Flood relief: Payments and support in your state
Here's where to get help if you live in a flood-affected area.
Residents across Australia's south-east continue to be hit by devastating floods.
Federal and state government funding has been announced for those in flood-ravaged areas.
In total, a further 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales have been made eligible for disaster payments.
See the latest national weather warnings on the Bureau of Meteorology's (BOM) website. For emergencies, call the State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500.
Support in Victoria
In Victoria, a total of $351 million in financial aid has been pledged for flood-hit communities.
$15 million is being used to support housing, health and wellbeing, financial and legal counselling.
The money will also help with the clean-up operation and emergency road repairs.
Disaster Recovery Payment
A one-off, lump sum payment of $1,000 for adults (and $400 for children) is being made available to people whose homes have been severely damaged or destroyed by the floods. It also covers serious injury.
The Disaster Recovery Payment can be claimed in the following LGAs: Campaspe, Greater Shepparton, Maribyrnong, Mitchell Shire and Strathbogie.
Disaster Recovery Allowance
If you've lost income as a direct result of the floods, you could get short-term income assistance for up to 13 weeks. The Disaster Recovery Allowance is aimed at employees and small businesses.
To qualify, you'd need to be an eligible resident in 1 of the following 23 LGAs:
- 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
- Wangaratta
You can check your eligibility for both payments on Services Australia's website.
Support in Tasmania
The 3 LGAs where one-off disaster recovery payments can be claimed are Central Coast, Kentish and Meander Valley.
Up to 13 weeks of income support is available in these 17 LGAs following severe flooding in the state:
- 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
- West Tamar
Details on how to apply for payments are available on the Services Australia website.
Applications for emergency grants and temporary accommodation help can be made here.
Support in New South Wales
For the full list of LGAs where the one-off Disaster Recovery Payments have been issued in New South Wales, visit Services Australia.
Four LGAs – Central Coast, Coonamble, Goulburn-Mulwaree and Parkes – have now been added to 27 other LGAs who can apply for income support of up to 13 weeks.
Here's the full list of LGAs:
- Blayney
- Bogan
- Bourke
- Brewarrina
- Cabonne
- Central Coast
- Coonable
- Cowra
- Dubbo
- Edward River
- Forbes
- Gilgandra
- Glen Innes Severn
- Goulburn-Mulwaree
- Greater Hume
- Gunnedah
- Gwydir
- Lachlan
- Lithgow
- Liverpool Plains
- Moree Plains
- Mid-Western
- Narrabri
- Narromine
- Parkes
- Tamworth
- Upper Lachlan
- Walgett
- Warren
- Warrumbungle
- Weddin
This is in addition to other grants, payments and assistance announced following the NSW floods in July.
Other aid
If you're struggling mentally due to the floods, you can call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. It can signpost you to counselling and offer emotional support.
The government's Head to Health website has a number of resources that could help.
Across the country, businesses have also moved to announce their support.
For example, Commonwealth Bank offers payment arrangements for home loans, credit cards and some business loans.
Telstra has activated an assistance package to help customers reach their families and friends. This includes 100GB data packs and free call forwarding.
How can insurance help?
If you're safe, it's worth checking to see if your home insurance covers you for flooding. Flood cover is included in most policies, but it isn't always.
The easiest way is to give your insurer a call to check. It can also talk you through the claims process.
According to the General Insurance Code of Practice, insurers should respond to your claim within 10 business days.
However, in times of high claims, it could take longer for your claim to be processed.
Claimable events after floods
Generally, you're covered for the structural damage to your property from any water damage, plus for any home contents. There are a number of other things you may claim for too.
For example, you could get money back for temporary accommodation and emergency evacuation expenses. This is separate from any government help you're eligible for.
Other claimable events may include:
- Temporary storage of contents. You may claim back the expense of temporary storage of your belongings.
- Food spoilage. Some policies will pay towards refrigerated and frozen food if they get ruined.
- Removal of debris. Your insurance may cover the costs of removing and disposing of damaged items.
