Victorian Storms - March 2010

Commonwealth Assistance for the Victorian Storms

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) will be provided to eligible people adversely affected by the severe storms that hit Melbourne over the Victorian Labour Day holiday weekend in March 2010. The payment is to provide immediate, one-off financial assistance to eligible Australians adversely affected by the disaster.

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment rate is $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per child. Claims for this assistance can be lodged at Centrelink until 20 September 2010 as application for the payment is available for a period of up to six months.

This payment will be made available where:

  • a person was seriously injured; or
  • a person’s principal place of residence has been destroyed;
  • a person’s principal place of residence has sustained major damage;
  • a person is a principal carer of a dependent child, and
    • the dependent child is seriously injured; or
    • the dependent child’s principal place of residence has been destroyed; or
    • the dependent child’s principal place of residence has sustained major damage.

For more information on eligibility or if you have any queries, please visit the Centrelink website or contact the Australian Victorian Floods hotline on 180 2002.

Media Release

Media releases Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs - Help for the Victorian Storms in March 2010.

Additional Assistance Under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA)

Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, has announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to communities in Victoria affected by the severe storms on 6 and 7 March 2010.

Commonwealth assistance is being provided to the Victorian Government through the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements and applies to 39 local government areas throughout the State.

The following personal hardship and distress assistance (PHD) is being made available to people whose principal place of residence has affected by the storms:

  • Emergency grants of up to $1,067 to provide assistance to meet immediate basic needs such as clothing, food, personal items, appropriate shelter and specific one-off transport costs;
  • Temporary living expense grants of up to $8,650 to assist households with the cost of temporary accommodation and living expenses; and
  • Re-establishment grants of up to $8,650 to assist with the re-establishment of a households principal place of residence.

For more information about personal hardship grants people should contact their local council or Department of Human Services office or visit the Victorian DHS website.