Disaster Recovery Payment

Payments announced for fire impacted Victorians

Residents in the Pomonal area who have been significantly impacted by recent fires are now able to apply for the Australian Government’s Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP).

Available for people who suffered serious damage or injury as a result of the bushfires, eligible residents can receive $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child to help with the immediate costs of recovery.

Minister for Government Services, the Hon Bill Shorten said that
“The AGDRP supports those who have experienced the worst this event has to offer get through tough times by helping to replace some essential items that were lost.”

Residents will be able to check their eligibility on the Services Australia Website The quickest way to claim a payment will be online through myGov

If people need help to claim, they can call the Australian Government Emergency information line on 180 22 66 between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. If they want to speak to someone in their language, they can also call the Centrelink multilingual phone service on 131 202

The federal payment builds on disaster assistance measures jointly funded with the Victorian Government, which are already available in areas impacted by the fires and February 13 storms including:

• Personal hardship payments of $640 per adult and $320 per child up to a maximum of $2,240 per eligible family to help cover the costs of essentials like food, clothing, medication and accommodation.

• Emergency re-establishment grants of up to $49,300 for people who are uninsured and their primary place of residence has been destroyed or is uninhabitable.

• Prolonged Power Outages Payments of up to $1,920 per week for households and up to $2,927 per week for up to three weeks for affected small businesses.

• The Emergency Recovery Hotline has been activated to process calls from anyone affected by fires or storms. To access recovery support, affected residents can call the Hotline on 1800 560 760.

RFCS Victoria West has people on the ground to help primary producers and small business owners affected by fires and other natural disasters. If you need help in understanding the eligibility criteria, completing applications or negotiating with insurers, give us a call or send a message here. Our wait times are short and our services are free.