To get New Zealand Disaster Recovery Allowance (NZDRA), 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 before 15 March 2024.
You must also meet all of the following. You:
- were 16 or older at the time of the monsoon and flooding
- work or live in an affected Local Government Area
- lost some or all of your income as a direct result of the monsoon and flooding
- earn less than the average Australian weekly income in the 13 weeks after this income loss.
You don’t need to have lost all your income to be eligible for this payment.
We use Australian Bureau of Statistics figures to tell us what the average weekly income is. The average rate:
- before 1 January 2023 is $1,737.10 per week
- from 1 January 2023 is $1,769.80 per week.
If you’re part of a couple, you can both claim this payment. You and your partner will need to make separate claims.
When you can’t get this payment
You can’t get NZDRA if you get any of the following income support payments during your claim period:
- Age Pension
- Austudy
- Carer Payment
- Disability Support Pension
- JobSeeker Payment
- Parenting Payment
- Youth Allowance
- a Service Pension, Income Support Supplement or veteran payment from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
You also can’t get NZDRA if you get any of the following payments or allowances during your claim period:
- ABSTUDY Living Allowance
- Dad and Partner Pay
- Parental Leave Pay
- Self-Employment Allowance.
If you’re getting Self-Employment Allowance, you can speak to your provider about pausing the payment. This is so you can claim NZDRA. You can read more about Self-Employment Assistance on the Workforce Australia website.
If you’re aged between 16 and 21
There are other rules if you’re between 16 and 21 years.
We’ll look at all of the following:
- your income
- your personal circumstances
- if you’re a parent
- if your partner, if you have one, is a parent
- if you’re dependent on anyone, such as an adult who has legal responsibility for your care and provides financial assistance.