Personal Hardship Assistance
Additional emergency support for flood-affected residents a in Queensland.
Flood-affected McKinlay Shire residents can now access Personal Hardship Assistance for emergency essentials, including food, clothing, and medicine. Payments of $180 per person and up to $900 for families of 5 or more.
Please for more information visit : Personal Hardship Assistance .
Flood hardship payments for Clermont, McKinlay Shire, and parts of Mackay
- Flood-affected residents in Clermont, McKinlay Shire, and parts of the Mackay region can now access Personal Hardship Assistance payments.
- Support includes grants of $180 per person, up to $900 for families of five or more to cover emergency food, clothing and medicine.
- Thirteen more councils have also been activated for disaster assistance in the wake of recent heavy rains and flooding, and small business loans extended.
The Albanese and Crisafulli Governments have made Personal Hardship Assistance available for flood-affected residents of Clermont, McKinlay Shire, and parts of the Mackay region following heavy downpours that burst riverbanks and swamped properties.
The financial support, provided through the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), will help residents recover from the widespread damage caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji and the North Queensland Monsoon Trough.
Emergency payments of $180 for individuals, up to $900 for a family of five or more will ensure impacted residents can meet essential needs like food and clothing.
Eligible localities in the Mackay local government area are Broken River, Crediton, Dalrymple Heights and Eungella, with hardship assistance also still open to disaster impacted residents of Flinders, Richmond and Winton Shires.
Three income-tested grants are also available to uninsured residents in Clermont, McKinlay, Flinders, Richmond and Winton, offering funds to replace damaged essential household items, reconnect essential services, and repair flood damage to a home.
Applications can be made at www.disaster.qld.gov.au or by calling the Queensland Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.
Additionally, the councils of Aurukun, Burdekin, Central Highlands, Diamantina, Isaac, Livingstone, Mackay, Mareeba, Mornington, Northern Peninsula, Pormpuraaw, Rockhampton, and Whitsunday can now access DRFA support for their response and recovery activities, while disaster loans up to $250,000 have been extended to impacted small businesses in Aurukun, Burdekin, Isaac, Mackay, Pormpuraaw and Whitsunday.
In total there are 31 local government areas currently receiving funding from the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments following significant rains and major flooding that have washed over large areas of the state’s north since Christmas.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said her thoughts are with everyone affected by the widespread Queensland flood emergency.
“During prolonged disaster events like this it’s critical we’re acting swiftly and constantly to get support where it’s required,” Minister McBain said.
“We’ll continue monitoring the impacts of this evolving weather system so communities are cared for long after the clouds have cleared.”
Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy said that funding assistance will provide support to Queenslanders during the hard weeks and months ahead.
“We know how important it is to help Queenslanders get back on their feet following disasters like this,” Minister Leahy said.
“Post disaster recovery isn’t a quick journey, but Queenslanders can take heart knowing we’re here to support them with every step forward.”
Member for Burdekin Dale Last said the financial support will ease the pressure on families facing the daunting task of cleaning up.
“Clermont is a resilient community, but it hasn’t seen a weather event like this in over a century. They shouldn’t have to do it alone, and with this support, they won’t have to,” Mr Last said.
“This is about delivering practical help for those doing it tough after seeing their homes and livelihoods damaged by floodwaters.”
Personal Hardship Assistance available to eligible residents:
- Emergency Hardship Assistance – $180 per person, up to $900 for a family of five or more to purchase immediate essentials like food, clothing and medicine.
- Essential Services Hardship Assistance – $150 per person, up to $750 for a family of five or more to assist with immediate needs following the loss of essential services at home for more than five consecutive days.
- Essential Household Contents Grants – income-tested assistance for uninsured residents, up to $1,765 for individuals and up to $5,300 for couples or families to replace destroyed essential household contents such as bed linen and whitegoods.
- Structural Assistance Grants – up to $80,000 for uninsured, income-tested owner-occupiers towards the repair or replacement of a disaster damaged dwelling to return it to a safe and habitable condition.
- Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme– income-tested grants to help uninsured residents reconnect damaged services like electricity, gas, water or sewerage. Up to $5,000 per household.
For disaster loan info and applications, small businesses can visit www.qrida.qld.gov.au or phone 1800 623 946.
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Minister McBain: David Jean 0467559 492
Minister Leahy: Kyah Devine 0424 670 963
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