More federal financial support has been rolled out to communities in New South Wales who are continuing to respond to the severe storms and flooding that began in September.
The Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) is now available to eligible individuals in an additional 11 local government areas (LGAs) of: Bega Valley, Junee, Muswellbrook, Nambucca Valley, Shoalhaven, Snowy Monaro, Snowy Valleys, Temora, Walcha and Yass Valley and the Unincorporated Area of New South Wales (Far West region).
This brings the total number of New South Wales LGAs receiving the Disaster Recovery Allowance for this event to 66.
The Disaster Recovery Allowance assists employees and sole traders who experience a loss of income as a direct result of a major disaster and is a taxable, fortnightly payment payable for a maximum of 13 weeks.
The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) has been extended to 5 local government areas, making the one-off, non-means tested support available to a total of 8 New South Wales LGAs.
It has been extended to Cootamundra-Gundagai, Forbes, Liverpool Plains, Snowy Valleys and Upper Lachlan. It follows the activation of the AGDRP in Gunnedah, Moree Plains and Narrabri last week.
The payment of $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child is available to people 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 is also available to eligible New Zealand citizens ('non-protected' Special Category Visas, subclass 444 holders).
The easiest way for people to claim is online through myGov, which is available 24 hours a day. For information on eligibility and how to apply, visit Natural Disaster Events.
If people need additional support to claim, they can call the Australian Government Emergency Information Line on 180 22 66.
For information on all the assistance the Australian and respective state governments have made available to individuals, businesses and councils following the extensive flooding across Eastern Australia, visit www.nema.gov.au
Quotes attributable to Minister for Emergency Management, Senator the Hon Murray Watt:
The flood waters are continuing to impact people's lives in these communities, and in many cases that's stopped them from being able to get to work.
The Commonwealth Government has made this support available because we don't want people to put themselves at risk trying to get to work and we don't want to leave businesses directly affected by this disaster out-of-pocket. Please remember, if it's flooded, forget it.
This direct support, both AGDRP and DRA, will help with short term recovery while we continue to look at what sort of long-term assistance is needed.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Government Services, the Hon Bill Shorten:
This payment will directly help people in south eastern Australia who are facing the worst of these floods.
Services Australia staff are working hard to process claims as quickly as possible.
I'd encourage people who've been impacted by flooding to visit the Services Australia website at Natural Disaster Events to check their eligibility for disaster payments, before lodging a claim.
