Fact Sheet: Personal hardship grants

Emergency Grants

Emergency Grants provide assistance to meet immediate basic needs only and are designed to cover expenses such as clothing, food, personal items, appropriate shelter and specific one-off transport costs.

They are available to people who have had their principal place of residence affected by an emergency, either through damages or loss of property.

Principal Place of Residence

A principal place of residence is the address at which household residents were living at the time of the emergency event. It is usually the residence where all essential living and household items are maintained, where private mail is delivered, and driver’s licence and electoral registration are recorded.

Eligibility

Emergency Grants are discretionary payments, and although they are not income tested, they are based on the needs of the applicant which must be demonstrated through an assessment process. They are also intended for incidents of a particular nature.

Needs eligible for Emergency Grants include:

• Temporary accommodation
• Food
• Clothing
• Items necessary for health and hygiene
• Essential personal items
• Repair to structure or essential items (refrigerator, clothing, bedding etc).

Incidents eligible for Emergency Grants can include:

• Bushfires
• Single household fires
• Floods
• Severe windstorms
• Earthquakes

Grant Entitlements

The amount of each Emergency Grant is based on need. The maximum household entitlement is $1067. This is calculated at a maximum of $427 per adult and $213 per child. These amounts were revised in July 2007. Payments are made by cheque.

Applying for a Grant

To apply for a grant, you must undertake an assessment interview with an assessment officer from the Department of Human Services. You will need to provide forms of identification that identify you and your place of residence. Any of the following forms of identification are acceptable:

• Driver’s Licence
• Medicare card
• Passport
• Rate notice
• Bank account statements

Conditions of Emergency Grant Assessments

Emergency Grant assessments must take place within seven days after the emergency event, unless there are exceptional circumstances preventing the applicant from undertaking the assessment within that time.

Only one grant per principal place of residence can be provided.

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

Other Forms of Assistance

In some circumstances the Victorian Government may also make available other Personal Hardship Grants.

You may be asked if your contact details can be passed on to other organisations that may also provide assistance.

Further Information

If you require more information about Emergency Grants contact your appropriate Department of Human Services office:

Metropolitan

Eastern Region 9843 6000

North & West Region 1300 664 977

Southern Region 9213 2111

Country

Barwon-South West 5226 4540

Gippsland 5177 2500

Grampians 5333 6669

Hume 5722 0555

Loddon-Mallee 5434 5555