Additional flood assistance available for Gympie and the Fraser Coast
5th February, 2013
Additional Australian Government financial assistance is now available to help employees, small business people and farmers, who have been adversely affected by flooding in the Gympie and Fraser Coast local government areas.Federal Member for Wide Bay, Warren Truss, said the Disaster Income Recovery Subsidy (DIRS) provides payments equivalent to the maximum applicable rate of Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance, for a period of up to 13 weeks from the date of the impact of ex Tropical Cyclone Oswald. The payment is designed to support people who have suffered from a loss of income from the disaster
To be eligible for DIRS assistance the claimant must be 16 years of age or older, derive an income from the area affected by the disaster or reside in the area affected by the disaster. They must have experienced a loss of income as a direct result of the disaster, show evidence of the claimed loss within 28 days, and not be currently in receipt of an income support payment. The payment is subject to an income test to determine eligibility.
Mr Truss said there are many people in Wide Bay who will qualify for DIRS assistance. The payment will provide $492.60 for a single adult, $444.70 per fortnight for an adult who is a member of a couple, $533 per fortnight for a single adult with a dependent child, $407.50 for a person who is under 22 years of age, $533 per fortnight for a single person under 22 years of age with a dependent child.
This payment is in addition to the support that is available through the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment which provides $1,000 to each eligible adult and $400 to each eligible child, as well as other State Government assistance measures.
The payments can be claimed online using Centrelink online services at www.humanservices.gov.au/disaster. Alternatively, people can call 180 22 66 or complete a claim form at their nearest Centrelink or Medicare service centre or agent.
Mr Truss said many people have suffered devastating losses from flooding. The Australian Government’s Disaster Income Recovery Subsidy and the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment will help to meet some of the extra costs the flood has imposed on local families and businesses.
These payments are in addition to State Government assistance that have already been announced.
