Commonwealth disaster relief available for flood-affected regions

The roll-out of the payments is for individuals across an additional 44 local government areas.

In Victoria, the Disaster Recovery Allowance is available to people in the 23 LGAs of Alpine, Benalla, Buloke, Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Corangamite, Gannawarra, Greater Bendigo, Greater Shepparton, Hepburn, Horsham, Loddon, Macedon Ranges, Mansfield, Maribyrnong, Mitchell Shire, Moira, Moonee Valley, Murrindindi, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, Strathbogie and Wangaratta.

The Disaster Recovery Allowance has been made available to assist employees and sole traders who experience a loss of income as a direct result of a major disaster and is payable for a maximum of 13 weeks. DRA is taxable.

In Tasmania, the Disaster Recovery Allowance is available to people in the 17 LGAs of Break O'Day, Burnie, Central Coast, Central Highlands, Circular Head, Devonport, Dorset, Flinders, George Town, Kentish, Latrobe, Launceston, Meander Valley, Northern Midlands, Waratah-Wynyard, West Coast and West Tamar.

In NSW, the Disaster Recovery Allowance is available to people in the additional four LGAs of Central Coast, Coonamble, Goulburn Mulwaree and Parkes, bringing the total number of NSW LGAs receiving support from the Australian government for this event to 31.

In addition, in recognition of the number of home owners affected in particular LGAs, the one-off, non-means-tested Australian government Disaster Recovery Payment of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child is available to people who live in the Victorian LGAs of Campaspe, Greater Shepparton, Maribyrnong, Mitchell and Strathbogie and in the Tasmanian LGAs of Central Coast, Kentish and Meander Valley, who have suffered a significant loss as a result of the floods, including a severely damaged or destroyed home or a serious injury.

Equivalent financial assistance will also be available to eligible New Zealand citizens (“non-protected” Special Category Visas, subclass 444 holders) affected by the floods.

Claims are available to be made 24 hours a day.

For information on eligibility and how to apply, visit the Services Australia website at www.servicesaustralia.gov.au

People affected by the flooding can check their eligibility for Australian government Disaster Recovery Payment and Disaster Recovery Allowance on the Services Australia website at servicesaustralia.gov.au/disasterevents, before lodging a claim for assistance.

The easiest way to claim is online through my.gov.au

If people need additional support to claim, they can call the Australian government Emergency Information Line on 180 22 66.