{"id":3664,"date":"2019-09-13T16:27:03","date_gmt":"2019-09-13T16:27:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=3664"},"modified":"2019-09-13T16:27:03","modified_gmt":"2019-09-13T16:27:03","slug":"additional-australian-government-assistance-to-help-people-affected-by-the-queensland-and-new-south-wales-bushfires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2019\/09\/13\/additional-australian-government-assistance-to-help-people-affected-by-the-queensland-and-new-south-wales-bushfires\/","title":{"rendered":"Additional Australian Government assistance to help people affected by the Queensland and New South Wales bushfires"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Australian Government will deliver new income assistance to people affected by the bushfires in Queensland and New South Wales.
\nWe have activated the Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) to ensure assistance is directed to those who need it most.
\nThe devastation we have seen on the ground in South East Queensland today was heartbreaking and we want to be there to help the communities rebuild. There are hundreds of these stories of survival across NSW and Queensland in the face of tough odds, and hope for the future.
\nMultiple bushfires continue to burn across large parts of southern Queensland and northern NSW.
\nThese fires have had significant impacts on many communities and businesses, both direct and indirect, and are impacting people\u2019s livelihoods and incomes.
\nOur assistance is designed to help those who have lost their income and need additional support to get back on their feet.
\nThe DRA provides a short-term support payment to assist those whose income has been affected as a direct result of the bushfires.
\nPeople eligible for DRA can access income assistance for up to 13 weeks, equivalent to the maximum rate of Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance.
\nIn Queensland, the DRA has been activated in the local government areas of Noosa, Scenic Rim, Southern Downs and Sunshine Coast.
\nIn New South Wales, the DRA has been activated in the local government areas of Armidale, Bellingen, Clarence Valley, Glen Innes, Inverell, Tenterfield, Uralla and Walcha.
\nClaims for DRA can be made through the Australian Government Department of Human Services (DHS) from Monday 16 September 2019.
\nCustomers can call DHS on 180 22 66, visit\u00a0www.humanservices.gov.au<\/a>\u00a0or visit a DHS Service Centre.
\nEquivalent financial assistance will also be available to eligible New Zealand citizens (\u2018non-protected\u2019 Special Category Visa, subclass 444 holders) affected by the bushfires.
\nThe Australian Government assistance being announced today is over and above the support already being provided for under the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
\nWe stand ready to provide further support if it is requested.
\nWe are monitoring the impacts of the bushfires closely and will ensure bushfire affected communities receive the support they need, including:<\/p>\n