Financial assistance

Disaster relief payments that are made to individuals and businesses impacted by the bushfires are tax exempt.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is also providing automatic deferral of lodgement and payment obligations for individuals and businesses in bushfire-affected communities. The ATO Emergency Support Infoline is 1800 806 218.

• Call Services Australia on 180 22 66 for:
  • Disaster Recovery Payment – $1000 per adult and $400 per child for people severely affected by the bushfires
  • Disaster Recovery Allowance – short-term income assistance (up to 13 weeks) for people severely affected by the bushfires
  • Additional Child Care Subsidy Temporary Financial Hardship – if you're eligible for the Child Care Subsidy and have been severely impacted by the bushfires
  • Crisis Payment – a one-off payment for people in severe financial hardship who are not covered by other disaster relief offers.
• Visit a Service NSW Centre or call 13 77 88 for NSW Government Disaster Relief Grants available for eligible individuals and families whose homes and essential household contents have been damaged or destroyed in the bushfires.
• See Volunteer Firefighter Payment for payments for eligible volunteer firefighters who are self-employed or employed by a small or medium business and have lost income.
• See Support from non-government organisations (NGOs) to find out about the financial and practical support being offered by both commercial and non-commercial NGOs.

Support for New Zealanders:

• Ex-gratia Disaster Recovery Payment – a one-off payment of $1,000 per adult, $1,000 per partner or dependent adult and $400 for each child younger than 16. For New Zealanders who have been significantly affected by the bushfires. It’s not for minor damage or inconvenience.
• Ex-gratia Disaster Recovery Allowance – short-term income assistance (up to 13 weeks) for New Zealanders who can show they lost income as a direct result of the bushfires.

Call the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 for:

• Sporting club assistance – concessional loans for eligible sporting clubs
• Church and non-profit organisation assistance – up to $15,000 recovery grants (33 LGAs) and concessional loans for eligible churches and non-profit organisations.
• The Natural Disaster Transport Subsidy pays for the cost of transporting:
  • fodder and/or water to an affected property
  • stock to sale or slaughter
  • stock to/from agistment.

See Disaster relief loans and Grants and subsidies for more information.

Various banks are providing help for bushfire-affected individuals through a range of financial assistance packages, deferred loans, waived fees and charges, grants and relief. Contact your bank's helpline for more information on the options available to you.

• ANZ Bank – 1800 252 845  
• Commonwealth Bank Hardship – 1300 720 814
• National Australia Bank Care – 1800 701 599
• St George Bank Assist – 1800 629 795
• Summerland Credit Union – 1300 802 222
• Newcastle Permanent – 13 19 87 
• Regional Australia Bank Hardship – 13 20 67
• Bank of Queensland – 1800 079 866
• Westpac Assist – 1800 067 497
• Southern Cross Credit Union – 1300 360 744.

• Rural financial counselling service at the Department of Agriculture
• Financial Information Service at Services Australia  
• Find a financial counsellor
• Get urgent money help at ASIC's MoneySmart

IBA has established a bushfire crisis fund to assist their business finance and home loan customers.

If you've been directly impacted by the current bushfires through the loss of property or compulsory evacuation, the fund will provide the following support:

• temporary suspension of loan repayments
• access to a $2000 bushfire crisis grant to cover immediate needs
• assistance with making insurance claims.

Further assistance for business customers will be assessed on an individual basis.

If you need assistance, call IBA on 1800 064 800.