Flood victims: What financial help is available?
From the razed houses and lost treasures to the sodden detritus; the mud and the smell that remains, the full devastation of the recent Queensland floods is almost impossible to fully comprehend. Communities are beginning to gather themselves together and start the process of reconstructing their lives. Here is a general guide to the main benefits and subsidies that flood victims may be eligible to apply for.
State government
There are three main benefits that are available through the Queensland state government:
Personal Hardship Assistance Grant. This grant is a one-off payment of $170 per person, up to a maximum of $850 per family to help meet immediate, unexpected basic costs for food, clothing, medical supplies or accommodation caused by the flood disaster. This benefit is not means tested.
Essential Household Contents Grant. This grant is to assist people who have lost essential household contents in the flood and who are not insured. The payment is up to $1,705 per adult and is means-tested.
Structural Assistance Grant. This is a grant of up to $10,500 per individual (and up to $14,000 for a family) as a contribution towards repair of a primary residence to a habitable and secure condition. This payment is only available for people who did not have private insurance and is means-tested.
To find out more about these grants, or to express an interest in claiming, call 1800 173 349.（没保险的看这里！）
Centrelink
The Australian Government has authorised certain payments and services for people affected by recent flooding events. There are two main payments that individuals may be eligible for:
Disaster Recovery Payment. A payment amount of up to $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child, this benefit is to assist those who have been adversely affected by the flooding. There are a range of criteria for eligibility and these can be found at www.centrelink.gov.au or by telephoning 180 22 66.
Income Recovery Subsidy. Also claimable through Centrelink, this is a fortnightly payment to assist individuals who have experienced a loss of income as a direct result of the flood disaster. The payment rate is the equivalent of the maximum rate of Newstart allowance.
To claim either of the Centrelink payments you can visit your local Centrelink centre, log on to www.centrelink.gov.au or telephone 180 22 66.
Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal
With over $55 million donated to the Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal so far, the premier has established a distribution committee which will determine and manage the distribution of these funds. You can keep updated on the progress of this on the Red Cross website:www.redcross.org.au.
Private insurance
According to the Insurance Council of Australia, the insurance industry has received over 7,000 claims already, worth over $365 million. Policy holders will need to read discuss their policy conditions with their individual insurer to determine whether or not they are covered for the floods.
However the Insurance Council of Australia has set up a 24-hour emergency hotline to assist policy holders in understanding their insurance contract and to provide general advice and tips for the claims process. You can contact the hotline on 1300 728 228
另外今天早上听Radio说Campbell Newman正在召集Tradie志愿者，帮助没有保险的家庭修房子。没保险的朋友可以打电话去市政府询问具体情况。
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