It is not too late to claim for disaster relief, Services Australia General Manager Hank Jongen says.
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"The Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) is a short term payment available to eligible people in your area who have been affected by the bushfires and have lost income as a direct result," he said.
"DRA is equivalent to the maximum rate of Newstart or Youth Allowance.
"The quickest and easiest way to make a claim is by calling 180 22 66 Monday to Friday between 8am and 8pm, and Saturday and Sunday between 8am and 5pm."
For more information about claiming and a list of all eligible Local Government Areas visit www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/disaster
Losing income as a direct result of the bushfires can include:
- Cancellation of bookings at a tourist/accommodation business
- Road closures that prevent a person from getting to their workplace
- Physical damage to a workplace e.g. a power outage, damage to equipment, loss of stock
DRA is also non-taxable for the bushfires that started from 1 July 2019 until 30 June 2020.
"If you're in a declared Local Government Area and eligible, call us to assess your claim and backdate your payment, Mr Jongen said.
"You may need to provide us with evidence of your income loss."
This can include:
- Pay slips from your employer
- Bank statements showing previous bank deposits from your employer
- A letter from your employer
If you're a farmer or you have a small business, evidence you can show us includes:
- Profit and loss statements
- income tax returns
- Other documents that show cash flow such as a bank statement for your business
- Trust or partnership tax return
"If your documents are damaged due to the fires you can get assistance immediately, we will help you with a verbal declaration to complete the process," Mr Jongen said.
Mobile Services Teams are also still in the area providing support to people on the ground. Visit servicesaustralia.gov.au/access or facebook.com/ServicesAustralia/
"In the Bega Valley our teams have been providing on the ground support in more than a dozen towns, including Bega, Cobargo, and Eden," Mr Jongen said.
"In the Shoalhaven we've also visited more than a dozen towns, including Lake Conjola, Sussex Inlet and Ulladulla.
"In the Eurobodalla we've visited ten towns, including Mogo, Batemans Bay and Moruya."
