Deadline extended for personal hardship financial assistance in Far North Qld

Posted: Tuesday 16 January 2024

The deadline for applying for personal hardship grants has been extended for Far North Queenslanders impacted by Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

Residents in all nine disaster-declared local government areas now have until Wednesday 7 February 2024 to apply for financial assistance.

Residents living in the following local government areas may be eligible:

• Cairns Regional
• Cassowary Coast Regional
• Cook Shire
• Douglas Shire
• Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire
• Mareeba Shire
• Tablelands Regional
• Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire
• Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire.

Non-income tested grants with the 7 February 2024 closing date include:

• Emergency Hardship Assistance – $180 per person, up to $900 for a family of five or more, to support immediate essential needs, such as food, clothing or medical supplies.
• Essential Services Hardship Assistance – $150 per person, up to $750 for a family of five or more, to assist with immediate needs following the loss of essential services at home for more than five consecutive days.

Other income-tested grants are available, with applications open until December 2025:

• Essential Household Contents Grant – up to $1,765 for individuals and up to $5,300 for couples or families to replace destroyed essential household contents, such as bed linen and white goods.
• Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme Grant – up to $5,000 per household to help uninsured residents reconnect damaged services like electricity, gas and water.
• Structural Assistance Grant – up to $50,000 for uninsured owner-occupiers towards the repair or replacement of a disaster-damaged dwelling to return it to a safe and habitable condition.

This financial support is jointly funded by the Queensland and Australian Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

People can apply for personal hardship assistance grants online at www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp, or by visiting a Community Recovery Hub in their local area.

Community Recovery Hubs are a place where residents who are experiencing hardship can apply for grants and obtain emotional and wellbeing support. Visit www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp for up-to-date information about locations and opening times.

The Community Recovery Hotline (1800 173 349) is also open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for people to obtain information, support or assistance with grant applications.

Information about disaster support and recovery for culturally and linguistically diverse people is available in a range of languages at www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies/disasters/resources-translations/disaster-information-language.

Free counselling and support are available through a dedicated 24/7 Lifeline support line to assist the community and help people recover practically and emotionally following the recent weather events.

Anyone who requires emotional support or someone to talk to is urged to contact Lifeline on 1800 116 671 or visit www.lifelineqld.org.au/get-help/disaster-relief-and-community-recovery.

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Media contact: media@dsdsatsip.qld.gov.au