How do I get flood recovery compensation? Your questions answered, including which LGAS are eligible and how to claim disaster payments

That means residents of these areas are eligible for a one-time payment of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child.

Here’s what we know about the payments.

Residents of flooded areas are eligible for a one-time payment of $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child.

Which LGAs are eligible for disaster financing?

  • Bayside
  • blacktown
  • blue mountains
  • Camden
  • Canterbury Bankstown
  • Campbelltown
  • Central Coast
  • Cessnock
  • dungog
  • Fairfield
  • Georges River
  • Hawkesbury
  • Hornsby
  • Kiama
  • Lake Macquarie
  • Lithgow
  • Liverpool
  • Maitland
  • Northern Beaches
  • Penrith
  • Shell harbour
  • Shoalhaven
  • singleton
  • Sutherland
  • The hills
  • Upper Lachlan
  • Wingecarribee
  • wollondilly
  • Wollongong
  • Cumberland
  • middle coast
  • Muswellbrook
  • nambucca
  • Newcastle
  • Port Stephens
  • Randwick
  • warren

Residents in 37 local government areas are now eligible for the flood disaster payments for the recent weather.

Who is eligible for flood recovery compensation?

Flood recovery compensation is a lump sum of $1000 per eligible adult or $400 for each eligible child.

To be eligible, you must live in one of the listed LGAs and have been significantly affected by the flooding.

Road signs are under water along the Hawkesbury River at the Windsor Bridge.
Road signs are under water along the Hawkesbury River at the Windsor Bridge. (Getty)

If you are the immediate family member of a person who died or went missing in the floods, you qualify.

If you were seriously injured by the flood, you can also get the cash payment.

If the flood caused major damage to your property or a large asset in your home – such as cars, caravans or machines – you are eligible.

How do people request their payments?

It is recommended that people sign up through their myGov accounts – but obviously many will be without phone or internet access.

If you need in-person support to make your claim, Services Australia has set up a number of service centers in flood areas, which you can search here

When do people get their payments?

Prime Minister Anthony Albanian said payments will be made “as soon as possible” to bank accounts.

Recipients have not been given a deadline or timeline on when exactly they will receive payment.

How badly does a house have to be damaged to get a payment?

Minor water damage is not sufficient to qualify for a calamity compensation.

Major damage is, for example, if the home is destroyed or has to be demolished, if the interior is exposed to the elements or if it is declared structurally unsound.

If sewage has entered your home, you also qualify.

If the flood has caused major damage to your flood or furniture, electrical appliances or metal elements in the home that need to be replaced, you are also eligible.

People watch the flooded Windsor Bridge on the outskirts of Sydney.
People watch the flooded Windsor Bridge on the outskirts of Sydney. (AP)

Who can claim the payments?

Couples are both eligible for disaster compensation if they are both affected.

Two claims must be made.

You can also make a claim on behalf of a dependent child for which you are the primary caregiver.

But you cannot make a claim on behalf of someone who has died.

Payments will also be available to eligible New Zealand citizens – those on unprotected Special Category Visas and subclass 444 holders – affected by the flooding.

Flood clean-up starts at Wollombi Tavern

Flood clean-up begins after week of disasters

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