The Australian Government has announced that there will be support available for those in South-East Queensland who are currently being affected by the flooding. Affected parties can apply for an Australian Government Recovery Payment to give them some support in this time of need.
If you have been significantly affected by the natural disaster occurring in Queensland, you could be eligible for this payment.
Eligible Affected Areas
At present the Local Government Areas eligible include Gympie and North Burnett. You can check the Services Australia website to confirm if any further Local Government Areas have been added to this list.
Who is Eligible?
You must be an Australian citizen or resident to be eligible for the payment. If you are a protected visa holder you will be considered an Australian resident for this payment.
You can make a claim if you are sixteen (16) years or older at the time of the natural disaster and you cannot claim more than once.
If you are a couple residing in the area who have been affected by the natural disaster, you can both make separate claims to each receive a payment.
You cannot claim if you have suffered minor damage or inconvenience from the floods, you will need to have been seriously affected by the storms and floods. The following are examples of what are eligible reasons to claim:
- You or a dependent child were seriously injured;
- You suffered major damage to your home as a result of the flood; or
- You are the immediate family member of an Australian citizen or resident who died or is missing due to the flooding.
How much is the Payment?
Adults are eligible for a $1,000.00 payment which will be a lump sum payment.
A child or children under 16 years old are eligible for a $400.00 payment each.
How to Claim?
You can make your claim online or through your Centrelink account that is linked to your MyGov account.
If you need further information on this payment, see the below link.
South East Queensland Floods, February 2022 – Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment
If you are a New Zealand citizen residing in Australia, you will not be eligible for the Australian Payment, but you are encouraged to see if you are eligible for the New Zealand Disaster Recovery Payment through the below link.
South East Queensland Floods, February 2022 – New Zealand Disaster Recovery Payment
