Goomeri and Kilkivan residents are now eligible for extra Federal Government financial assistance in the wake of the Australia Day weekend floods.
Federal Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss said the Disaster Income Recovery Subsidy (DIRS) would provide payments to Gympie Regional Council residents equivalent to the maximum applicable rate of Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance for a period of up to 13 weeks from the date of the impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald.
The payment is designed to support people who have suffered a loss of income from the disaster
To be eligible for DIRS assistance, the claimant must be 16 years of age or older, derive an income from the area affected by the disaster or reside in the area affected by the disaster.
They must have experienced a loss of income as a direct result of the disaster, show evidence of the claimed loss within 28 days, and not be currently in receipt of an income support payment. The payment is subject to an income test to determine eligibility.
Mr Truss said there would be many people in his electorate who would qualify for DIRS assistance.
The payment will provide $492.60 for a single adult, $444.70 per fortnight for an adult who is a member of a couple, $533 per fortnight for a single adult with a dependent child, $407.50 for a person who is under 22 years of age, $533 per fortnight for a single person under 22 years of age with a dependent child.
This payment is in addition to the support that is available through the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment which provides $1000 to each eligible adult and $400 to each eligible child, as well as other State Government assistance measures.
The payments can be claimed online using Centrelink online services. Or people can call 180-22-66 or complete a claim form at their nearest Centrelink or Medicare service centre or agent.
These payments are in addition to State Government assistance that has already been announced.
