Disaster relief for tens of thousands of Aussies: What you need to know

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed disaster relief payments for those affected by ex-Cyclone Alfred will be available from Tuesday. 

There are two payments which can be claimed, the Disaster Relief Payment and the Disaster Recovery Allowance.

The relief payment is a one-off amount of $1,000 for adults and $400 for children who have been adversely affected, while the allowance is available for workers who will lose income, such as those who are unable to go to work.

‘Disaster relief payments will kick in from 2pm [Tuesday] afternoon,’ Mr Albanese told Sunrise on Monday.

‘What that does is provide for 13 weeks, or up to 13 weeks, of pay or full pay for those who’ve lost income in the affected Local Government Areas (LGAs).

‘There’s 31 (LGAs) across NSW and Queensland who are unable to go to work because their businesses are shut, or because of some of the road closures, some people just can’t get to work.

‘To make those applications, people can log on to the MyGov website to check their eligibility for that.’

The scheme is jointly funded by the federal and state governments. 

Mr Albanese said disaster relief payments for those adversely affected including those who will lose income because of ex-Cyclone Alfred will be available from Tuesday

A 13-week allowance can be applied for through Centrelink while the government can also provide one-off payments of up to $1,000 for those adversely affected 

To meet the eligibility criteria to receive the one-off payment, those applying need to be an Australian citizen or NZ special category visa holder, be at least 16-years-old and have been adversely affected by the disaster. 

According to the government, those adversely affected are generally people who have been seriously injured, have had an immediate family member perish in the disaster, or have had a major asset significantly damaged.

Those who are the principal carer of a child who has been adversely affected can also claim the payment on their behalf. 

The payments can cover immediate personal costs such as replacing food, medical supplies and clothing, along with essential household items like bed linen and white goods.

For the 13-week allowance, the amount is assessed on a case-by-case basis, with the maximum being equivalent Jobseeker and Youth Allowance amounts. 

To claim the payment, a MyGov login linked to a Centrelink account is needed. Users can then click on ‘Make a claim’ and follow the instructions. 

Alternatively, support can be accessed via phone with the numbers available on the Centrelink website. 

Those who have Centrelink debts can also apply for a pause on repayments for up to three months. 

More to follow.