The Sunshine Coast has experienced some of the worst flooding seen in one-hundred years.  Support is available for individuals, community groups and businesses that have been significantly impacted.  If you require any assistance please contact the office on 5406 7100 or email maroochydore@parliament.qld.gov.au

 

COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

Disaster Recovery Payment – The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment is available if you’ve suffered a significant loss, including a severely damaged or destroyed home or serious injury from the floods. This is a one-off, non-means tested payment of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child. Eligible recipients have up until 1 September to submit an application.

Disaster Recovery Allowance – The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Allowance is a short-term payment to assist employees, small business persons and farmers who experience a loss of income as a direct result of a major disaster. You may eligible to receive payment support at the JobSeeker or Youth Allowance rate for a maximum of 13 weeks from the date you start losing income. Eligible recipients have up until 1 September to submit an application. This payment is taxable.

Apply online via Services Australia HERE, via your MyGov account or call 180 22 66 for assistance.

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COMBINED COMMONWEALTH & STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS & FAMILIES

Personal Hardship Financial Assistance Grants – The Personal Hardship Financial Assistance Grants are only available for certain areas on the Sunshine Coast. Click HERE to check if your area is eligible. There are five Hardship Grants available:

• Emergency Hardship Assistance Grant – This grant supports people directly impacted by a disaster who are unable to meet their immediate essential needs for food, clothing, medical supplies or temporary accommodation – if deemed eligible, applicants may receive $180 per person up to $900 for a family of 5 or more. The grant is initially available to claim for 7 days following the activation of the grant in your area. Emergency Hardship Assistance is not income or asset tested.
  
• Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Grant –  This grant supports people directly impacted by a disaster to meet their immediate needs where they have experienced loss of one or more essential services for more than 5 days. Eligible applicants may receive $150 per person, up to $750 for a family of 5 or more.  The grant is initially available to claim for 7 days following the activation of the grant in your area. Essential Services Hardship Assistance grant is not income or asset tested.

• Essential Household Contents Grant – If you are uninsured, or unable to claim insurance, you may be eligible for financial assistance to provide a contribution towards replacing or repairing essential household contents, such as beds, linen and whitegoods, that have been lost or damaged in a disaster. Grants of up to $1,765 for single adults and up to $5,300 for couples/families are available. This grant is income tested.

• Structural Assistance Grant – If you’re uninsured, or unable to claim insurance, you may be eligible for a one-off payment as a contribution towards repairs to your home to make it secure and safe. Grants of up to $10,995 for single adults and up to $14,685 for couples/families are available. This grant is income tested.
• Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Grant – If you’re uninsured, or unable to claim insurance, you may be eligible for a grant to help you reconnect essential services that were damaged by a disaster. There are two parts to this grant (safety inspection up to $200 and repair up to $4,200) is income tested.

The Personal Hardship Financial Assistance Grants can be applied for online via the Community Recovery Portal HERE or by phoning the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

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STATE  GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESS, PRIMARY PRODUCERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

Extraordinary Disaster Recovery Grants –  Grants are available following the South East Queensland Rainfall and Flooding to hire or purchase equipment and materials, clean up, remove debris, replace fencing and other costs associated with the recovery process. Applicants should take photographs of the direct damage to accompany their application.

• Business – Grants of up to $50,000 are available for small businesses affected by the floods to hire or purchase equipment and materials, clean up, remove debris, replace or repair damaged infrastructure and stock and other costs associated with recovery.
• Primary Producers – Grants of up to $75,000 are available for producers affected by the floods to hire or purchase equipment and materials, clean up, remove debris, replace fencing and other costs associated with recovery.
• Non-Profit Groups – Grants of up to $50,000 are available for affected non-profit organisations following South East Queensland Rainfall and Flooding to hire or purchase equipment and materials, clean up, remove debris, repair or replace damaged infrastructure or goods and other costs associated with the recovery process.

The Extraordinary Disaster Recovery Grants can be applied for online via the portal HERE or by phoning 1800 623 946.

Disaster Assistance Loans – Concessional loans are available to assist business owners, primary producers and community organisations to re-establish normal operations.

• Business – Concessional loans up to a maximum of $250,000 are available to assist businesses to re-establish normal operations by covering costs of repairing or replacing damaged plant and equipment, repairing or replacing buildings, supplying stock for up to one month to replace lost stock and maintain liquidity of the business, or meeting carry-on requirements including sustenance or paying rent or rates. Apply on-line HERE. Applications close 31 December 2023.

• Primary Producers – Concessional loans up to a maximum of $250,000 are available to primary producers to re-establish the normal operations such as repairing or replacing damaged plant and equipment, repairing or replacing farm buildings, purchasing livestock to replace those lost in the flood, meeting carry-on requirements including re-planting, restoring or re-establishing areas affected by the flood, sustenance, essential property operations and paying rent and rates. Apply on-line HERE. Applications close 31 December 2023.
• Community Groups / Non-Profit Groups – Concessional loans up to a maximum of $100,000 are available to not-profit organisations to re-establish normal operations by covering costs such as repairing or replacing damaged plant and equipment, repairing or replacing essential premises including grounds, amenities and infrastructure, and supplying stock for up to one month to replace lost stock and maintain liquidity of the organisation. Apply on-line HERE. Applications close 31 December 2023.

Sport and Recreation Disaster Recovery Program – Additional grants of up to $5,000 are available to not-for-profit, sport and recreation organisations to re-establish their facilities. Applications close three months after the flood incident – approx 22 May 2022. Apply on-line HERE or call 5459 6176.

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INSURANCE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA ASSISTANCE

the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) declared an Insurance Catastrophe for Southeast Queensland.  This catastrophe is  for those in Southeast Queensland impacted by severe weather and flooding that has occurred since 21 February. The ICA’s Catastrophe declaration serves to escalate and prioritise the insurance industry’s response for affected policyholders.  To read their release CLICK HERE.

For information regarding what to do when you return to your property after flood please CLICK HERE.

PLEASE NOTE: There may be additional support in addition to the above. Note that grant schemes administered by different tiers of government may be subject to eligibility criteria. Some schemes may also be subject to change in scope or duration.