Damaged Homes and External Structures Payment -
APPLICATION FOR THIS GIFT ARE NOW CLOSED

Rehousing and Recovery

Am I eligible?

You may be eligible for the Rehousing & Recovery Grant - Damaged Homes Payment if your home has been damaged and is in need or repair as a result of the 2009 Victorian bushfires.

The Rehousing & Recovery - Damaged Homes Payment is to assist with the repair of bushfire damage to homes, outbuildings or other structures to your principal place of residence.

This grant is only available to home owners, where it is your principal place of residence or sole residential asset.

The residence must have been your princpal place of residence or sole residential asset at the time of the 2009 Victorian bushfires.

This grant is available to semi-rural and rural properties, where it is the principal place of residence of the owner.

Tenants are not eligible for this payment, but maybe eligible for Tenants Contents Payment. Landlords, and owners of holiday homes and investment properties, are not eligible for this payment.

You should not seek this payment in conjunction with the Destroyed Homes Payment as only one grant type will be paid.

Insurance payments will not affect your eligibility for this payment. This grant is not intended to replace the need for insurance, and is not intended to provide compensation for losses.

What damage is included?

The damage must be directly attributable to the 2009 Bushfires. This may include water, smoke or fire damage.

Only one payment will be made for each property.

What assistance is available?

A payment of up to $15,000 for damage to homes, outbuildings and structures. The damage must have occurred to the house (including attached structures such as a garage, carport, decking, etc.), the house interior (smoke damage, broken windows), outbuildings (eg. sheds, barns, bungalows) or other structures (eg. water tanks, pumps, septic tanks). The following are examples of what would not be covered under this grant: fences, garden furniture, children?s play equipment and gardens/plants/trees.

In addition, all applicants will be assessed for a needs based payment of up to $20,000 based on the circumstances outlined in their application.

If you have previously received payment under the Home Repairs Grant you may also apply for this payment. However, where the quotes provided under the Home Repairs Grant were for $3,000 or less, you cannot seek to claim payment for the same items under the Damaged Homes Payment. Officers from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund will be able to provide advice on this.

Payment will be made upon the provision of receipts or quotes for the repair of bushfire damage. Where you have provided quotes, you will be required to provide receipts to demonstrate that the expenditure was subsequently incurred within 90 days of receipt of the Damaged Homes Payment.

How do I claim?

To claim the Damaged Homes Payment, you will need to complete the Damaged Homes Payment application form (PDF, 129kb) and include all supporting documents. This includes receipts or quotes for relating to the damage caused by the bushfires.

Payments will be made to your nominated bank account, please talk to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund about alternative arrangements.

Applications for this Gift have now closed.

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 sensitive manner.

The Government will need to reasonably establish:

• proof of identity
• that you own the property and it is your principal place of residence
• that damage was caused and was a direct result of the 2009 Bushfires.

Any applicant found to provide information of a fraudulent nature may be liable to prosecution and will be required to repay the grant.

Completed applications should be forwarded to:
The Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund
GPO Box 4057
Melbourne 3001

For further information

For further information or advice on this payment, please contact the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund on 1800 180 213, or via email on vicbushfireappealfund@dhs.vic.gov.au.