Kempsey, Ku-ring-gai, Lake Macquarie , Liverpool, Maitland, Mid-Coast, Nambucca, Newcastle, Northern Beaches, Parramatta, Penrith, Port Macquarie-Hastings , Port Stephens, Sutherland, Tenterfield, The Hills and Wollondilly

These Australian Government payments are administered by Services Australia.

• The fastest and easiest way to claim disaster assistance is over the phone by calling 180 22 66. These Services Australia Disaster Assistance phone lines are open from 8am to 8pm local time, seven days a week.

KEY CONTACTS FOR ASSISTANCE

• For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88.
• To apply for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and/or Australian Government Disaster Recovery Allowance, call the Services Australia Disaster Assistance phone lines on 180 22 66.
• Further information on disaster assistance is available on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at disasterassist.gov.au and Service NSW at disasterassistance.service.nsw.gov.au

TRANSPORT SUBSIDY

The Natural Disaster Transport Subsidy (via RAA) is now open for declared LGA’s, there is still some details to be clarified, but essentially;

A natural disaster assistance transport subsidy is available to eligible farmers who are affected by a declared natural disaster event. This subsidy pays for the cost of transporting:

• fodder and/or water to an affected property
• stock to sale or slaughter
• stock to/from agistment

Refer to the Declared natural disasters table for LGA’s eligible for this assistance. I understand its to a cap of $15k and will let you know once I get the details. More info here;  https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/grants/natural-disaster-transport-subsidy

RURAL AID CASH PAYMENTS

Rural Aid have $1000 grants available to primary producers in flood declared areas, and $500 VISA cards available. These funds are completely separate from the AGDRP and are for primary producers only.  To be eligible, primary producers must register on the Rural Aid website (ruralid.org.au) and RA will make contact. The website does say they should ring 1300 327 624, but they must register.

JOB SEEKER

The Australian Government will also lift mutual obligation requirements for job seekers in the Local Government Areas impacted by the NSW floods and storms from Friday 19 March until Tuesday 6 April 2021.

No job seeker in the affected areas will face payment suspension or financial penalties for failing to meet their mutual obligation requirements such as not being able to attend appointments or activities.