Money Matters

Financial Assistance Information:

For up to date information click here.

 

1. Disaster Assistance

Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements have been activated across the Balonne, Barcaldine, Blackall Tambo, Central Highlands, Maranoa, Murweh and Paroo local government areas.

**Financial counselling hotline: 1800 007 007 (Financial First Aid)**

1.1 Emergent Assistance Grant

Affected residents will be able to access personal hardship assistance to cover the costs of essential items such as food, clothing and accommodation. Hardship assistance grants of $180 per person, up to a maximum of $900 for a family of five will be available.

Emergent assistance grants are not means tested.

FIND OUT MORE: For more information call 1800 173 349 or visit your nearest Community Recovery Centre. You can also take the first steps in applying for Community Recovery support and assistance through the Personal Recovery Assist Portal.

1.2 Essential Household Contents Grant

An Essential Household Contents Grant may be available to low-income families to help with the replacement or repair of uninsured, essential household contents which have been lost, damaged or destroyed. This grant provides assistance of up to $1,765 for individuals and $5,300 for families.

Essential Household Contents Grants are means tested and applicants will need to satisfy income and asset tests for these grants

FIND OUT MORE: For more information call 1800 173 349 or visit your nearest Community Recovery Centre. You can also take the first steps in applying for Community Recovery support and assistance through the Personal Recovery Assist Portal.

 

1.3 Structural Assistance Grants

Further assistance will be available to assist repair owner-occupied, uninsured residences damaged by floodwaters with Structural Assistance Grants of up to $10,905 for individuals and $14,685 for families.

Essential Household Contents and Structural Assistance grants are means tested and applicants will need to satisfy income and asset tests for these grants.

FIND OUT MORE: For more information call 1800 173 349 or visit your nearest Community Recovery Centre. You can also take the first steps in applying for Community Recovery support and assistance through the Personal Recovery Assist Portal.

1.4 Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) will be provided to eligible people adversely affected by the Queensland flooding. The payment is to provide immediate, one-off financial assistance ($1 000 per adult and $400 per child) to eligible Australians adversely affected by the disaster.

Claims for this assistance can be lodged at Centrelink until 6 August 2012. Click here to view eligible locations.

Eligibility criteria:

·       are an Australian resident, and

·       are 16 years or older or are receiving a social security payment, and

·       have not already received an Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment for the disaster, and

·       have experienced one or more of the following:

o   you have been seriously injured

o   you are the immediate family member of an Australian killed as a direct result of the disaster

o   your home has been destroyed or has sustained major damage

o   you have been stranded in your home, or unable to gain access to your home, for a period of at least 24 hours

o   your home was without electricity, water, gas, sewage services or another essential service for a continuous period of 48 hours

o   you are the principal carer of a dependent child who has experienced any of the above

FIND OUT MORE: Call Centrelink on 180 22 66 or visit the website for more information.

 

1.5 Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements

The Commonwealth/State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) have been activated for approving concessional loans to primary producers, small businesses and non-profit organisations in the affected areas of Balonne, Barcaldine, Blackall-Tambo, Maranoa, Murweh and Paroo.

Primary producers, small businesses and non-profit organisations affected by flooding in South West Queensland may be eligible for grants up to $25,000. Grants are available in two tiers.

·       Tier 1 - grants of up to $5,000 to assist primary producers, small businesses and not for profit organisations with immediate early recovery (subject to future QRAA audit)

·       Tier 2 - grants of up to $20,000 to recover costs that the primary producer, small businesses and not for profit organisations have paid in order to repair direct flood damage.

 

1.6 Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme Grant

Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme Grants provide home owners who are unable to claim insurance or are uninsured with a refund for the cost of safely reconnecting electricity, gas, water, sewage services and septic systems damaged by the disaster.

Home owners can claim up to $200 for safety inspections by accredited inspectors for pre inspection of electricity, gas, water, sewage services and septic systems damaged by the disaster.

Home owners can claim up to $4,200 to reinstate services to Australian Standards by qualified tradespeople, after the disaster.

Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme Grants are means tested and applicants will need to satisfy income and asset tests for these grants.

FIND OUT MORE: For more information call 1800 173 349 or visit your nearest Community Recovery Centre. You can also take the first steps in applying for Community Recovery support and assistance through the Personal Recovery Assist Portal.

1.7 Accommodation assistance

Financial assistance is available for Queensland home owners or private renters in areas affected by flooding.

FIND OUT MORE: Find out more about the accommodation assistance available.

1.8 Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal

Red Cross is also assisting with the distribution of funds from the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal to people impacted by the regional Queensland floods earlier in the year. Red Cross is encouraging individuals and families affected by these floods in Queensland to apply.

The Appeal application forms are available online or by calling Red Cross on 1800 901 933. Application forms are also available from Disaster Recovery Centres and Queensland Department of Communities offices in the flood-affected areas.

2.0Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal Donatios

 

Donations to the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal can be made in a number of ways.

Donations can be made in person at any Queensland branch of the Bank of Queensland (BoQ), Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, ANZ, NAB or Suncorp.

Donations can be made through online bank transfer to Account Name - Premiers Disaster Relief Appeal, BSB - 064 013, Account number - 1004 1278.

Donations can be made via credit card by calling 1800 219 028 or through the Queensland Government website.