Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment

Support if you’ve been seriously affected by a declared natural disaster event.

This is a lump sum payment from Services Australia.

Who can get it

To get this payment, you must meet all of the following. You’re:

  • an Australian resident or meet other residence rules
  • 16 or older, or under 16 and getting an eligible payment at the time of this disaster
  • seriously affected in a declared area.

Seriously affected means that you or an eligible child you care for must have experienced one or more of the following because of the declared disaster:

  • major damage to your principal place of residence
  • major damage to a major asset or assets that you own at your principal place of residence
  • you were seriously injured
  • you’re the immediate family member of an Australian citizen or resident who died or is missing.

Natural disaster events

There are no current natural disaster events.

How to get it

There are no current natural disaster events you can claim for online.

Claim over the phone

If there are no current natural disaster events, late claims may be accepted, but only in exceptional circumstances. You’ll need to call the emergency information line on the Services Australia website to claim this payment.

Let them know if you need an interpreter and they’ll arrange one for free.

Help in your language

Call the Centrelink multilingual phone service on 131 202 to speak with someone in your language.

Centrelink will be closed on:

  • Wednesday 25 December 2024
  • Thursday 26 December 2024
  • Friday 27 December 2024
  • Wednesday 1 January 2025.

Find information in more languages about Centrelink on the Services Australia website.


Page last updated: 2 December 2024