Relief Payment Information

If you have been impacted by the Victorian bushfires, there are two types of government support payments you might be eligible for which are outlined below. 

Disaster Recovery Allowance

The Disaster Recovery Allowance is an Australian Government income support payment. This payment is now available.

It is a short-term payment to help you if the Victorian bushfires directly affect your income. You can get it for a maximum of 13 weeks. You will be paid from the date you started losing income as a direct result of the bushfires.

You have until June 23, 2025 to make a claim with the Australian Government for the following Local Government Areas (LGAs):

  • Ararat
  • Macedon Ranges
  • Northern Grampians
  • Southern Grampians

You can find out more about the payment and how to apply, here.

Emergency Relief Payment

An Emergency Relief Payment is a Victorian Government payment, jointly funded by the Australian Government. This payment is now available.

Emergency relief payments are designed to provide immediate financial help for eligible Victorians experiencing financial hardship due to the Victorian bushfires in Grampians National Park.

An emergency relief payment can help you to pay for things such as:

  • Food
  • Clothing
  • Medication
  • Accommodation

You are eligible for an emergency relief payment if:

  • Your principal place of residence was damaged or destroyed by the bushfire and you can’t live in it, or
  • Your principal place of residence was in an evacuation warning area, and you evacuated your property, and
  • You have unmet immediate relief needs.

You can find out more about the payment here. To apply for a payment, call the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226 (press 9 for an interpreter).

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