Assistance for Bushire Affected Businesses and Individuals

The bushfires over the last six months have devistated many communities, including in the Northern Inland. In response, there are is a wide variety of assistance available for individuals and businesses that have been affected. To help Northern Inlanders who have been impacted, we have created a specialised Bushfire Assistance page on our website with a listing of the assistance that is available.

Some of the currently available assistance includes:

Disaster Recovery Payment
Value: $800 per child and $1000 per adult
Applicants may be eligible for a once-off payment of $800 per child (up from $400) and $1,00 per adult. Previous applicants who have already received the lower payment will automatically receive the additional funds.

Special Disaster Grant - Bushfires
Value: $75,000
Grants are provided to help pay for the costs of clean up, reinstatement activities and emergencymeasures associated with the immediate recovery of primary production enterprises.

Small Business Bushfire Recovery Grants
Value: Up to $50,000
Recovery grants are available to eligible small businessesand non-profit organisations that have suffered direct damage to their premises or equipment from the bushfires and intend to re-establish in the community.

Disaster Recovery Allowance
Value: Equivalent of Newstart or Youth Allowance
Provides support for people who can show they lost income as a direct result of the bushfires in New South Wales in August 2019 through to January 2020.

ATO Support for Bushfire Affected Businesses and Individuals
Value: Support
The ATO is offering a range of assistance including time extensions, refund prioritisation and fee reductions, many without needing to apply.

Red Cross Emergency Grants
Value: $10,000
Emergency grants are open across Australia to people whose primary place of residence has been destroyed or rendered permanently uninhabitable as the result of bushfires from 1 July 2019.

Disaster Relief Loans - Small business
Value: Up to $130,000
Small businesses who have been directly affected by a declared natural disaster including floods, fires or storm damage, may be eligible for low interest loans of up to $130,000.

Disaster Relief Loans - Primary producers
Value: Up to $130,000
Primary producers directly affected by a declared natural disaster who are in urgent and genuine need of assistance, may be eligible for low interest loans of up to $130,000.

Disaster Relief Loans - Sporting and Recreation Clubs
Value: Up to $10,000
Natural disaster financial assistance is available to help sporting and recreation clubs directly affected by a declared natural disaster including flood, fire or storm damage.

Disaster Relief Loans - Not for Profit Organisations
Value: Up to $25,000
Natural disaster relief loans assist voluntary non-profit organisations directly affected by a declared natural disaster including flood, fire or storm damage.

Natural Disaster Transport Subsidy
Value: Up to $15,000
A natural disaster assistance transport subsidy is available to eligible farmers who are affected by a declared natural disaster event.

Service providers and retailers are also offering discounts and support for bushfire victims and volunteer firefighters. Some banks are offering to waive fees to allow early closure of term deposits, and assistance with mortgage repayments, phone companies are offering to waive montly bills, and retailers are offering discounts. Details for the support being provided is available on their applicable websites.

Serivce NSW is also providing help through their Bushfire Customer Care Specalists that can advise you on what assistance you may be eligible for, help you access government programs and initiatives, and will update you as new programs become available.  You can contact these specialsists by vising a Service NSW Centre, calling 13 77 88, vising the bushfire section of the Service NSW website.