Joint media release with the Hon Bill Shorten MP
Residents in Menindee and the Wingecarribee area can now access additional disaster support – the latest in a range of assistance provided to New South Wales communities impacted by almost five consecutive months of extensive flooding and storms.
Federal disaster assistance has been extended to two local government areas: Central Darling, including Menindee, and Wingecarribee in the Southern Highlands.
- Eligible residents in the Central Darling Local Government Area (LGA) who have suffered a significant loss as a result of the floods, including a severely damaged or destroyed home or a serious injury, can now apply for the one-off, non-means tested Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment of $1000 per adult and $400 per child.
- People who live or work in the Wingecarribee LGA and have suffered a loss of income because of the flood impacts may be eligible for the Disaster Recovery Allowance, which is a short term income support payment of up to 13 weeks. People in Central Darling are already eligible for Disaster Recovery Allowance.
This brings the total number of New South Wales (LGAs) receiving support from the Albanese Government for this event to 76.
Information about payment eligibility is available on the Services Australia website: servicesaustralia.gov.au/disasterevents.
The easiest way for eligible people to claim is online through myGov.
If people need additional support to claim, they can call the Australian Government Emergency Information Line on 180 22 66 from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
For information on all the assistance the Australian and respective state governments have made available to individuals, businesses and councils following the extensive flooding, visit the National Emergency Management Agency.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt:
The Albanese Government is working very closely with communities on the ground to make sure that as conditions change and more damage is identified, help continues to roll out where it’s needed.
The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and Disaster Recovery Allowance are designed to help people impacted by the floods manage sudden unexpected costs, brought on by flood damage or loss of work.
In collaboration with the NSW Government, the Albanese Government has already rolled out a range of supports for farmers, small businesses and councils in these areas, and we’ll continue to look at what else is needed.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Government Services, the Hon Bill Shorten:
The latest assistance package is being made available to help the people doing it tough in communities in New South Wales right now.
Services Australia staff will continue to work quickly to ensure payments are made available to those in need as soon as possible.
We strongly encourage impacted communities to check their eligibility for these payments online at servicesaustralia.gov.au/disasterevents before lodging a claim.
