How to claim

When claiming, you need to make sure the information you give us is true and correct. You must base your claim on your actual circumstances.

If you have a myGov account that’s linked to Centrelink, sign in and start your claim now.

Sign in to myGov

If you don’t have these set up, you’ll need to follow these steps.

Steps to claim Disaster Recovery Allowance

1.  

   1. Get ready to claim

   The easiest way to claim is online. If you hold a non-protected Special Category Visa (subclass 444), you should claim New Zealand Disaster Recovery Allowance.

   To claim online, you need a myGov account linked to Centrelink.

   If you don’t have a myGov account, you’ll need to set it up online.

   If your myGov account isn’t linked to Centrelink, you can prove who you are through myGov to link Centrelink.

   If you need help claiming you can call us on the Emergency information line. If you have a correspondence nominee, they can call the Emergency information line to submit a claim for you. They cannot submit an online claim on your behalf.

2.  

   2. Link Centrelink to your myGov account

   Sign into myGov and select View and link services, then select Centrelink to link it to your myGov account. How you do this will depend on if you’ve claimed a payment from us before.

   If you’ve claimed a payment before

   If you’ve claimed a payment before, you can use your Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN) to link Centrelink to myGov. You’ll also need to answer some personal questions.

   If you don’t know your CRN or can’t answer the personal questions using your CRN, select No to Do you have or know your CRN?.

   You’ll need to prove your identity online, using myGov. Follow the same instructions for ‘If you haven’t claimed a payment before’.

   If you haven’t claimed a payment before

   If you haven’t claimed a payment from us before, you’ll need to prove your identity online using myGov.

   You’ll need to enter some personal information and details from 2 acceptable identity documents and your Medicare card. Once you prove your identity, we’ll link Centrelink to your myGov account.

3.  

   3. Make your claim

   Now your accounts are set up, sign in and start your claim.

   Sign in to myGov

   Then follow these steps:

   1. Select Centrelink.
   2. Select Payments and claims from the menu, then Claims, then Make a claim.
   3. Select Help in an emergency.
   4. Select Apply for Disaster Recovery Allowance and answer the eligibility and claim questions.
   5. Submit your claim.

   Our Centrelink online account guide on how to Claim the Disaster Recovery Allowance will step you through this process in more detail.

   Evidence you may need to provide

   We may ask you to give us evidence of your loss of income.

   Evidence can include any of the following:

   • pay slips from your employer
   • bank statements showing previous bank deposits from your employer
   • a letter from your employer.

   If you’re a farmer or you have a small business, we may ask you to show us as many of these documents as possible:

   • profit and loss statements
   • income tax returns
   • other documents that show cash flow, such as a bank statement for your business
   • trust or partnership tax return.

   If you don’t have evidence, call us on the Emergency information line to discuss your options.

We often see the best come out in people and communities that are affected by a natural disaster. Most people want to do the right thing and help. But there are others who try to take advantage of this stressful time.

Read about how to avoid scams and fraud.