Financial assistance available for South East Queenslanders impacted by recent storm events

Posted: Monday 1 January 2024

• Grants are available for people impacted by recent thunderstorms in targeted localities in the local government areas of Gold Coast, Logan and Scenic Rim.
• People needing financial assistance or emotional support can contact the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 or visit www.qld.gov.au/DisasterHelp.
• Community Recovery Hubs will be open in various locations to assist residents with grant applications and referral information.

The Queensland Government is providing financial assistance and emotional support for South East Queenslanders who have suffered hardship or are unable to meet their immediate needs in the wake of severe thunderstorms on 25 and 26 December 2023.

Residents in the local government areas of City of Gold Coast, Logan City and Scenic Rim Regional Councils (targeted localities) can apply for personal financial hardship assistance under jointly funded Commonwealth/State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Financial assistance (not income or asset tested) includes:

• Emergency Hardship Assistance Grants of $180 for eligible individuals and up to $900 for families of five or more for help with essential needs, such as food, medication, clothing and temporary accommodation.
• Essential Services Hardship Assistance Grants of $150 for eligible individuals and up to $750 for families of five or more for help with essential services, such as power, gas, water and sewage, that have been disrupted for five days or more due to the disaster.

A range of income-tested grants are also available to assist households impacted by the disaster:

• Essential Household Content Grants of up to $1,765 for eligible individuals and $5,300 for couples or families to replace lost essential household contents, such as bed linen and white goods.
• Structural Assistance Grants of up to $50,000 for eligible applicants to help with structural repairs or contribution towards replacement of dwelling.
• Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Grants of up to $5,000 per household to inspect and reconnect damaged services, such as electricity, gas and water.

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

Where information needs to be verified, applicants will be contacted by Community Recovery, first by email and text then a phone call.

Due to the unprecedented impacts of Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the SEQ Severe Storms, an extremely high number of grant applications are being received.

Community Recovery are working hard to process applications as quickly as possible, and the capacity of the system is being scaled up to manage the increased demand.

Once a grant application has been processed by Community Recovery, payments are made directly to the applicant’s bank account. It may take up to five working days for the money to appear in the applicant’s bank account, depending on their bank’s processing time.

Applicants can check the status of their application through the Community Recovery online portal: https://www.communityrecovery.qld.gov.au/.

Community Recovery workers are also on the ground in South East Queensland providing financial and psychosocial assistance and services to impacted communities.

Residents can access face-to-face support at Community Recovery Hubs where residents who are experiencing hardship can apply for grants and obtain emotional and wellbeing support.

For up-to-date information about disaster support and recovery – including Community Recovery Hub locations and operating hours – visit www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp or call the 24-hour Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

Housing assistance

Help is available to anyone who needs housing support following the SEQ severe weather events.

The Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works can help find temporary and emergency accommodation and provide a range of housing and rental assistance.

Support is available to both homeowners and renters, visit www.qld.gov.au/housing for more information.

Housing Service Centres (HSC) continue to deliver housing services. Contact your local HSC by calling 13 QGOV (13 74 68) during business hours or visit a centre if it is safe to do so.

If you are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness, call the free Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 753 (24/7).

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