New Zealand Disaster Recovery Payment
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:
- hold a non-protected Special Category Visa (subclass 444)
- are a non-resident under the Social Security Act 1991
- have paid tax in Australia for at least one year in the past 3 financial years, or will do so by the date listed on the Services Australia website
- are 16 or older at the time of this disaster
- are 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.