Initial Home Dislocation Payment -
APPLICATIONS FOR THIS GIFT ARE NOW CLOSED
Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund
Am I eligible?
You are eligible for the Initial Home Dislocation Payment if your principle place of residence is unfit to live in or inaccessible for more than a week as a result of the Victorian Bushfires including:
- your principle place of residence was destroyed as a result of the bushfires
- your principle place of residence is unfit to live in due to lack of essential services, accessibility issues, damage to the home or surrounding area or you have been instructed to not return by Police or others
- you do not wish to return to your home for personal reasons at this stage.
The Initial Home Dislocation will not be means-tested and will be paid irrespective of insurance coverage.
What assistance is available?
If you are eligible for the Initial Home Dislocation Payment you will receive:
- A household payment of $5,000 (including one adult); and
- A payment of $2000 for each additional person over the age of 18 living in the eligible household at the time of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires; and
- A payment of $1500 per child under the age of 18 living in the eligible household at the time of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires.
The household payment will be made to the Applicants nominated bank account. All payments for children under the age of 18 will also be paid into the applicants bank account.
Where individuals over the age of 18 wish to have their individual payment made to their bank account they are required to sign this form and nominate their bank details.
Payments will be made to the nominated bank account(s). If you do not have an account or access to your account please talk to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund about alternate arrangements.
How do I claim?
Applications for this payment closed on 9 October 2009.
What information do I need to provide?
The Government recognises the extraordinary circumstances that families are facing and will work with individuals to ensure that any necessary information can be obtained in a flexible and sensitive manner.
The Government will need to reasonably establish proof of identity, proof that the home affected by fire was your primary place of residence and confirm that all persons applying for this payment were living at the primary residence at the time of the fires. Where you have no proof of identity you will need to speak with a DHS grants officer at a relief or recovery centre, or phone the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund 1800 180 213.
Proof of identity can include:
- passport
- drivers licence, Key Pass or other photographic identification
- marriage certificate
- birth certificate
- concession card
- Medicare Card
- utility bill or bank statement.
Note: Where your proof of identity provides your address as the same address as the primary place of residence unable to be lived in due to the 2009 Victorian bushfires this will be evidence of your residency.
Evidence of your primary residence may include:
- any of the above documents which have the address of the residence unable to be lived in due to the 2009 Victorian bushfires
- any other documents which show your name and the primary residence address.
You will need to provide copies of the above documents for each member of the household referred to in this application.
If you require assistance with providing required information please contact the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund on 1800 180 213.
Who can witness a Statutory Declaration?
People authorised to witness statutory declarations include lawyers, police, pharmacists, school principals, ministers of religion, bank managers, doctors, vets and Housing Services Officers.
If you require assistance with getting your statutory declaration witnesses please contact the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund on 1800 180 213.