Queenslanders facing the enormous task of cleaning up and rebuilding their local areas and homes may be slightly comforted in knowing there are now several state and federal funding grants available to them.

The QLD State Government announced a $500m financial support package to assist communities that have been affected by the recent Queensland flood disaster. 

The Federal and State Government support packages include several grants that flood victims can apply for via the Services Australia and the Queensland Government websites.The QLD State Government announced a $500m financial support package to assist communities that have been affected by the recent Queensland floods.

As of 1 March 2022, residents in flood-affected areas across Queensland can start applying for this financial support.

Depending on an individual’s circumstances and eligibility criteria, the following federal and state-funded financial assistance grants are available:

Federal Grants

  • Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment
  • Disaster Recovery Allowance

State Grants

  • Emergency Hardship Assistance Grant
  • Essential Services Hardship Assistance Grant
  • Essential Household Contents Grant
  • Structural Assistance Grant
  • Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Grant
  • Disaster Recovery Funding (QRIDA)

Federal Grants

Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP)

The AGDRP is a once-off lump sum payment available for adults and their dependent children. Eligible adults will receive up to $1,000 (couples can individually claim the $1,000) and children up to $400.

Eligibility:

  • You were 16 or older at the time of the floods
  • You are an Australian resident or hold an eligible visa
  • You meet Local Government Area (LGA) rules 
  • You (or a dependent child) have been seriously injured, are the immediate family member of an Australian citizen or resident who is missing, or there is major damage to your home, as a direct result of the Queensland floods.

Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA)

Aimed at assisting employees, small business owners and farmers, the DRA is a separate payment for up to a maximum of 13 weeks if you have lost income due to a major disaster. The payment amount is equal to the JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance, depending on personal circumstances, and is a taxable payment.

Eligibility:

  • You were 16 or older at the time of the floods
  • You are an Australian resident or hold an eligible visa
  • You work or live in an affected LGA
  • You lost income as a direct result of the storms and floods; and
  • You earn less than the average Australian weekly income in the weeks after you had this income loss.

State Grants

Emergency Hardship Assistance

This grant is available to support people directly affected by a disaster and who are unable to meet immediate essential needs such as food, clothing, medical supplies and temporary accommodation. Applicants can receive from $180 per person, up to $900 for a family of 5 of more. The grant is only available in the 7 days following the activation of the grant in the affected area.This grant is available to support people directly affected by the Queensland floods and who are unable to meet immediate essential needs such as food, clothing, medical supplies and temporary accommodation.

Eligibility:

  • You live or are stranded in the targeted activation zone
  • You have suffered hardship as a result of the event; and
  • You are unable to meet your immediate essential needs for food, clothing, medical supplies or temporary accommodation.

Essential Services Hardship Assistance Grant

This grant is available to support people’s immediate needs where they have lost one or more essential services for more than 5 days. Applicants can receive $150 per person, up to $750 for a family of 5 or more. The grant is only available in the 7 days following the activation of the grant in the affected area.

Eligibility:

  • Your place of residence must be in the activated financial assistance disaster area
  • Be directly impacted by the loss of one or more essential services for more than 5 days
  • Be suffering hardship; and
  • Experienced loss of electricity, gas, water or sewerage.

Essential Household Contents Grant

This grant is available to support people who are uninsured, or unable to claim insurance, and have damages to essential household contents such as beds, linen, and whitegoods, as a result of a disaster. Applicants can receive up to $1,765 for single adults, and up to $5,300 for couples and/or families.

Eligibility:

  • You live in a disaster-affected area where this grant is activated
  • You are uninsured or unable to claim insurance to replace or repair your household contents; and
  • You meet the income tests.

Structural Assistance Grant

This grant is available to support people who are uninsured, or unable to claim insurance, and have damages to their home that make it unsafe as a result of a disaster. Applicants can receive up to $10,995 for singles, and $14,985 for couples and/or families.

Eligibility:

  • You live in a disaster-affected area where this grant is activated
  • You own or are the mortgagee of the home, caravan or boat
  • You have been living in the home, caravan or boat at the time of the disaster (primary place of residence)
  • You are uninsured or unable to claim insurance for the structural repairs; and
  • You meet the income tests.

Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Grant

This grant is available to support people who are uninsured, or unable to claim insurance, and have essential services that were disconnected due to a disaster. Applicants can receive up to $200 towards a safety inspection for each essential service needing reconnection, and up to $4,200 towards repair work for these essential services to be reconnected.

Eligibility:

  • You live in a disaster-affected area where this grant is activatedEssential Services Safety and Reconnection Grant fro those affected by the Queensland floods.
  • You are the owner or are the mortgagee of the home
  • You are uninsured or unable to claim insurance to replace or repair your essential service/s; and
  • You meet the income tests.

Disaster Recovery Funding

This grant is available to support small business, primary producers and non-profit organisations in the defined disaster areas who were directly impacted by the floods. Applicants can receive an initial amount of $5,000 ($10,000 for primary producers) and a subsequent amount of up to $20,000 ($40,000 for primary producers). 

Eligibility:

  • You are a small business owner, who holds an ABN at the time
  • Your business is in the defined disaster area
  • You intend to re-establish the small business in the defined disaster area
  • Required evidence of:
    • Photographs of the direct damage
    • Rates notice/lease
    • Evidence of quotes/estimates/expenditure/payment
    • Bank statement
    • Details of insurance
    • The organisation's certificate of incorporation (if a non-profit).

Read more about Disaster Recovery Funding >>

How To Apply

For all Federal Grants, contact Centrelink or apply through your MyGov online account.

For all QLD State Grants, apply online via the Community Recovery Portal, or by calling the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

For any other queries, please get in touch with your RSM adviser to discuss your individual or business requirements.