Residents in 26 flood affected local government areas across Queensland and New South Wales can start applying for Commonwealth financial support through Services Australia from 9am tomorrow.
This includes affected Queensland residents in Brisbane, Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba local government areas.
Financial support has also been activated for Northern New South Wales local government areas of Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed.
These communities are in addition to the local government areas of Gympie and North Burnett, who become eligible to apply on February 28.
Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child is now available for people impacted by a flooding event.
The AGDRP is a one-off, non-means tested payment and is available to eligible people in those affected local government areas who have suffered a significant loss, including a severely damaged or destroyed home or serious injury.
The Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) will also be provided into the 26 affected local government areas.
The DRA assists employees, small business persons and farmers who experience a loss of income as a direct result of a major disaster. This allowance provides for a maximum of 13 weeks payment from the date you have or will have a loss of income as a direct result of a disaster. The DRA payment is set at the maximum equivalent rate of Jobseeker Payment or Youth Allowance, depending on your personal circumstances, and is taxable.
The Morrison Government funds these payments entirely and have been made immediately to support those flood hit communities in Queensland and New South Wales.
Eligible residents in the 26 Queensland and New South Wales local government can claim support via myGov or by calling Services Australia on 180 22 66.
Affected Queensland local government areas from tomorrow (1 March) can claim AGDRP from 9am (AEST) and can claim DRA from 1pm (AEST).
Claims for AGDRP and DRA for NSW local government areas will be open from 2pm (AEDT) tomorrow (1 March).
The Morrison Government also jointly delivers Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) with the Queensland Government for flood-affected residents, with payments for Personal Hardship Assistance and grants for local councils.
The DRFA assistance provides grants of up to $180 per person, to a maximum of $900 for a family of five or more.
These payments are available in Gympie and North Burnett local government areas and the Queensland Government is responsible for activating these payments.
Australian Defence Force personnel continue to support the emergency response efforts and will do more once the water recedes and the recovery effort starts. This includes the arrival of ADF in Lismore today to assist NSW.
Since 2019-20 the Federal Government has provided $17 billion in disaster relief.
