Here are the grants and financial assistance the government is offering post Cyclone Alfred.
● Personal Hardship Assistance Grant of $180 for individuals or up to $900 per family to cover essential costs such as food, clothing, medicines and emergency accommodation, open today, Wednesday March 12 until Tuesday, April 8. Payment will be made to your bank account – this is not an in-person cash payment. Go here.
● The Disaster Relief Grant Program supports those most in need and those least able to return their homes to a safe and habitable condition after a natural disaster such as low-income earners and where the damage is not covered by insurance. Go here. For those who don’t have a Service NSW account or struggle with technology, support will also be available at their nearest Service NSW centre, Mobile Service centre, Recovery Assistance Point or Recovery Centre.
● The Disaster Recovery Allowance offers up to 13 weeks of income support for eligible workers and sole traders, depending on their circumstances, who have suffered a loss of income as a direct result of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Go here.
● The Rural Assistance Authority is providing the following assistance measures under Category B declaration that allows impacted small businesses, primary producers, not-for-profit organisations and sporting and recreational clubs and associations in declared LGAs to access concessional loans and subsidies. Go here.
Primary producers: Concessional loans up to $130,000
Transport subsidies up to $15,000
Small businesses: Concessional loans up to $130,000
Not-for-profit organisations: Concessional loans up to $25,000
Transport subsidy for donated fodder
Sporting and recreation clubs and associations:
Concessional loans up to $10,000
The declaration applies to 18 Local Government Areas and includes : Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley, and Tenterfield.
Everything you need to know about For farmers seeking assistance with emergency fodder to veterinarian assistance call the Agriculture and Animal Services Hotline on 1800 814 647.
Landholders can move stock to Travelling Stock Reserves when safe to do so and locate the reserves by using the Travelling Stock Reserves –State Classification Map. Livestock owners may use a reserve free of charge for up to seven days during a declared emergency.
Councils can apply for up to $1 million under a $15-million Community Recovery Support Fund once full impacts are known. This proactive support for communities is for the essential immediate clean-up and restoration of community assets such as pre-schools, senior citizen centres, libraries and community halls.
For updates on all facets of the recovery go here.
This information was provided by the office of Janelle Saffin MP.
