We have information in different languages about Victoria Bushfires, January 2026
Disaster assistance payments audio
Natural disaster payments audio
Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment
Disaster Recovery Allowance
For Centrelink payments and services, you can call our multilingual phone service.
Call the Centrelink Indigenous Call Centre to speak to us about Centrelink payments and services for free.
This declared disaster started on 7 January 2026.
We have lump sum payments and ongoing, short term allowances to help you. You may be eligible for more than one of these.
You must meet all eligibility rules to get these payments.
We can help you access payments and services at locations in your community. Check where to find us in disaster affected communities.
A disaster can have a physical and emotional impact on you and your family. If you’re going through a difficult time, our social workers can provide short term counselling, information and referrals to support services. Learn more about social work services.
You may be able to get or replace a concession card or have a pause from mutual obligation requirements. Find out more about additional help if you’ve been affected by a natural disaster.
There are natural disaster scams pretending to be Services Australia and myGov. Find out how to avoid scams and fraud.
You can find the latest information about Australian Government assistance for this disaster by subscribing to our latest news or connecting with us on social media.
Watch this video about our disaster assistance payments and how to claim.